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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The school have successfully ruined bonfire night for my DS

224 replies

goingupinsmoke · 05/11/2012 18:57

I'm wondering AIBU, I'm sat her pretty peed off. DH and I arranged to put our dogs with a friend and we bought a small selection of fireworks for the back garden, these were low noise tame ones DS are 8 & 5. It was supposed to be a surprise!!

So the boys come out and are scared to death of the fireworks, and started to tell us the school have been talking all day about the danger, they have shown my DS 8 pictures of people with burnt faces, he described the eyelids all burnt, people with burnt tummys and one picture of someone missing a leg.

Don't get me started on sparklers, Oh no mum we are not allowed them, look my coat has big sleeves, our gloves aren't the correct type.

Sod this over protective nonsense, there is safety then there is scaring kids stupid and wrecking something that should be fun.

Opinions??

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 05/11/2012 19:25

Marriedinwhite

That sounds lovely and much like bonfire night when I was a child.

Jacket potatos, bangers, beans, grated cheese and french mustard!

CailinDana · 05/11/2012 19:26

So if your dogs are with the neighbours why can't you go to a display?

NuzzleandScratch · 05/11/2012 19:26

So your dogs are scared of fireworks, so you think it's a good idea to have some in your garden?!Confused

NuzzleandScratch · 05/11/2012 19:27

Sorry, just seen the dogs aren't there! Apologies!

TeWiDoesTheHulaInHawaii · 05/11/2012 19:27

It's a bit of a shame, it's important to learn about fire safety in a practical way and if they're too scared to go anywhere near then that creates safety problems of it's own.

The walk to preschool this am was littered with blown up pumpkins and spent rockets, on the other hand...

Soapysuds64 · 05/11/2012 19:29

my daughter has come in from rainbows where they had sparklers. The thumb and index finger of her ski glove has a hole melted in it, because the sparkler burnt down too far. Just glad I sent her with the ski gloves, not the woolly ones.....

Original poster
goingupinsmoke · 05/11/2012 19:29

TidyDancer the public display isn't on tonight it's on next saturday? and I can't leave the dogs with my neighbours next saturday as they are out - Blimey, feel like I'm on the stand. Promise you it's not a trick post.

That's not my point, I choose to have a small display in my back garden - I'm miffed by the level of fear that has been put into my boys for something that is traditional and enjoyable in my family. so I was asking AIBU.

I'm trying to gauge the level of fear and safety that others have.

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 05/11/2012 19:29

I can remember getting shown these pictures when i was at school about a hundre years ago, fireworks are dangerous and they harm people nothing wrong in the school showing the dangers some kids took fireworks into dd school today and let them off in the corridors Shock was high school not primary but still they are lethal and IMgrumpy O they should be banned for publis use, I am sorry your boys were upset though

C0smos · 05/11/2012 19:31

Sorry I think the school did the right thing, fireworks are really dangerous and should be banned, I'm shocked you can still buy them in the UK. I live in Africa and they are banned here, even public displays are uncommon and there are usually petitions to stop them as they scare animals. I haven't heard a single firework this year.

Sirzy · 05/11/2012 19:31

So go to a proper display then problem solved!

Even fireman sam all week has been doing a big thing of firework safety and thats aimed at much younger children. From the age they are old enough to want to go to fireworks/'play' with sparklers they need to know in an age appropriate way the dangers of them.

There is a 10 year old in hospital in Salford at the moment who has learnt the hard way the dangers of fireworks, there are probably too many other children the same but that is the case that has been in the media at the moment. Which would you prefer them to know how the dangers and how it has to be done in safe controlled conditions or to risk them being the child who ends up with burns for life?

stargirl1701 · 05/11/2012 19:32

YABU. Fireworks and children do not mix. Go to a public display. Much more impressive and far safer.

BigBoobiedBertha · 05/11/2012 19:32

If you can't leave the dogs at home to go to a public display why don't you just leave the dogs with the neighbour that has them this evening?

I can't understand why anybody would want their own fireworks anyway, if they had ever been to a public display. Having your own at home is wowhere near as good and certainly not value for money.

CajaDeLaMemoria · 05/11/2012 19:32

I was hit by a firework as a child.

My face healed. My body didn't. It looks vile. Still, now, after all these years. It hurt, and it was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. Most of my t-shirt and coat had melted into the wound, and they had to try to rip it out in the ambulance.

We were at a small but official demonstration. The fire brigade were nearby. My foster dad was a fireman. I was stood still, behaving myself, with everyone else. Within the designated area. It went out of control. "Unpredictable". Gun powder is, you see. It's a weapon.

I'd praise the school for educating children, personally.

CailinDana · 05/11/2012 19:32

The level of injury a child could sustain from fireworks doesn't justify the short-lived fun they create IMO. Having a child play around something that could remove their limbs or give them serious burns is just a bit pointless.

Original poster
goingupinsmoke · 05/11/2012 19:34

ARhh - my neighbours can't have the dogs the night of the local public display.

OP posts:
Rachel130690 · 05/11/2012 19:34

I think YANBU. I may be alone but I agree with you.

Kids should know about the dangers of fireworks but as long as they are with a responsible adult I see no problem. It's not like your going to let your child run around with a firework. I think people can be OTT about things.

When I was growing up we always had fireworks at Halloween and tonight, but we knew the dangers and where not allowed onto the grass or near them at any time. We knew and we never tried to get close to them.

As for sparklers we never wore gloves when we used them, we all had bare hands and thankfully nothing happened to us, I no not everyone is lucky but as long as your kids no the rules and act responsibily I see no problem.

I think the school took it way to far, I'm glad they explain dangers but they shouldn't scare kids.

Fireworks are there to be enjoyed if used correctly and responsibly.(I no this isn't always the case)

Mrsjay · 05/11/2012 19:36

Public nor publis sorry lots of typos in my last post
the fireworks that are going off around here are like blooming bombs they are so loud I jumped a mile we don't even live in the sticks it is a built up area tomorrow I will be picking up spent fireworks from my garden Hmm

bureni · 05/11/2012 19:36

COsmos, they can only be bought over the counter in Britain, a licence is required along with a police check before fireworks can be bought or used in N.I.

Original poster
goingupinsmoke · 05/11/2012 19:36

Rachel130690 think it's just you me and Marriedinwhite, oh and DH who is pretty annoyed that he now has to sons who are wobbly over a few fizzy fireworks in a wheelbarrow at the end of a 50ft field.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 05/11/2012 19:36

You are being beyond unreasonable.

Sirzy · 05/11/2012 19:39

Why can't you demonstrate to them how to set them off safely? Why do you need to make it into a big issue?

Your DH can set them off and you watch from inside or at the other end of the garden.

EdgarAllanPond · 05/11/2012 19:40

i don't know why the op is getting such a hard time.

i don't have any problem with school telling my kids to drop sparklers once out, not pick them up again, ec,

i don't have a problem with them being told not to go back to a lit firework, to get an adult to light them, not to throw them etc etc etc.

nor, it seems does the op

I would have a problem with graphic images of burn victims. I'd have a problem with them being too scared to enjoy a firework display at home.

Flisspaps · 05/11/2012 19:41

OP: AIBU?

Majority: yes, YABU

OP: But X - AIBU now?

Majority: Yes, YA still BU

OP: But Y - AIBU?

Majority: YES, YABVU

OP: I don't think IABU Angry

Majority: Confused

Sugarice · 05/11/2012 19:41

For goodness sake, get a grip!

You as his Parent will teach him the right way regarding fireworks and Sparklers.

We always had a party with sparklers/fireworks and a bucket of water and plenty of adult supervision.No one has ever let a child run round with a Sparkler at my house or at a house party elsewhere.

Yes, be aware of safety precautions in your back garden and put pets away to safety but it's all about how you deal with it and don't let your dh return to an unexploded firework, it's not rocket science you know! Grin

Sirzy · 05/11/2012 19:42

Edgar, like I said earlier telling children something is likely to go in one ear and out the other or the possible risks not understood. Showing a picture and giving children a visual example of what could happen is much more likely to make them think

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