To keep 4yo DS off school for my 40th birthday?

[cadifflur]

DS has just started reception class and we're keeping him off school for 3 days as we're going away this weekend, get back Monday, then Tues it's my birthday. Am I being ridiculous to worry about keeping him off school for 3 days so early in the new school year? He's settled in ok and really seems to enjoy learning, gets a little bit clingy when I drop him off but soon settles once I've gone. We just thought we'd keep him off for my birthday too as there are many years ahead now when he'll be in school for it. DH is off for the day and we'll be going out for lunch with DD (2yo) and other family. AIBU to keep him off school for the day or is this ok?

YABU to keep him off school for your Birthday lunch. Once our children were at school we would have a birthday tea or celebration at the weekend nearest the birthday. Children do sometimes have to miss out. Although it is still law that a child can have 10 days off school but that's for holidays not for a birthday lunch.

I meant to add that although I think YABU if the school are okay with it then keep your DS off and enjoy your birthday.

The 10 days are not just for holidays!

This type of family thing would also qualify.

"I'm sure we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief now we have GenevieveHawkin's approval. Bravo."

The woman can celebrate her birthday by parading naked through the High Street of the town she lives in for all I care FlossieFromCrapstonVillas. If she chooses to reveal how she plans to celebrate it on a public website then she, and you too for that matter, can expect people to comment on it with a range of differing views.

I have no problem whatsoever with people (1) not agreeing with my views and (2) expressing their own opposing views. What I do have a problem with, however, is people thinking that no one is entitled to hold an opinion which differs from theirs.

I see no harm in doing this. Not even compulsary school age. Time spent with extended family/celebrations is just as important at this stage.

I don't think anyone has a problem with anyone commenting, GH, that's to be expected - but thank you for pointing out the workings of a public website, I'm enlightened.

You must know you raised hackles with your snidey comments?

Anyway, you have the last word, I know you're dying to. Meanwhile the OP has had her birthday & a wonderful time was had by all

"You must know you raised hackles with your snidey comments?"

Maybe I did. Do I care? No. It goes with the territory.

If I raised your hackles FlossieFromCrapstonVillas, maybe you'd be better off staying away from public internet forums where you just might find people expressing views you don't agree with or want to hear. That way you can avoid having your hackles raised unnecessarily.

"Yes, I do celebrate in my own way CheerfulYank - a way that is understated, in keeping with being an adult rather than a child..."

The OP said she was having a lunch with family, not throwing herself a Mardi Gras style parade.

You're missing the point CheerfulYank and you know you are. Is being deliberately obtuse a habit of yours?

The OP was taking her child out of school to celebrate her birthday with her and a host of friends were taking the day off work to join her too - such was her determination that the celebraton be on the actual day of her birthday. Most normal people would have postponed it to the nearest weekend. Most normal people being adults who might very well enjoy their birthday but not expect the world to stand still because of it.

"World stand still?" Is she blocking off the street or something?

I really don't think I'm missing the point at all... a four year old is missing one day of school to go out for a family celebration with his Grandparents, one of who has early stage Alzheimers.

I think you are missing the point actually, and missing it spectacularly.

Suck it up. :o

Go away CheerfulYank. You're getting very boring now. It's only you and I left on the thread - everyone else got bored and left ages ago - and now I'm leaving too so you'll be here wittering away to yourself.

You appear to care far more about this than the woman whose birthday it was.

i bet she can't resist popping back though

i thought the op said that she did NOT ask or even expect her friends/relatives to take the time off, they did that themselves of their own free will? sometimes people do do nice things like that for friends/family!!

:o

We took our yr6 out of school for one day (friday - well, actually it was a staff development day but we would have taken him out even if it was a school day) to go on holiday with lots of friends for my 40th and we took him out (in term time) for 8 weeks in Y3 to travel the world. [backlash - waits for it . . .] however, just to clarify, we were in Australia and you can do that sort of thing there . . .sometimes . . .

Genevieve the child is not actually supposed to be at school, as the legal age to be in school is 5,

So the op can do as she pleases, i hope she has a great day, and the child isnt going to explode or anything for missing a bit of school, i dont see the problem

Although a child doesn't actually have to start school until the age of 5, if you actually accept a place prior to his fifth birthday you are expected to attend every day. You cannot cherry pick which days suit you to attend, especially in an over-subscribed school which means you will have essentially taken the place someone else could have used several times over.