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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to think this is a bit strange?

16 replies

DoingTheSwanThing · 05/12/2012 23:45

DS1 is in the school nativity (he's in reception, I think he's 7th Onlooker or something). Obviously DP and I will be proud and blubbering.

There a 4 showings - 1 for the juniors, 2 for "strictly parents only" - at £1.50 per ticket. The 4th is for grandparents and "senior citizens". This one' is free and involves complimentary tea and biscuits!

Typically he arrived home with this in writing today. Deadline for numbers is tomorrow

So we should pay to see our child, of course in costume provided by us, admittedly with a weeks notice of costume for once while the local randomers have a free afternoon out.

OTOH it is a lovely little school. They just make me want to scream sometimes.

OP posts:

Original poster

DoingTheSwanThing · 05/12/2012 23:47

*there are physically incapable of spotting errors until posted

OP posts:

FlourFace · 05/12/2012 23:48

So grandparents and parents can't go together? Odd.

apostrophethesnowman · 05/12/2012 23:49

Granparents aren't "randoms" and local senior citizens awww come on. They will love seeing the little ones perform. It's a nice, kind thing for the school to do.

It is Christmas after all.

apostrophethesnowman · 05/12/2012 23:50

grandparents

LilyThePinkaPinkaPink · 05/12/2012 23:50

My dc school does something like this too.
For some "local randomers", it is likely to be some of their only contact during the Christmas period, apart from carers and duty visits from family.
I can think of plenty of things about school that makes me want to scream, but I can't get worked up about this at all, I think it sounds lovely on the school's part.

Pandemoniaa · 05/12/2012 23:54

I'm a bit surprised that you are being charged to see your own children in their nativity play but I'm fairly unimpressed that you consider grandparents to be randomers.

MrsMushroom · 05/12/2012 23:59

Yabu. Our school always opens to the local elderly....and not just in Nativity week either. We had an open invitation to them when we made some changes to the building.;...we always have them on fete's and things. It's called a COMMUNITY.

Original poster

DoingTheSwanThing · 06/12/2012 00:01

Ok I accept IABU and uncharitable to call them randomers. It's nice. He does keep being told about stranger danger at school though.

OP posts:

BackforGood · 06/12/2012 00:17

Yes, YABU.
The Juniors will be the dress rehearsal.
The local elderly folk will be their 'doing something in the COmmunity'
and the parents are all a dead cert to want to see their LOs in their Nativities, so it's a good opportunity to raise a few ££ for school funds, which, ultimately is spent to benfit the children.
Seriously, would anybody be put off their child's Nativity Play by a £1.50 charge ? Really ??

cbeebiesatemybrain · 06/12/2012 00:19

I don't think yabu actually. As you said you paid for the costumes, I think they are cheeky to expect you to pay to see your own child perform when others can go for free. They should just ask for donations for all performances, much fairer imo.

blackeyedsusan · 06/12/2012 00:20

hmm, dc's grandmother needs her carer with her... ie me. she is currently incapavble of going out on her own... let them work that on eout..

rollmeover · 06/12/2012 01:12

I dont get charging for your own kids nativity. Surely a donation is a better idea and some folk will chuck in £5 or £10 and others 50p and it will all even out.
So you are not being unreasonable about that, though I think its lovely that the local old folks get to come and see it!

Valdeeves · 06/12/2012 01:21

It wouldn't bother me but then I'm a Drama teacher. We used to charge to cover costumes but as you are doing that I admit it does seem a bit strange as a nativity has no licence fee to cover etc etc.
I think they just want to raise some cash - personally I think it's wrong to charge here but at least it's cheap!

HyvaPaiva · 06/12/2012 08:58

Even when I was at primary school many years ago, we had a free performance for local elderly people. It was a small community (so not many attending) and we really made the most of it. It was the sweetest thing: they would come in for the show and then be served a little Christmas dinner in the school hall. It was so caring and festive and even as a child I was so proud of that gesture and loved it. I remember feeling so good serving them their mince pies and really shouting out my lines so they could hear . They were always so happy. Lovely memories for us all.

SilverBaubles33 · 06/12/2012 09:08

"the local randomers?"

When my dcs were in reception, they often went to the local old folks home to sing or clatter about dance.

They loved it and looked out for the same old people who came tp watch their shows. I thought it was lovely that they were interested enough to want to attend and support the kids.

I'm going to be a local randomer one day. I hope the local school will include me as part of the community.

pulledmuscle · 06/12/2012 09:11

Yanbu, my school's worse, whereas previously nativity and christmas shows were free for parents/carers/relatives, this year the school has sent letters out stating 'due to safety reasons, admission by ticket only'. Tickets are £1 each and max of 2!!! per family. What if you have more than 1 preschooler at home? I dont mind paying for tickets, its good for school funds, but the reasons given? Come on school, give us some credit!!

Flip