To be mortified by this

[mortifiedmam]

Dd has free school meals. She's off school (half term has finished here) because she was in contact with a teacher who has tested positive but because she sits at the back of the classroom she was more than 2m away so doesn't have to self isolate but they are being taught by zoom lessons as precaution.

We have just had a letter through the door with a voucher to cover the cost of her lunches for the week. I am so embarrassed that the school felt it necessary to come and hand deliver it to us. At least they didn't knock on the door!

YABVU

They will have been given without judgement to everyone on FSM. If you don’t need it then donate it or buy food and give it to the food bank

It’s far better to give them to everyone and cause you a bit of unnecessary embarrassment than to not give them and have children in other households go hungry.

OP don't feel bad. I'm assuming none of your neighbours would have known why someone at the door. And from the pov of the teacher who hand delivered them they are probs just being extra cautious because fsm are all over the news at the moment and they don't want any complaints. Technically they should cover Ur DC lunch and they are probs embarrassed because the teacher's case of covid is making kids self isolate. They will not be sending them out of judgement of you.

It's standard, nothing to be embarrassed about.
A voucher sounds much more sensible actually. In our school they make packed lunches then drive door to door delivering them every day.

Op if you don't need this then please consider a foodbank donation because lots of people do.

Lucky you! I have 3 kids at school and the kitchen has been closed the entire term they have been back, they are offering sandwiches but my kids won’t eat them as they don’t eat cheese so I have been paying for 3 kids packed lunches all term despite them being entitled to fsm! Wish someone would give me a voucher

@Riapia

I get what you mean OP Would the posters being critical Say the same if a teacher came to your DD in front of the class and handed her the vouchers. I doubt it. 🌺🌺🌺

That's hardly the same is it

I think it's lovely that the school did that. They've had the funding and made sure its gone to the children its for.

I get it op. DSis was mortified at the beginning of lockdown when they delivered the free school meals by leaving a packed lunch on the doorstep for all the neighbours to see.

@mortifiedmam

None of you get it, and why are you calling me an arsehole because I find it embarrassing that they did that? I don't think they judge me but it's embarrassing ok. You've made me feel worse about it now

Could you explain why you are embarrassed, OP? There is nothing wrong with having FSM, the school is presumably routinely delivering these to every house with a child on FSM, no-one will think any the worse of you as a result.

The OP isn’t berating the bloody school though, she’s merely feeling mortified about her situation.

Jees, aren’t people allowed to feel this way!

Doesn’t mean she’s not grateful ffs!

You get free school meals 🤷🏻‍♀️

Why is your dd being fed on school premises not a problem, but the school endeavouring to make sure she's not disadvantaged by being forced to isolate is a source of such angst?
At least they didn't knock on the door!. Wtf?!
Get over yourself

mortifiedmam I totally understand why you felt mortified - like being 'singled out' for being in receipt of benefits at the moment - especially if you weren't expecting the voucher.

I would agree with those who say that you have nothing to be ashamed of though, although that's easier said than done.

Also, I think it's absolutely true to say that those delivering vouchers will be more relieved that they're able to help rather than judging those in receipt of them.

I'm sorry about the shitty posts on this thread - that must have been the last thing that you need.

Don't be ridiculous; the school has gone out of its way to make sure the vouchers arrived as fast as possible, so kids wouldn't go hungry. SOME families are really struggling at the moment.
I

@EmmaWithTheGreatHair

The OP isn’t berating the bloody school though, she’s merely feeling mortified about her situation.

Jees, aren’t people allowed to feel this way!

Doesn’t mean she’s not grateful ffs!

I'm not berating the school, they are great

I understand OP, it is nice that they went to the effort and didn't knock. I hope you get some lovely lunch bits in for your DC and it makes life a little easier.

@mortifiedmam

But I really don’t get why she’s feels that way. The school already knows you receive FSM as it’s part of their data. They then give you a voucher which no one but the school will know they’ve done. In what way is it embarrassing?

Op, do you think it could be that
you are feeling embarrassed at feeling emotional that someone cares enough about you and DD?

If so, that's perfectly understandable and I hope things get better for you soon.

[quote Glitterynails]@mortifiedmam I understand. I’m a teacher and I see lots of parents receiving FSM who feel embarrassed by it. They (and you) shouldn’t. But I understand.

The school is legally obliged to continue providing food/money support to children receiving FSM during periods of isolation. The school are not making a judgement about you and your family at all.[/quote]
@Glittterynails - Bless you for responding to OP's post in a kind and empathetic manner. XX

Op do you feel the same embarrassment when she gets rhe free meals at school?

I get it, it’s the shame that they think you can’t afford to buy her lunch, but that’s the basic premise behind free school meals.

Don’t be embarrassed these schemes exist for a reason and it’s not personal they are obliged to feed her.

They probably just printed the list of everyone who is eligible to be honest, I don't think you will have been singled out or anything, as most families will live within quite a small radius because of catchment areas, its actually usually easier to hand deliver than to post- certainly quicker and more reliable. I hope the voucher makes life that little bit easier for you OP, my mum always felt the same about things like this when we were growing up, even though they helped immensely.

And it's ok to be touched and emotional btw, you're human 😁

Think about this - the school gets extra money because you claim fsm so nothing to feel embarrassed about at all. In fact you are actually helping the school get more funding.

No need for any of the unkind comments on here!

@HoofWankingSpangleCunt absolutely agree!

Love your username btw!