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Original poster

Do you ever keep your dc home because of the weather even if the school is open?

123 replies

Soubriquet · 10/03/2023 07:59

Weather is horrible here. It’s cold, it’s wet and it’s sleeting.

My dc (8 and 9 (nearly 10)) walk to school on their own together. It takes 10 mins and is down a straight road with hardly any traffic.

Im keeping them home today because I don’t like the idea of them walking alone in this weather. I can’t take them. I’ve been disabled for the last few months and I haven’t been able to afford a mobility scooter or electric wheelchair, so I’m kinda stuck at home.

OP posts:
UpUpUpU · 10/03/2023 08:01

Life is tough sometimes. I’d make them go

emmathedilemma · 10/03/2023 08:02

It's the uk, if we all stayed at home every time it was cold or wet we'd never go out! Wrap them up warm, put their wellies / snow boots on with shoes to change into at school and dispatch them!

ichundich · 10/03/2023 08:03

Yes, I would send mine, with a set of spare clothes if necessary.

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Original poster
Soubriquet · 10/03/2023 08:03

If it was snow settled on the ground, then yes I would get them to go.

But it’s sleeting terribly here, and then there is the risk of it freezing whilst they are at school and then getting injured on the way home.

OP posts:
YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 10/03/2023 08:04

It’s very unlikely to freeze during the day and regardless, millions of people walk in such weather without injury.

toomuchlaundry · 10/03/2023 08:05

Is there a pavement? Anyone they could walk in with?

LivesinLondon2000 · 10/03/2023 08:05

Agree with the other posters - it’s not a great habit to get into for later life - that you don’t go to school/work whenever the weather is bad.

I would phone the school & explain that you’re a bit concerned about them walking on their own and could they let you know when they arrive. You have a very valid reason for not being able to accompany them so it’s not a big ask. Or maybe you have a neighbour/friend who could walk with them?

Original poster
Soubriquet · 10/03/2023 08:06

Yes there is a pavement, and I can rely on another school mum occasionally who walks directly past my house, but her dd is off sick so she isn’t walking this way.

OP posts:
RattlewhenIwalk · 10/03/2023 08:07

A 10 min walk? The risks sound minimal. Dress them up warm and send them on their way.

IKnowWhatIKnow · 10/03/2023 08:07

I know someone who did keep their DC home in situations like this, it gave them the impression that it wasn’t important to go, so now has school refusers. I’m not saying yours will end up that way but, if the teachers & the rest of the class have made in to school, why shouldn’t yours?

smellyflowers · 10/03/2023 08:08

I'm sorry but that seems a bit of an overreaction.

If the road was currently sheet ice then yes they can't get to school.

LivesinLondon2000 · 10/03/2023 08:09

I would definitely contact the school or class parents. I’ve often walked other kids home - even 20 minutes out of my way - when their parents were ill and unable to leave the house. I’m sure someone will help you.
But agree risk is minimal - tell them to walk home slowly, no running

MinnieMountain · 10/03/2023 08:09

9yo DS and I normally cycle. It’s horizontal sleet with us, so we’re walking the 15 minutes.

I can’t see why you’d keep your DC off in this weather.

waterlego · 10/03/2023 08:10

I would send them. In the UK we have lots of inclement weather of various kinds. I wouldn’t want my children to think they could just stay home every time it is cold/snowy/windy/sleeting/too hot.

Whatthediddlyfeck · 10/03/2023 08:10

Do they not have appropriate clothes for the (typically British winter) weather? I can’t see any other reason why you’d keep them home. I think you’re being grossly unfair to them

Autocadelite · 10/03/2023 08:11

This is ridiculous

DoesItHaveKosovo · 10/03/2023 08:12

You do seem overly anxious about this. It’s just snow and sleet.

WhisperingAutistic · 10/03/2023 08:13

What do you do when it's pouring down with rain?
Our school run takes 50 minutes and we walk it no matter the weather. Big umbrellas, wellies if needed etc.
Yours is only ten minutes and they aren't toddlers. They will be absolutely fine.

Murraydeservedit · 10/03/2023 08:13

DDs school is closed today (it’s quite bad here), but it was open yesterday and out of 28 in her class, only ten came in (teacher was talking to dh when he picked dd up). But at the school dd goes to, it’s any excuse, the attendance is dire in general.

A lot of the parents are kicking off on whatsapp groups because the children who came in just had a fun day of arts and quizzes and lunch with the head teacher (all the food had been ordered for school dinners and would have gone to waste so they had an all you can eat buffet!), and those who didn’t were set work on google which really hasn’t gone down well.

Some of the ones really complaining live in walking distance.

However, I do realise that there are parents who cannot walk children in and to be honest, I was a little bit worried dd walking to school with dh after the local groups saying cars were sliding over the road, they took a much longer route around the back roads rather than the main road. I wouldn’t have wanted dd doing that alone (she’s 8 so too young to walk to school, but if she were older).

So I do understand your worry of them walking alone.

Doyoumind · 10/03/2023 08:14

I thought you were going to say you were snowed in and had a long distance to travel. They can walk for 10 minutes. It's not a good enough reason to keep them off school.

Casilero · 10/03/2023 08:14

I do keep them off yes. I broke my back just over 10 years ago as I slipped on some black ice. A&E was absolute chaos as loads of other people had also injured themselves on the ice. It's really not helpful to risk injury when you can see with your own eyes cars getting stuck, people falling over, and you've been told to avoid non essential travel.

Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 08:14

You cant not send them to school because a 10 minute walk is cold and wet

😂

I would understand in white out conditions, or drifting snow - but a day off school because of sleet is crazy

Severntrent · 10/03/2023 08:14

I would definitely send them. Wrap them up warm and off they go.

rarge · 10/03/2023 08:14

What is the risk? Ten minute walk. West warm clothes with a fluffy pair of socks and wellies. I really can't see why you'd keep them off school.

If you alwayalready trust them to wall alone then why would a bit of cold and sleet be the thing that makes you over anxious?

toomuchlaundry · 10/03/2023 08:15

Are school aware they are walking in alone?