Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep the children off school tomorrow

104 replies

elphabadefiesgravity · 25/04/2011 21:08

We got back home at 4am this morning from holiday. We landed at just turned 2am but there was a delay as the coach to the airport parking was full and we had to wait.

The holiday was booked before the royal wedding was announced. Tomorrow was originally an inset day but when the friday bank holiday was annouced the inset was cancelled and re-arranged to may so originally we thought they would have 2 days to recover.

Ds slept for a couple of hours on hte plane, dd only napped for about 30 mins. Ds was up at 8.30am although dd slept in til 10am.

They both went to bed at 7pm tonight but now at turned 9pm neither are asleep, ds has just been crying, dd is struggling to get to sleep.

They are 7 and 9.

OP posts:
ILoveDolly · 25/04/2011 21:49

send them! they'll be OK and you don't want them getting the wrong idea about being able to miss school whenever they are tired (although as a parent I completely understand your concerns for them- and the fact that this is a 'special circumstance')

heliumballoons · 25/04/2011 21:50

I have a DS whos 6yo. When his sleep pattern is disturbed he finds it hard to get back into a routine. But I find by keeping everything else normal he gets back into it quicker.

I would say as theres only 3 days school and dnace tomorrow and maybe 7pm bedtime and work back to normal. They have 4 days off again to lie in if they need.

I would see how they are in the morning though - it doesn't work for everyone. Grin

Hope you had a lovely holiday btw.

theglove · 25/04/2011 21:52

If they look ok in the morning I think they'll be fine.
There might also be an exciting atmosphere at school this week because of all the goings on

ginmakesitallok · 25/04/2011 21:54

I'd send them to school - better to get them back into a routine asap. They should sleep well tomorrow night and one tired day in school won't kill them

Sidge · 25/04/2011 21:57

If you don't send them to school they'll probably sleep late, or sleep in the day, putting them all out of sync for tomorrow bedtime.

At least a 'normal' day will get them back on track.

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 25/04/2011 22:08

So you got back last night/early this morning, yes? That means they've had all day to relax and rest, on top of the sleep they'll get tonight once they drop off. It's not like you got home at 4am, then they were due at school by 9am the same day, or you've just come back from a long haul journey and have awful jet lag to recover from.

Personally I'd send them to school. They won't fall asleep in school - why would they, when they'll have been home well over 24 hours? If they are tired after school, then skip the dancing. I know they missed dancing before Easter and I'm assuming that was that because you were on holiday? Not much you can do about that as you were away but school is more important than dancing imo, so if they are to miss something it should be dancing, not school.

compo · 25/04/2011 22:09

Agree with softkitty
send them in

SE13Mummy · 25/04/2011 22:10

Send them to school tomorrow and Wednesday, if they are completely shattered after that they can miss school on Thursday (when every primary seems to be having a royal tea party).

Taking them in at break/lunchtime would be another compromise but I think a whole day off school due to tiredness followed by dance sends the wrong message.

To be fair, had Friday not been declared a Bank Holiday then the school wouldn't have altered the dates. Hopefully the letter informing you of the change did apologise to those parents who had already booked holidays with a view to being back in school on Wednesday.

Original poster
elphabadefiesgravity · 25/04/2011 22:16

Oh God I had totally forgotten Thursday - dress as a prince or princess or in red white and blue

Dd missed dance before Easter as a punishment for a misdemeanour. She takes it very seriously so it was a BIG punishment.

Wew would never have booked those flight days/times had we known they would have to be in school tomorrow. No there was no mention of an apology for changing the term dates lol.

Dd has to have good attendance as she has occasionally been granted days off under a performing licence in the past. The week before October half term she was off for 2 half days and one full day to be in a touring play.

OP posts:
Mutt · 25/04/2011 22:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GloriaSmut · 25/04/2011 22:23

Send them in. They've had all day today to recover and will have a night's sleep tonight I don't see the problem. They've probably got more stamina than you and certainly shouldn't be missing school on the grounds that they might be a bit tired. Also, if you need to keep on the right side of the school because of other absences, missing a day won't help.

Original poster
elphabadefiesgravity · 25/04/2011 22:24

The dilemma is that ds is absolutely wrecked and found it really hard to get off to sleep tonight. My family thingk I should give them the day off.

I know you donlt pick and choose when they go to school but we booked a holiday thinking that tomorrow was inset (as pb=ublished on the school calender last September) after the royal wedding day off was announed the inset was cancelled.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 25/04/2011 22:24

I agree with Kitty too. There is no reason why they shouldnt be able to get up in the morning.

GiddyPickle · 25/04/2011 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SE13Mummy · 25/04/2011 22:28

So take DD in first thing and DS stays off if he absolutely needs to (but goes to school kitted out for a school day for the change of heart that will occur when he sees his friends in the playground).

Mutt · 25/04/2011 22:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GloriaSmut · 25/04/2011 22:29

But on what grounds do you plan to keep them off school? That they were tired tonight? Only while your DS might have found it difficult to go to sleep, he'll probably be fine in the morning. However, I get the impression that you are looking for any excuse to keep them off school so I doubt they'll be going!! I would say that it is rather taking the piss to give them an extra day's holiday and then allow your dd to go to dance class though.

AutumnWitch · 25/04/2011 22:35

Send them in - the first day of the new term is really important socially, catching up with friends, getting all the news.

Missing the start could leave them out of sync for a while and leave them open to teasing by the other children for being "wimps".

They're only in for 3 days then they can have a 4 day rest to recover.

worraliberty · 25/04/2011 22:35

It's only a short week too.

Sometimes being dropped in the deepend is the only way to do it.

I also agree with whoever said that if they lay in tomorrow, they won't sleep early tomorrow night and will probably be tired again the next day anyway.

A1980 · 25/04/2011 22:36

It may break the cycle if they go to school tomorrow.

If they struggle to fall asleep tonight, they may sleep in tomorrow if they are kept off school. If they're off school, they may well not be as active as if they went to school. So they may have trouble sleeping again.

Send them, they'll be tired out and sleep well tomorrow night. Cycle ended Grin

Original poster
elphabadefiesgravity · 25/04/2011 22:36

I'm not looking for an excuse - for one thing I havbe to organise childcare if the don't go in.

I am honestly undecided.

OP posts:
Original poster
elphabadefiesgravity · 25/04/2011 22:37

and THE SCHOOL CANCELLED THE DAY off only after the holiday was booked.

OP posts:
Mutt · 25/04/2011 22:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GloriaSmut · 25/04/2011 22:38

OK, if you are still undecided, ask yourself what's the worst that can happen? They yawn a bit. Or quite possibly not. Does that sound a good enough reason to have to find childcare and make rather feeble excuses to the school for their absence?

Original poster
elphabadefiesgravity · 25/04/2011 22:38

there will be loads of kids off - those who had booked holidays before the change of dates

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread