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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:
willWillSmithsmith · 08/05/2023 18:41

You should have just rung in the next day rather than asking your young child to lie (as if that was going to work out well). Never mind, it’s done, just learn from it.

JulianCasa · 08/05/2023 18:58

Happens all the time. Don’t worry about it 😂

Missingpop · 08/05/2023 19:03

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 next time don’t tell the kid anything at all you can’t trust them but I’ve laughed my head off at this post, I bet that teacher had a bloody good laugh about it too 😂😂😂😂😂😂

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6 year olds Families General education
ReadersD1gest · 08/05/2023 19:05

JulianCasa · 08/05/2023 18:58

Happens all the time. Don’t worry about it 😂

I'm pretty sure it doesn't...

JulianCasa · 08/05/2023 19:23

ReadersD1gest · 08/05/2023 19:05

I'm pretty sure it doesn't...

Show quote history

Are you a teacher…? It literally happened a few weeks ago in my class!

CantFindMyMarbles · 08/05/2023 19:34

How do you recover? you don’t. Just hope the teacher doesn’t say anything.
I work in education and lots of kids have told me about their holidays. I don’t say a thing unless I feel there is genuine cause for concern.
FYI - next time just don’t tell your kids and email school to say they’ve been sick.

Ukrainebaby23 · 08/05/2023 19:40

😂😂roll

Kids can't keep secrets, you know that....

Nearamir · 08/05/2023 19:44

🤣🤣🤣 No immediate recovery from this, just a sheepish acceptance and the knowledge that it’s no way near the worst thing the teacher has seen!
Brilliant thread though to flush out all the humourless/ misery guts/ harbingers of doom on here!

Trishthedish · 08/05/2023 19:44

Teacher will have thought it hilarious. But seriously don’t teach your child to lie.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/05/2023 19:54

ReadersD1gest · 08/05/2023 19:05

I'm pretty sure it doesn't...

Show quote history

It really does.

PrinnyPree · 08/05/2023 19:59

Awww OP that's hilarious! Sounds like you're a lovely parent and are dealing with it the right way apologising to your daughter and have learnt a lesson as not to do it again 😅 so please don't take to heart any of the MNetters that are calling you Satan's spawn, they're just bored and love a bit of self righteous getting the boot in. ;) xx

katemulberrybush · 08/05/2023 20:01

Kids dont lie

They are brutally brutally honest

QuillBill · 08/05/2023 20:14

I'm pretty sure it doesn't...

It does happen all the time. Especially since lockdown. People are far more relaxed about primary children missing school now.

People want to give their children a lovely life. They want them to have a nice time. I'd rather the children in my class had a holiday in term time than not at all.

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 08/05/2023 20:17

Oh and if it's not the actual kids, their friends dob them in too.

Oh miss , so and so is on holiday.

Oh is she now? How nice.

ejbaxa · 08/05/2023 20:23

I was honest all my life - for about 40 years.

Then I realised honesty isn't really valued or rewarded. Indeed, I have seen far too many people sailing through life telling lies, shitting on honest people and wriggling out of their responsibilities.

Now I say whatever the fuck I want to get what I need.

Your mistake was getting the 6yo involved. I'd have just emailed/phoned saying she has a temp/has puked/whatever.

I've taught my kids to lie when it's necessary. That isn't frequently, but when you deal with people who are unreasonable, you might need to tell some inconsequential lies.

The teacher raising concerns about your communication with school - well that's just fanciful. You wanted your kid to have a little holiday. It's pretty obvious that there's nothing weird going on.

usernother · 08/05/2023 20:28

I think asking your child to lie is a horrible thing to do.

BusyBrain3 · 08/05/2023 20:32

I was taking my daughter to a concert once, initially planned just to drive there and back in the same night and at the last minute decided to stay over as a treat (2.5 hours away) so rang her in sick… the concert was Ariana Grande in May 2017 so you all know what happened there. We couldn’t continue the lie then so I had to go in to school, admit it and apologise!

I’ve never lied about my children’s absences since!

Flowertight · 08/05/2023 20:36

I was taking my daughter to a concert once, initially planned just to drive there and back in the same night and at the last minute decided to stay over as a treat (2.5 hours away) so rang her in sick… the concert was Ariana Grande in May 2017 so you all know what happened there.

doesn’t make sense. When did you call her in sick? If it was the morning after surely the tragedy had take place? Why would you call her in sick day before?

BusyBrain3 · 08/05/2023 20:40

To give us the day to travel there, spend a bit of time shopping etc, just extend the treat really. Sorry if my post wasn’t clear.

BaconChops · 08/05/2023 20:43

So funny 😂 OP. Be proud of the fact your daughter is so honest you’re clearly doing something right Xx

Whattodo46 · 08/05/2023 20:43

I’m assuming you’re in England. I’m in Scotland and I just write an email or phone the school and tell them I’m taking mine out of school for a holiday. They record it as unauthorised but nothing more happens. I think fines are unreasonable endless the child is frequently absent.

SpringIntoChaos · 08/05/2023 20:43

I'm a Year 2 teacher. Don't worry OP it happens all the time and seriously doesn't bother most of us. It's not us teachers who impose the rules. We are parents too! Hope you enjoyed your time away 🥰

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 08/05/2023 20:44

Her teacher basically said that my DD's explanation raised concerns about the truthfulness of the situation

I can totally see that concern, since you are practically teaching your child to lie. Be honest. Don't tell your kids to lie.

As a parent, or from pov from a teacher(I assume) who is trying to educate children to be a better human being, teaching them to lie is last thing you want to do, I'm sure.

I can understand you are mortified. But that's what you deserve for doing harm to your child, by teaching them to lie. You should just take it, and move on. I really don't think teacher care so much. They just think you are as you are.

SpringIntoChaos · 08/05/2023 20:44

Oh...but don't tell your child to lie!! That's not fair!

davegrohll · 08/05/2023 20:49

Hilarious of your dd. Yep I agree you shouldn't have told her to lie, kids can't lie, they're brutally honest. Which is the great thing about them ! Want an honest opinion on your outfit or new hair, ask a kid!!

I've always been honest and put on a holiday form 'family holiday' always best to be honest