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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to keep DD off school because she's knackered and it's going to be hot?

187 replies

ladymontdore · 21/07/2013 21:00

She's in reception and exhausted. They are also meant to be going for a walk and a picnic, forecast is for 31degs!!
Also think she could do with a bit of mummy time, last chance tomorrow when dd2 is at preschool!
I would present it as 'I'm not letting you go' not 'it's a treat'. and she may really want to go on the picnic anyway!

OP posts:
pointythings · 21/07/2013 22:28

Last two days of school will be all treats and fun, so I wouldn't. At my DD2's primary the children tend to get little presents from their teachers (mini bags of Haribos, that sort of thing) and it's all fun stuff. I'd send her in with instructions to take everything slooooowly and to drink lots. You have 6 weeks of relaxation coming for your DD.

I do think it's bonkers that schools can't get their act together and break up on a Friday and start back on a Monday though. I grew up in the Netherlands and there was none of this mid-week breaking up and starting crap. It's a nightmare, because on the whole holiday childcare charges more for loose days than for a whole week so it doesn't work for working parents at all.

sebastianthesingingaubergine · 21/07/2013 22:32

make her man up

She is five, possibly four. Man up? Really? Hmm

Viviennemary · 21/07/2013 22:35

YANBU. I am not usually in favour of keeping kids of school unless they're ill. But tomorrow is going to be very hot indeed so I'd let her stay off and have a restful day at home. And I doubt there will be very much going on.

Bunbaker · 21/07/2013 22:36

Hot!!!
We have had a crap weekend for weather - cold and cloudy. Come back sunshine.

LadyBeagleEyes · 21/07/2013 22:37

I was a bit Hmm about that comment too Sebastian.
And 'wimping out'.
It's not the bloody army.

notanyanymore · 21/07/2013 22:40

Yanbu

Flojobunny · 21/07/2013 22:41

YABU, she has 6 weeks to chill. School isn't optional.

notanyanymore · 21/07/2013 22:42

But putting it as 'I'm not letting you go' almost makes it sound like a punishment, I think you should put it differently

ZingWidge · 21/07/2013 22:50

mine finish on Tuesday/Wednesday

if it was really hot on Wednesday I'd keep them home - as they break up after lunch anyway.

so I can see where you are coming from, but a picnic and walk is fun - after all you do the same on a beach don't you?
I'd let her go. she can go to bed earlier after a nice cool bath.

so my verdict is that YAB a little bit U.

taleteller · 21/07/2013 22:51

Do what you think is right for your child. I kept one of mine off one day last week as very hot and and they were expected to do a sporting type activity all day - one of my DC could not cope with this (in my opinion) whereas the other was able to cope. My DC are older. For you this is reception - child will not even remember this by the time year 1 rolls round so not setting up some sort of bad example of school being optional. Some reception children much more able to cope than others so you as the parent should decide.

And some children are suffering in this weather - I know of 2 who had to go to hospital after suffering heat exhaustion last week. Yes they were okay in the end, yes the teachers did their best etc but they were 7 years old and had been outside all day.

Cherriesarelovely · 21/07/2013 22:53

Man up? Blimey!

I don't think yabu. On the other hand I don't think it would be a disaster if you did send her in. She will be very tired but probably have some fun with her classmates. I am teaching little ones tomorrow and I think we will be playing most of the day so I wouldn't be at all annoyed if some of mine didn't come in! Hope that doesn't sound like some terrible sort of admission!

Lonelybunny · 21/07/2013 22:56

Mine are soooo tired too as am I , I really feel like not sending them
In tommorow , we break up Wednesday

Original poster
ladymontdore · 21/07/2013 22:59

Thanks all, quite evenly balanced responses though, so I'm still wondering if IABU or not! Definitely won't bê telling her to 'man up' though!
I know they've got the hols to relax but dd does miss out on time with just me (no family around to take DD2). They get on well but DD2 is louder and more confident than DD1 and tends to dominate things -she has an extremely loud voice. Whereas DD2 is in preschool part time so has lots of time with just me. DD1 would appreciate some peaceful time with me.
If she is desperate to go of course I'll send her in.

OP posts:
WaitMonkey · 21/07/2013 23:22

Man up, wimping out. Really ? Hmm
YANBU. Its bloody hot, she is only 4/5 years old. I can never understand how anyone thinks a few days off in reception will mean a lack of understanding of the importance of school and a child failing their G.C.S.E's. Hmm

formicadinosaur · 21/07/2013 23:27

She's only reception aged. There are more important things then school. Have a nice day together.

Branleuse · 21/07/2013 23:28

if you want to, and she doesnt want to go on the trip, then do it.

formicadinosaur · 21/07/2013 23:29

You know what's best for your child.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 21/07/2013 23:31

YANBU. My DD2 was blue lighted to hospital with severe heat stroke last week. She's fine now but it was really scary. If you think your DD is suffering from the heat and likely to be adversely affected by this picnic (which sounds ill advised to me) then keep her home. I might not have said that before recent events. But having been through the last week .....keep her safe.

PigOnStilts · 21/07/2013 23:32

If its too much for your child then it's too much for her entire class, probably. You should talk to the school rather than let her off. You wouldn't catch kids on a picnic in that heat on the continent unless they were buried under deep shade.

Sparklingbrook · 21/07/2013 23:34

I always feel a bit sorry for the teachers in the last week of term. They have to go in while all around them parents are keeping their children off school. Sad I hope there are enough children to do the planned activities.

DrCoconut · 21/07/2013 23:39

I know school is not optional but it's ridiculous having the summer term go on so long when the weather is at its hottest. Our relatives in France and America are horrified by how short the summer holidays are here and I'm inclined to agree. Even the Scottish holidays seem to fit better with the weather patterns and if I'm not mistaken they are not longer, just earlier.

Jinsei · 21/07/2013 23:49

Are kids still at school next week? Shock I knew we finished earlier than most, but I assumed the rest of England would have finished on Friday last week!

As for the OP, yabu. It really isn't that hot, and if you teach your kids how to cope with it sensibly, they should be fine. She might be a bit tired, but presumably she'll have time to rest in the holiday. I think she should go to school.

Sparklingbrook · 21/07/2013 23:51

My two break up Wednesday Jinsei.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 21/07/2013 23:51

Jinsei it really isn't that hot Yes it bloody well is. In England. I'm guessing you aren't in England.

5madthings · 21/07/2013 23:52

I was tempted to do this with my reception aged child last week on Thursday as he was shattered, they were having sports week, a whole fecking week of sports in the hottest weather we have had all year and he was shattered. In the end I didn't and eh has had fun, plus their teacher put on a film form them to watch one afternoon as she said herself they are all shattered.

We break up on wed, I have two non uniform days, one animal themed plus various parties and a yr six leavers party (which includes family and siblings) after school one day to go to, I a, soooo done with school let it be the holidays already!

My reception aged child will probably go each to the remaining three days baring illness however as they do do fun stuff but he is so tired :(

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