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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have been offended - school uniform and non-inlaws

102 replies

Namechangearamanama · 14/03/2011 17:20

Name change - I can't be bothered to be vague so as not to be identified Grin

So, I have an almost 5 year old, I split from her dad when she was 10 months old. He has her every other weekend and on a Weds night.

His parents play quite an active role in our DDs life and often have her on one of the nights of his weekend - I would prefer she spent more time with her dad seeing as she doesnt see him a lot but ho hum, that's another thread.

She goes to a school where there isn't a uniform. I really like the ethos behind this and think it is generally a good thing. I have expressed this to my ex. He told me once she had been going there for about 2 months that he and his parents didnt really like this as it makes the children look scruffy. I told him he was entitled to his opinion but to please not tell DD that they felt this way as now she's there ther's really nothing we can do and she really enjoys school.

My point was that I visited all of the schools in the area and read all the ofsted reports front to back to decide which school to send her too. Then filled in the applications myself. I sent all the reports to my ex and invited him to all the visits but he didnt get involved in the decision telling me he didnt have time (We both work full time) and that he would trust my judgement. This was fine, I was happy to make the call.

Anyway, cut a long story short, I have just been presented with a bag of 4 sets of brand new school uniform and have collected DD from school today to find her (the only kid at the school) wearing full on school uniform.

She spent most of the weekend with his parents and has now spent the last few hours with me telling me how her school isn't a proper school because there's no uniform and that she now wants to wear the clothes her nana has provided for her every day so she can be smart.

I've spoken to her dad and asked if the coments about her school not being proper came from him or his parents rather than fly off the handle without all the info. He jumped straight down my neck saying how ungrateful I am when they are merely trying to help me out. They are very wealthy and to date havent bought one single thing for our DD to have at my house, not that I expect them to. So I am struggling to find this random act of support 4 years down the line as anything other than an insult.

I'm by no means wealthy but have a very comfortable standard of living (which is of my own making - in the time since we split and I have had DD with me, there have been lots of occassions where I have made it known that I was struggling and neither him nor his parents ever helped out) and dress my DD well - all be it rather casually as I beleive children shouldn't be trussed up. Had they really wanted to help they could have bought something like new wellies or a spring coat which my ex pointed out to me a couple of weeks back that I would need to buy for DD soon (thanks, I hadn't realised).

Now, AIBU to be offended??? Ready for the backlash Grin

OP posts:
nickelbabysnatcher · 14/03/2011 17:23

yanbu, i think. It's not fair for them to judge your decision when they didn't even help to choose the school.

let her wear the uniform, but make it clear to her that it's manners that maketh the man not clothes...

QuintessentialShadows · 14/03/2011 17:23

Yanbu. They are insulting the schools ethos. I would bring it up with the headmaster, and let the headmaster /mistress handle it.

PonceyMcPonce · 14/03/2011 17:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeacupTempest · 14/03/2011 17:26

That is very odd! YANBU

If the school doesn't have a uniform does that mean she was wearing the uniform for a different school?! I would be surprised if the school was happy about that.

They are being nuts

squeakytoy · 14/03/2011 17:27

How can she be in school uniform if there isnt a uniform for that school?

She will soon probably get bored of going in dressed like the school swot though, when her classmates take the piss a bit..

For what its worth, personally I do think uniform is a good idea to make all the children equal.

agedknees · 14/03/2011 17:28

Have they given you the receipt for the uniforms? I would take them back to the shop, and buy dd a spring coat with the money.

And tell them to mind their own business.

Oh BTW YANBU.

catsmother · 14/03/2011 17:29

I'd feel the same as you. This is them imposing their opinion upon you and using your daughter to do it. At the very least they should have spoken to you before taking it upon themselves to send her off to school dressed "inappropriately".

As it happens - not that my opinion on this matters one bit to this story - I actually prefer schools with uniform, but, and it's an important but, I would be concerned in your case that she might be picked upon as she now stands out from the crowd (in the same way a casually dressed child would be noticeable at a uniformed school). Obviously I hope that didn't happen, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility and it was very irresponsible and pig headed to send her off dressed in any way which might invite (unwanted) attention.

They are also undermining you - and implying that you have chosen her school "unwisely" by telling her it's not a "proper" school which is bloody disgusting - it's cerftainly not their place to be having that sort of conversation with a young child.

OnlyWantsOne · 14/03/2011 17:29

While I think of there is a uniform kids should wear one. If there isnt a uniform I don't think I would want my child to be made different / other by being put in one.

I take it the ILs just got generic uniform from a shop rather than a school branded one?

I think it's cool ur DD is so happy at school. I would try and reinforce this. Good lick with the X

ruddynorah · 14/03/2011 17:30

bundle up the stuff and send it back to the grandparents. say thank you but you have chosen this school and it has no uniform. add that if they would like to buy her uniform for high school(which presumably will have uniform) then you would be pleased to receive their contribution. explain to dd that her grandparents made a mistake.

OnlyWantsOne · 14/03/2011 17:30

Yes good lick.

Pissing iPhone!

Good luck. I would feel the same

OnlyWantsOne · 14/03/2011 17:31

And I think you should be bold and do what ruddynorAh said

walesblackbird · 14/03/2011 17:31

If the school doesn't have a uniform then who's uniform was she wearing? Sounds a completely odd thing to do.

Have to say though that with three children I am very glad that they have uniform. Saves the hassle of arguing over what to wear.

saffy85 · 14/03/2011 17:32

Offended? I'm flummoxed Confused

What an odd thing for this lot to get their undies in an uproar about. I mean how casually do you dress your DD, for school or any other occasion? sackcloth and ashes? binliners?

I'd be really quite annoyed actually. I mean she doesn't need this stuff so what is the point? You're right, why couldn't they buy something useful like a coat? And they have just gone over you really by saying what they have said to your DD. Have you spoke to her about her grandparent's and father's barking attitude?

Miggsie · 14/03/2011 17:33

Yes, the in laws are being deliberately insulting and only gave the uniform to piss you off and mark their grand child as their "possession". They sound highly unpleasant and controlling.

YANBU.

I'd ignore it. I would be tempted to send the uniform to the grand parents each time it needs to be washed, as it is theirs, but that's just being petty.

However, if the in laws are set on undermining you it might be worth looking up some strategies on how to deal with emotionally abusive/narcissistic/controlling people so you can help your DD deal with her inlaws slagging off you and your choices. Toxic inlaws by Susan Forward might be a good book

ruddynorah · 14/03/2011 17:34

actually if you want to be as obnoxious as they are, keep the uniform and dress her in it when she goes to their house. how will they like to have her with them on weekend days out in school uniform? about as much as you like her in it at a non uniform school.

Namechangearamanama · 14/03/2011 17:35

Sorry, just to clarify, it was a non branded school uniform. There was: a stiff material (dont know what it is) grey knee-length skirt (which I don't feel is practical for a 4 year old. 2 crisp white polo shirts and 2 white shirts, 2 pairs of grey tights, a pair of patent black maryjanes and 3 smart blue cardigans. They're actually very nice quality Blush

I do understand squeakytoy that some people prefer a uniform, before I visited the school and heard their ethos I was one of them.

Wow I'm shocked by the 'YANBUS' I was preparing for, "you ungrateful princess!"

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 14/03/2011 17:35

oh ruddynorah has a great idea.

Send her to her dads with ONLY school uniform packed. Grin

Mamaz0n · 14/03/2011 17:36

I would have been furious. YANBU

pjmama · 14/03/2011 17:36

I'm with ruddy, send it all back to them. They should be ashamed of themselves using a little girl to make their point.

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 14/03/2011 17:38

Send it back suggesting they MUST be confused as the school you CAREFULLY chose doesn't have a uniform and you didn't want them to waste their money ( you've also informed your daughter that they were WRONG). But if they would like to contribute and enjoy shopping for your dd please feel free to get her a spring coat that she can use for school.

IMHO they have been deliberately rude and need challenging on it or what next?

Oh and if in any doubt YADNBU

pawsnclaws · 14/03/2011 17:38

YANBU. And your ex needs to grow a pair and learn to deal with them.

GeneHuntsMistress · 14/03/2011 17:38

What ruddynorah said. Both times.

QuintessentialShadows · 14/03/2011 17:41

Yes, and in the addition to the nice spring coat for school, maybe they could buy her some nice non-uniform pinafore dresses, good quality tights and polo jumpers. Thank them for the shoes. That way she is not scruffy, and wont offend the head, and neither will she become a target for bullying.

Bogeyface · 14/03/2011 17:41

but the fact that she is only person wearing it means that by its very nature she isnt "uniform"!

I wouldnt go with the send it back option as they will then have it there to make sure she wears it atleast once a week. Just either keep it in the back of thw cupboard or take it back for store credit. They are unlikely to buy a full set of new uniform each week if you dont send it to them for the overnight stay. But do explain that granny made a mistake.

Treat their disgusting attempt to undermine you with the contempt it deserves by ignoring it.

Namechangearamanama · 14/03/2011 17:46

Oh bless you MNers one and all, I was sat here feeling like a right sadsack.

I seem to remember when we were together they were pretty controlling and made me feel this way often, maybe I'm lucky it's taken nearly 4 years for something like this to happen!

miggsie is there really a book called 'toxic inlaws'? brilliant!

OP posts:
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