Not school events in lockdown - anyone else LOVED this?

[notlikethisreally]

I have absolutely loved there being no school plays/ assemblies/ sports day/ 'fun' events. I hate those events! Other parents would post after assemblies and plays how they were crying about how wonderful it was. I've just never felt like that. I actively dislike all these events. (junior school age kids)

All the other parents put sad face emojis all over the parent's whatsapp because they have missed out on them.

Am I literally the only parent who hates attending those events and has seen not been allowed to go to these things to be one of the few boons of a worldwide pandemic?

My sad face is at the thought that they will all be back again next year!

our school sports day is awful, they do one race and if they dont win thats it - sat out for the rest of the day - no fun stuff, I am so glad I was spared this year I really am.

Never enjoyed sports day. I’m not into sports and I find that 95% of what you’re watching doesn’t involve your child anyway so it’s boring because it goes on forever. It’s also obviously usually blistering hot and I never seem to get a seat so end up on the grass or stood up. Didn’t miss that this or last year.

I quite like the assemblies though and I’m disappointed I won’t be able to see my year 6 DS’s leavers assembly.

My youngest is nearly at the end of primary school...I've been very aware that these events will soon be gone forever from my life...I'm actually quite devastated that covid has taken these moments from us

Oh and I don’t miss the school fetes either. Overpriced garish nonsense.

I always find attending these events very stressful.
Finding someone I vaguely know to sit with, making small talk, watching as my dc look on embarrassed by all the parents watching them and sports day must be just the worst if you have a non-sporty dc.

Nope- really sad to have missed these. Only have the one dc and have missed the Christmas play where he would have got lines (reception and y1 just sing) 2 out of the three Mothers Day Assemblies where he would have actually got to do something instead of just look cute like the reception one and 2 ks1 sports days which are the fun non competitive ones where everyone joins in with everything. These are things I'll never get to do at all now (y3-6 do end of term plays not Christmas,no Mothers Day assemblies and different sports days) and it really upsets me.

Our sports day changed a couple of years ago to a whole day event. It would be split into 3 sections, sports races, games rounders/cricket etc and fitness and each key stage would get a turn on each. You could bring a picnic and eat lunch with your child and either follow them round/watch other children etc it was a great day. That I miss. The pointless plays where my child is behind the tallest child in the school just singing with the rest of the class. I dont miss.

Yes! Me!! With you op.

I would like to see them all stopped permanently. One of my dds has sn and they find them difficult anyway

There is just far too much on for kids now and it needs to stop

I love this too. See also, no extra curricular activities. The constant brownies, gymnastics, swimming tearing about is soul destroying!

We've actually been a bit sad about missing these things. We lived over seas, moving back less than a year before Covid, so never got chance to do a few of these things. Its no biggy really though, they'll survive without a nativity play in their lives.

We are all very happy we've had a nit free 18 months though, thats been a joy!

@WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly

I love this too. See also, no extra curricular activities. The constant brownies, gymnastics, swimming tearing about is soul destroying!

You do know that extra curricular activities are not compulsory?

Glad to see there are a few others with me.

Some of the school events actively make me miserable. I hate the forced competiveness of sports days. If kids like a sport and like competing - go for it. But don't force other kids to do it. I ended up skiving off on sports days as kid. My tiny eldest son has better agility and balance and climbing skills than most kids his age but he sucks at traditional sport and he hates sports day too. I've told him he can skive off in future.

I hate school plays where kids are forced to partake whether they like acting or not, are essentially performing monkeys for what the teacher has decided they have to do and they do mechanically, and where the majority of the 'also ran' kids sit there looking bored out of their skulls whilst they wait for their one token line to say. I genuinely don't understand why this is meant to fill my heart with joy.

I love seeing kids doing things they are genuinely enthused by and love and proud of, but this enforced performance does nothing for me. Well it does, it makes me sad.

Other events, hate the noise of school discos. Don't really like the polite chat with people I have nothing in common with other than kids at the same school.

Just don't like it.

@Foxhasbigsocks

Yes! Me!! With you op.

I would like to see them all stopped permanently. One of my dds has sn and they find them difficult anyway

There is just far too much on for kids now and it needs to stop

Yes this!

One of my kids does not have SN but is very anxious and sensitive. He gets really stressed by the bloody endless themes days and dressing up days (not to mention the environmental impact and financial cost of all those single use outfits). He finds the change very difficult. I had to actually phone the school to get his class teacher to do a reassuring message about one as he was so stressed out about it that I seriously doubted I was going to be able to get him to do to school that day.

So I can only imagine what it is like for kids with special needs which means they need routine or stability.

We lived over seas, moving back less than a year before Covid, so never got chance to do a few of these things

See that just made me think that overseas schools must be better

I’m just glad my weekends haven’t been spent attending soft play parties.

@stairway

I’m just glad my weekends haven’t been spent attending soft play parties.

There is that too!

I never enjoyed them very much and it depended on which child and what event if the kids did - but I did feel sorry last year with DD2 missing out of all the end of y6 stuff - some with parental audience and soem without - trips.

It all stopped when the kids went to secondary anyway -and if they hopefully continue with on-line parent teacher confernces which have worked well for us- we may never need to step foot in the school again.

The thing is op if dc never try stuff how will they know if they like or not and also performing is part of life - job interviews etc but of course its scary in front of an audience.

I agree there are far too many bitty things we have to work around and pay for!

They need to stream line it all.

@Lemonmelonsun

The thing is op if dc never try stuff how will they know if they like or not and also performing is part of life - job interviews etc but of course its scary in front of an audience.

I agree there are far too many bitty things we have to work around and pay for!

They need to stream line it all.

He has tried it and he knows he does not like it. I don't see how sitting bored out of his skull for 59mins and 50 seconds, then reciting a single sentence is giving him confidence for job interviews and presentations as an adult. And that's leaving aside the fact that he also knows, like all the other also-rans, that he is only given one line as the teachers think he is shit at this. There are far better ways to give kids those skills and confidence in them.

From the other side we had our most enjoyable Relaxing sports day as there was no spectators.