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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate it when one of the DC is off school sick?

40 replies

Sparklingbaubles · 14/12/2011 08:27

DS has been up half the night and is feeling horrible this morning. He's 12 so he doesn't need my constant attention or anything, in fact he's gone back to bed.

Didn't have anything I needed to do particuarly today, but I will just feel mithered all day.

Done the dreaded school phone call to the 'attendance line', and will now worry about his 2nd day off sick this term because of all the attendance targets.

I think some of this comes from my Dad really frowning on me having days off sick as a child. He told me I was 'putting it on' and I turned out to have Chicken Pox.

OP posts:

tryingtoleave · 14/12/2011 10:19

I'm going to have two at home tomorrow and I have soooo much work to do. I thought I would catch up with some tonight, but dd woke up screaming and feverish 30 min after I put her to sleep, refused to take medicine, finally got her to sleep but she had already woken up ds who is still awake two hours later! He is being very good, but I am stuck sitting with him.

cory · 14/12/2011 10:23

Depends on the school, Fig. Dd's junior school was obsessed with targets, so we not only had frequent visits from the EWO but the head kept calling in Social Services (tbh I think that was deliberate intimidation tactics and to do them credit SS were not at all impressed). Even so, nothing actually ever happened: we were never fined and certainly never threatened with prison. They can't exclude for poor attendance. And dd's attendance was exceptionally poor.

Becaroooodolf · 14/12/2011 10:25

Honestly?

I dont give a rubbery fuck what the school "attendance targets" are!

If my dc are ill they stay at home. I ring the school and tell them whats wrong and when I expect them to be back. Better for them, better for me,better for the teachers who dont have to try and teach a child who is not well/been up all night and better for the other children who dont catch it!!

Never had an issue tbh - and ds1 has had lots of time off over winters in the past due to asthma.

In fact, at his new school, I took him into school when he had impetigo on his ear, but was asked to take him home til it cleared up (had no idea they couldnt go to school with impetigo!)

OldeChestnut · 14/12/2011 10:28

I dont give a rubbery fuck what the school "attendance targets" are!

absolutely

you are the mum, you know if the kid is sick or not, regardless of targets

DoesNotGiveAFig · 14/12/2011 10:29

thats awful cory I am glad SS gave them no credit whatsoever! It's ridiculous! Hope your DD improves soon.

Becaroooodolf · 14/12/2011 10:31

Yep

For example, ds1 (8) was coughing in a rather dramatic fashion this morning - was fine all night and no temp - so I gave him some calpol and told him we would see how he was tomorrow. He is fine.

He is tired and he is ready for the end of term - which is 22nd here - but that doesnt mean he is ill.

If he had been up in the night/had a temp I would have kept him at home.

Becaroooodolf · 14/12/2011 10:32

cory I am sorry to hear of your problems. The lack of compassion for the children and parents affected by long term/chronic illness is awful

letmehelp · 14/12/2011 10:41

You know YABU, but I do know how you feel. I think it's all to do with your routine being disrupted, it just makes you feel a bit "off"

I used to love it when DCs were small and I could spend the day on the sofa with them, but not the same now they're older.

I sypmathise with your your childhood situation - the only days I ever had off sick in my whole school career were when I had chicken pox and Mum couldn't get away with sending me to school. She's 65 now and has never had a day off from her teaching job in her life.

Original poster

Sparklingbaubles · 14/12/2011 20:15

Thanks all. It's definitely a mixture of my upbringing and all this attendance percentage stuff. He has had a day on the sofa, sleeping and watching tv and is looking a little perkier.

squeaky I thought about leaving him but he said he felt dizzy when he woke up.

DS2 (9) on the other hand. It turns out that his wrist injury from last Saturday is actually a fracture.

OP posts:

nailak · 14/12/2011 20:26

I waS threatened with a fine for my dd1(4) in her first half term of reception. She's sick what can I.do? Send her in when she has a temp or throat so sore she can't talk?

Personally I hate when she's sick as routine for younger 2 re toddler group etc is ruined, and I have 3 upset lids.

elliejjtiny · 14/12/2011 20:29

cory does your dd have EDS? My ds2 has that and I'm dreading how he's going to be when he is older (he is 3). Judging by how he is at the moment I think there will be a lot of time of school needed.

Original poster

Sparklingbaubles · 14/12/2011 20:32

Can they fine you nailak?

OP posts:

RainboweBrite · 14/12/2011 20:42

As far as I know, you're only at risk of being. fined once you have 9 absences/latenesses per term.
Cory, my heart goes out to you and your DD.
OP, of course it is a bit annoying when the DCs are off sick, but not much you can do.

Original poster

Sparklingbaubles · 14/12/2011 20:44

I need to get a grip-this morning wasn't good. I have to take DS2 to the fracture clinic tomorrow so more missed school!!

OP posts:

nailak · 14/12/2011 20:47

I'm not sure if they actually can, but they said they can.

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