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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you can't go without a cigarette for the length of a school trip, you should not volunteer as a parent helper?

105 replies

Greythorne · 02/12/2011 16:41

My DD went ice skating with her class this afternoon. They ask for parent helpers to get the kids togged out in their skating clothes, in ice skates and helmets. Everyone meets at the rink at 1.30 and they children get on a coach to go back to school at 3.15 so it's a total of one hour and forty five minutes.

AIBU in thinking if you cannot last that long without having a fag in full view of all the kids (twice, and that's in addition to the one she had oitside the rink out of view during the lesson) then you shouldn't volunteer.

OP posts:
MollyTheMole · 02/12/2011 19:28

I wouldnt care as long as they did their job well.

When I was in school seeing a teacher / ta / volunteer was like finding the grail. All mysterious and shrouded in, er, mystery. It didnt leave any lasting damage or make me think "hmm mrs miggins had a cig on the way to Jodrell Bank, I think I'll start smoking cos she looked dead cool"

so yabu, unclench

usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 19:55
BluddyMoFo · 02/12/2011 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

girliefriend · 02/12/2011 20:00

yanbu - I would not be happy about this if it was my dds school trip and would prob moan to one of the teachers. Its just not appropriate really.

mrsjay · 02/12/2011 20:00

YANBU as a smoker id never light up when i went on school trips its rude and irritating why should i nip out for a fag when im meant to be helping out ,

usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 20:04

I used to nip for a fag behind the bus with the teachers Xmas Grin

redpanda13 · 02/12/2011 20:20

I am a non smoker but would not get worked up about this. I doubt the children give a damn, were traumatised, take up smoking or even remember later that night that so and so's mum had a cigarette.

Though if I had seen a chic, French woman puffing on Gauloises I may have thought smoking was just a little bit cool.

AmberLeaf · 02/12/2011 20:21

Grin @ Hullygully

Millicano · 02/12/2011 20:22

Can't see a problem with it. Not as if the kids are having fags rammed down their throats is it.

Traceymac2 · 02/12/2011 20:29

I don't think it's appropriate, especially when the whole trip was only 1hr 45mins! Wasn't she there to mind the kids? It does set a bad example, Other members of the public can do as they wish but she was representing the school. It doesn't sound like there would have been time to nip off for two cigarettes. What were the children she was looking after doing when she was smoking?

IReallyHateMyCat · 02/12/2011 20:36

Alcohol isn't illegal but i wouldn't stop for a pint while out with the school Hmm.

I just think its rude to get yourself all smelly and then get on a bus full of kids, beyond that if its a 2 hour sodding field trip where you are meant to be helping how helpful is it if the volunteer has fucked off for breaks the wholetime

usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 20:36

bloody hell when did MN get so po-faced?

adamschic · 02/12/2011 20:38

FFS lay off the smokers. They are doing something perfectly LEGAL, you might not like it but tough. Also the great outdoors are the only smoke friendly place nowadays so they can do it at their free will.

It's most likely that the kids who do take up smoking have po faced parents to rebel against. All the teens I know who smoke have non smoking parents. It's the biggest rebellion atm.

I'm an ex smoker btw who respects everyones right to do something legal.

IReallyHateMyCat · 02/12/2011 20:39

All the teens I know who smoke have non smoking parents. It's the biggest rebellion a

that's interesting because all research goes against that fact.

squeakytoy · 02/12/2011 20:41

I always used to smoke on school trips...

Got detention if we were caught, but usually managed to be with the teachers who smoked too, so we didnt care.. Grin

adamschic · 02/12/2011 20:42

Alcohol is a choice unless you are an alcoholic. Most people who smoke need to do it regularly to feel normal, almost like eating. Has anyone who hasn't smoked ever been really hungry, well it's similar, only easier to wait for food than it is for tobacco. You can go without food for about 4 hours without discomfort, with smoking it's about 40 mins.

adamschic · 02/12/2011 20:43

The research is probably biased. I'm going on RL.

countlessbabychams · 02/12/2011 21:53

redpanda I'm an ex-smoker,but your mention of Gauloises gave me a little twinge.....

I can also sympathise with the fact that not being able/supposed to have a fag makes you want it all the more.It's not the length of time so much.One of the reasons I gave up smoking is because of these situations where you're gagging for a fag but made to feel like a leper.It's hard.

ggirl · 02/12/2011 21:58

yanbu
but tbh I feel kind of sorry for the smoker who is so addicted they can't be without for such a short time

TrickyBiscuits · 02/12/2011 22:01

I simply can't get worked up over this.

winnybella · 02/12/2011 22:03

Heh heh. You're in France, yes? Was anyone else as disgusted as you?

DS's teacher (in CP) used to light up with parents after classes- 2 meters away from school entrance.

Meh. Who cares.

Original poster
Greythorne · 02/12/2011 22:08

winnybella

No-one else mentioned it. I did not mention it! But I do think it's not beyond the self control of most sentient adults to wait for less than two hours for a fag!

To be honest, I may just be a total old fogey because I would feel the sane if she had stood there muching a bag of crisps or scarfing down Haribo sweeties. It just seems unnecessary during a school trip.

But I accept that I may have weird ideas about what's ok and how we model behaviour to our DC and those we are responsible for.

OP posts:
LoveInAColdClimate · 02/12/2011 22:10

YANBU. Ick.

WhoopsyLa · 02/12/2011 22:12

IF they can swig wine and sell it at school fairs then parents who want to can smoke in front of DC.

MitziKinsky · 02/12/2011 22:15

There are some things you just don't do on school trips.

Smoking, using your mobile, swearing, drinking. Schools probably presume they don't need to point these out to most people. I know schools who won't let parents on trips unless they are CRB checked to that school.