To keep DD off school tomorrow just because I want to take her to see my Mum?

[TheHouseOnTheCorner]

She's 7 and in year three. My Mum hasn't been well but is better now...she's had a run of crap luck and her car is now off the road. It MAY be fixable or not and I know she wont be able to afford another one really. It's her birthday tomorrow (mums) and I am planning to go on the train with DD aged 4 tto visit her...take a present etc...I know Mum will like this.

I want, I have just decided to take DD1 aswell. Mainly because Mum will like this and because DD will like it. We rarely go there as I dont drive and Mum hasnt been here for about 3 weeks...not long...but it is when you're 7 and haven't seen your Gran in ages....and you're used to seeing her three times a week.

AIBU to give DD the day off and take her to see Mum instead? She's probably had about 4 or 5 days off this year through sickness.

Yes but half of the other posters were prepared to do the same - are you saying there's nothing to discuss here?

good god, are you honestly saying that a couple of days off during primary school means you'll amount to nothing?

NOR does it mean that OP is a hideously neglectful and abusive mother for considering it. For the Love of God, there are worse things a parent could do.

I think that sometimes absence is unavoidable. Children are not going to miss out on a place at university because they had a copule of days off in primary school.
I kept DS off for a day when he was 5 because his dad had been working abroad for 4 months and we went to McDonalds for lunch on the day he came home for 3 weeks. My friend was helping out that day in school and I asked her to tell the teacher that DS wouldn't be in and why. 'Shall I put M for Mcdonalds in the register' she said. Sarcastic cow.

Vessel. It won't be just a couple of days, though, will it?
The point you are obviously missing is that if you consider taking your kids out of school for such a trivial reason, it will almost certainly not happen on just one occasion.
If going to see Granny is ok this week, why not book theatre tickets for next week, and ice skating the next? Where do you actually draw the line and a few days becomes too many?

If OP was struggling to get out of bed and get her LO to school in the morning cos she spent all night drinking and taking crack I'd think she was out of order. Given that she was merely considering it for going to see family, really doesn't ring any alarm bells.

or the teachers decide to shut the school ! [and they are seen shopping at the local mall]. Ha ha

Teachers don't have the authority to close a school.

And I think apart from sickness, unless there are urgent personal circumstances, all children should be in school, every day. It sends a poor message to them that it's ok to take days off for any other reason.

the teachers can shut the school if they all go on strike.
I will hold my hands up and say I have let my kids take a sneaky day off-very rarely-but have. I am obviously in the minority but all my kids love school, are motivated and committed and really have not took the attitude that "I have had a school day off so sod education now !".
I do not for one minute think that a childs confidence plummets for having one day off Black. My DD2 missed almost 6 weeks due to glandular fever in year 6 and her education has not suffered one jot so I cannot envisage one day making a difference.

I remember when I was at school, in the 1980s. My mum kept me off one day as she had a day off work and I needed new clothes for school, so we went shopping to the big town on the bus. This was in the days before internet shopping, when the shops were closed on Sunday. Saturday was big shop day at the supermarket and with 4 children and a pram it would have ben impossible to to both types of shopping on the same day.
I remember being very surprised to see my headmaster also wagging school. He was out shopping with his wife, following her around the local market with the shopping bags. What a shocking example to set.

Love it insancerre !

the teachers can shut the school if they all go on strike

They don't "decide" to shut the school: the headteacher does.

My DD2 missed almost 6 weeks due to glandular fever in year 6

But she was sick and that was unavoidable. I expect the teachers made efforts to help her catch up with work missed as well. At what point do you think children are disadvataged by days off then?

In any case, education is not optional, and I don't think pupils should be given the message that it is by being allowed to miss school for non urgent reasons.

headteacher not a lot of option if no teachers !! ha ha !
Just was making point that yes you can miss a day and not be disadvantaged if you are a parent who keeps on top of things and backs education per se.
Funny how this thread is anti days of school and another thread is "go on have the day off".

Also It appears to be fine for heads to close schools for funerals etc. In theory I agree with this however, not when funeral not till 2.30 and half the current staff didn't even know the deceased

That it belfaft our school closed Friday due to getting ready for May ball no one worried about my child being disadvantaged then !! Is that an urgent reason !!