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Original poster

DD's teacher - mortified

289 replies

mortifiedmomma · 06/05/2023 23:01

I know I'm in the wrong in the situation, and this will teach me a lesson; but I keep thinking about it and I'm absolutely mortified.

We had planned a small 4 day vacation or long week end from this past Friday to Monday night away with DH, DD (6), ILs and me.

DD had school on Friday but we thought we would just take her out of school that day to have an extra day to enjoy ourselves.

I told DD who was very excited, but asked her not to tell her teacher and to just tell her, at the end of the day on Thursday, that she was feeling unwell, so that we could have an excuse and tell the school she was ill the next day (I know, I know).

On Thursday, when I picked her up, her teacher asked me if she could have a quick word with me.

DD told her "she would be sick tomorrow". And following the teacher's confusion, DD proceeded to explain that "we're going on holiday, and mummy doesn't want me to tell you, so she said to tell you I would be sick tomorrow".

How do I recover from this?

OP posts:
RoseRobot · 10/05/2023 09:47

It's funny. You'll laugh about it later. Bring back a small present for her with a note that says: I learned my lesson. Shouldn't have done it and am now very embarassed but hope DD's honesty proves we are usually an honest family and this was a one off.

Bresia · 10/05/2023 09:49

Mikimoto · 10/05/2023 08:37

...because your one day to Peppa Pig World because it's quieter becomes 2 days to Eurodisney for someone else, and a week in Orlando because it's half price for someone else, causing resentment among both students and parents (very special circumstances - great-grandma's 100th - notwithstanding).
Children need to understand what rules and commitments are. They have 14-15 weeks of holidays to do other things.

Show quote history

So true - we took our twins out of school for two weeks when they were 5 years old to go to Australia and one day I took them out of school to go Legoland when they were in Year 3 to spend the day with their Australian cousins - you know what? you are so right - they are still suffering, it's awful - they can't follow rules, can't commit to anything, if only I'd kept them in school - I massively regret what I did - I totally ruined their lives and I doubt they'll ever forgive me.

Lampzade · 10/05/2023 09:59

Ok. We all know that Op was wrong to get her dd to lie and I am sure that Op has learned her lesson
Got to admit that I thought your dd’s honesty was hilarious
Just know that your kids tell their teachers everything and I mean everything .
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Skybluepinky · 10/05/2023 10:01

You don’t, u asked yr child to lie, shocked u would think it’d go any other way.

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/05/2023 10:02

Sj07 · 10/05/2023 07:55

Tell me what's wrong with a little girl missing one day of school to spend quality time with her family on holiday? Especially during a cost of living crisis when the average family simply cannot afford to travel during school holidays. A 6 year old missing one day of school to make memories that will last a lifetime with her family. Lighten up.

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That is not the teacher's choice though and teachers are well aware of the cost of holidays as they can't go away in term time either. Teachers don't find it hilariously funny even if they don't care whether the child has a day off or not. It's not funny knowing that parents think you are stupid not to see through their lies. Just take the day as an unauthorised absence if you feel you need it.

Gettingbysomehow · 10/05/2023 10:34

Arghhhhhhh I'd have died.

ReadersD1gest · 10/05/2023 10:38

Bresia · 10/05/2023 09:42

So funny - you'll laugh at this for years!

Fucking hell, seriously? You'd still be giggling away at this years later? Wow.
Some people are very easily amused.

Whichnumbers · 10/05/2023 10:50

Im so glad my dc went to school in an era when it was ok to take them on holiday during term time.

shammalammadingdong · 10/05/2023 10:53

TurmoilDreams · 06/05/2023 23:09

You don't ever, ever, teach a child to lie for you. It's disgusting. Sorry for honesty. You are supposed to be the parent and teach them right from wrong, lying is wrong. End of

That's just not true though, is it? Lying can be absolutely right.

Everyone lies. You lie. You have to teach children how to lie at the right time for the right reasons!

This wasn't one of them. OP, you shouldn't have done it. Shrug it off.

Alwaystheweather · 10/05/2023 10:55

My most cringy moment was when I got a robo vacuum and lovingly called him ‘Dirty Derek’. My 5 year old told the music teacher that mummy loved Dirty Derek more than Daddy. I nearly died when he (my child) told me

That made me laugh!

OP, I can't get over how you thought a six year old could carry off such a detailed staged lie! Your faith in her is touching!

shammalammadingdong · 10/05/2023 10:56

Mikimoto · 10/05/2023 08:37

...because your one day to Peppa Pig World because it's quieter becomes 2 days to Eurodisney for someone else, and a week in Orlando because it's half price for someone else, causing resentment among both students and parents (very special circumstances - great-grandma's 100th - notwithstanding).
Children need to understand what rules and commitments are. They have 14-15 weeks of holidays to do other things.

Show quote history

My children know what rules and commitments are. They also know that we don't blindly follow all rules without question, and that commitments do not mean slavish attendance.

If you have resentment because other people have holidays or days off that you don't approve of, that's very much a you problem.

luckylavender · 10/05/2023 10:57

mortifiedmomma · 06/05/2023 23:01

I know I'm in the wrong in the situation, and this will teach me a lesson; but I keep thinking about it and I'm absolutely mortified.

We had planned a small 4 day vacation or long week end from this past Friday to Monday night away with DH, DD (6), ILs and me.

DD had school on Friday but we thought we would just take her out of school that day to have an extra day to enjoy ourselves.

I told DD who was very excited, but asked her not to tell her teacher and to just tell her, at the end of the day on Thursday, that she was feeling unwell, so that we could have an excuse and tell the school she was ill the next day (I know, I know).

On Thursday, when I picked her up, her teacher asked me if she could have a quick word with me.

DD told her "she would be sick tomorrow". And following the teacher's confusion, DD proceeded to explain that "we're going on holiday, and mummy doesn't want me to tell you, so she said to tell you I would be sick tomorrow".

How do I recover from this?

You asked your child to lie. No wonder you're mortified.

1mabon · 10/05/2023 11:00

Silly woman, serves you right for asking your child to lie on your ehalf

ReadersD1gest · 10/05/2023 11:02

shammalammadingdong · 10/05/2023 10:53

That's just not true though, is it? Lying can be absolutely right.

Everyone lies. You lie. You have to teach children how to lie at the right time for the right reasons!

This wasn't one of them. OP, you shouldn't have done it. Shrug it off.

Show quote history

What would be an example of a 6 year old lying for the right reasons?

Mikimoto · 10/05/2023 11:03

shammalammadingdong · 10/05/2023 10:56

My children know what rules and commitments are. They also know that we don't blindly follow all rules without question, and that commitments do not mean slavish attendance.

If you have resentment because other people have holidays or days off that you don't approve of, that's very much a you problem.

Show quote history

I'm sure your kids will thank you for that as they're sitting their Oxbridge entrance exams resits for hairdressing college.

Bresia · 10/05/2023 11:07

ReadersD1gest · 10/05/2023 10:38

Fucking hell, seriously? You'd still be giggling away at this years later? Wow.
Some people are very easily amused.

Show quote history

I am very easily amused and this is funny! I think you might be a tad miserable - but that's ok too - I don't have to live in your head.

shammalammadingdong · 10/05/2023 11:09

Mikimoto · 10/05/2023 11:03

I'm sure your kids will thank you for that as they're sitting their Oxbridge entrance exams resits for hairdressing college.

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My eldest two are already at the two top rated universities in our country, doing extremely well in highly sought after science degrees. The third seems on course to join them, if so desired.

And yes, they did thank me for that.

ReadersD1gest · 10/05/2023 11:10

Bresia · 10/05/2023 11:07

I am very easily amused and this is funny! I think you might be a tad miserable - but that's ok too - I don't have to live in your head.

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I wouldn't want someone like you in my head 🤣🤣🤣

Bresia · 10/05/2023 11:11

ReadersD1gest · 10/05/2023 11:10

I wouldn't want someone like you in my head 🤣🤣🤣

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And you find that so funny you need three laughing signs - are you feeling ok?

civilrightsareoverrated · 10/05/2023 12:02

Mikimoto · 10/05/2023 11:03

I'm sure your kids will thank you for that as they're sitting their Oxbridge entrance exams resits for hairdressing college.

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Hope you cut your own hair with that attitude @Mikimoto?

My current hairdresser is a former research scientist, and the one before had a law degree from a redbrick uni...

CheerfulYank · 10/05/2023 14:04

Yesterday I told the school my 15 year old had a doctor’s appointment that I’d forgotten about because he needed to go home and find his baseball jersey before the bus left for the game 🤷‍♀️

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/05/2023 14:50

CheerfulYank · 10/05/2023 14:04

Yesterday I told the school my 15 year old had a doctor’s appointment that I’d forgotten about because he needed to go home and find his baseball jersey before the bus left for the game 🤷‍♀️

I assume you are in the USA if he's playing baseball at school. In the UK it would be acceptable to phone school and say he had to go back for his jumper.

CheerfulYank · 10/05/2023 15:06

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/05/2023 14:50

I assume you are in the USA if he's playing baseball at school. In the UK it would be acceptable to phone school and say he had to go back for his jumper.

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Yes, I am. :) Funny how it works…here in the US, it would be perfectly acceptable in the OP’s case to say “we’re going on holiday so DD won’t be here tomorrow” and no one would bat an eye!

ReadersD1gest · 10/05/2023 15:09

CheerfulYank · 10/05/2023 15:06

Yes, I am. :) Funny how it works…here in the US, it would be perfectly acceptable in the OP’s case to say “we’re going on holiday so DD won’t be here tomorrow” and no one would bat an eye!

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Yet you had to invent a doctor's appointment so he could collect his sports kit... Weird.