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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:
SimplyRedHead · 22/07/2013 13:00

My four year old had a sponsored walk and picnic last week.

3 children were physically sick at the picnic with sun stroke and almost half were off school the next day with heat induced illness.

We went but left very early.

YAdefNBU.

XBenedict · 22/07/2013 13:01
Sad
snoworneahva · 22/07/2013 13:07

Both my primary school dcs came home from school last week with heat exhaustion, it is that hot if you are not used to it. I don't think the op is being unreasonable, heat can make some people feel very poorly.

wannaBe · 22/07/2013 13:08

no wonder people in this country can't cope wiith the occasional hot day when parents treat their little darlings like delicate flowers when the sun makes an appearance. How on earth do people think children cope in countries where it actually is hot? yabu.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 22/07/2013 13:13

Well, they have air-conditioned schools. They have a school day that starts and ends earlier. They don't make them go outside. They have lighter uniforms. And of course, the kids are acclimatised to the heat. and they start school older.

wannaBe How do you think that really small children who have not known heat like this in their whole lives (last comparably hot spell was 2006 - that's 7 years ago) who attend schools with no air con which aren't designed for this sort of heat, who are made to go outside in the middle of the day by teachers as ill informed and lacking in empathy or even just common sense as you appear to be, are going to cope, hmmm? Hmm

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 22/07/2013 13:14

Because as someone else upthread stated, schools are more geared up for it. They do t attend schools where blazers are worn at all times or theirs little to no air condition. And probably they are more considerate and vigilant with the younger ones.

ImperialBlether · 22/07/2013 13:19

It's not that the OP was saying her daughter was exhausted by the heat, it was because she said the following that she was unreasonable:

Also think she could do with a bit of mummy time, last chance tomorrow when dd2 is at preschool!

DD1 would appreciate some peaceful time with me.

Owllady · 22/07/2013 13:21

Mine are all at school until Wednesday too, I am making the most of it by lazing about and having afternoon naps and the like Blush

we don't have air conditioning at home, nor at any of the schools from what i know. My lot seem to cope, even the one with chronic epilepsy

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 22/07/2013 13:22

YABU

My eldest is in reception, and he isn't sleeping that well. But we are modifying our routine. Naps in the afternoon where possible and dinner later, eaten outside where it is cool and then bedtime once the house has cooled a bit.

It is 33 degrees here today and he's gone in as normal. Sunscreen, hat, they have shade in the playgrounds. They are all having such a lovely time, playing and enjoying themselves. Friendships are really cementing which I think is important before the long holiday and then harder work in Y1.

Owllady · 22/07/2013 13:22

anyway, do what you like OP, she is your daughter! :)

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 22/07/2013 13:22

God the whinging about a bit of sun! It's really not THAT hot actually. Kids in Australia deal with this all the time and yes I KNOW we're not used to it but honestly....water, a hat and some suncream and they're fine!

As for missing the picnic...she'll be sad surely? Especially if you tell her "I'm not letting you" that sounds like she's been naughty or something.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 22/07/2013 13:23

Y is that so unreasonable. ? If she's shattered, burnt out and only has a couple of days left anyway, absolutely a quiet mummy day where she can stay cool in the house or a paddling pool and mummy can make sure she drinks plenty, and get mummy to herself, is acceptable. She's five. My dds seven and part of me wishes I'd kept her he today so I know she's drinking plenty, able to cool off and isn't say in a classroom scratching herself stupid with the heat. Especially as last time she tried to stay indoors in the cool and read a book she got sent outside in the heat.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 22/07/2013 13:25

owllady With respect, just because your kids can cope doesn't mean everyone's can. I don't assume everyone's kids can't cope, just because my girls have both been really unwell as a result of the heat. I know it's because of their colouring, physique and other issues (low blood pressure, anaemic, one of them has a heart murmur). But I find it annoying that people who's kids don't have an issue with the heat rubbish those of us whose kids are adversely affected.

Are you any relation to the owl man? Or the fur coat lady?

RussiansOnTheSpree · 22/07/2013 13:26

Neo I'll tell the hospital who treated my DD2 that they are wrong then, shall I? Hmm

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 22/07/2013 13:26

So it's ok for you to sleep and laze about then owl but not a 5 yr old?

StuntGirl · 22/07/2013 13:28

Exactly Imperial.

Owllady · 22/07/2013 13:30

I am not bothered if the OP keeps her dd off! it's completely up to her. I let my 5 yr old have a day off last week because he said he had a headache and I thought that was heat related, maybe he hadn't drank enough fluids, so he had a day at home. It's what I do tbh.

I don't know owl man or fur coat and no knickers, no

and your dd has health issues russians, of course things affect people differently Confused

shadeofme · 22/07/2013 13:33

Russian I am sorry your dd was in hospital, it must have been awful for you.

However, the OP isn't keeping her dd for heat reasons, this is all about 'mummy time'.

I think you might be missing that point.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 22/07/2013 13:33

Owl My DDs are affected by the heat. That's their issue. Many people have this issue. You tossed in your epileptic child as some kind of badge to indicate - what? That people who suffer from the heat are wimps? My son is partially deaf, he doesn't have a problem with the heat. Does this invalidate the fact that the girls do? No it doesn't.

I thought your nickname was a charming literary reference. I see I was wrong. Ah well. :(

impecuniousmarmoset · 22/07/2013 13:34

All this talk of how hot countries manage is completely by the by. Of course they manage, because everything is set up for the heat. Houses and public buildings are designed with ventilation and keeping cool as key priorities, even if there is no aircon, playgrounds are designed with shade in mind, uniforms and school days are adapted accordingly. Plus when you live in a hot country you acclimatise to the heat! I lived in the tropics for a while and your body just adapts.

All that has got nothing to do with the situation in the UK right now, with hot muggy homes and classrooms, no shade and no chance to acclimatise. So all your 'it's only 30 degrees, it's not that hot' is complete nonsense in the context of the UK. Transplant us all to the South of France and we'll all cope fine!

Owllady · 22/07/2013 13:35

Russians, I have clearly hit a nerve with you and I apologise

RussiansOnTheSpree · 22/07/2013 13:35

shade It's BOTH reasons. I think you might be missing that point. She was trying to explain that it wouldn't be mean keeping her child away from school when they were doing 'treat' things, because she'd have a nice time at home too.

But actually it doesn't matter - a picnic in today's heat for the places that haven't copped for the storms yet, is lunacy. A picnic in the places that have already started the scary storms, is lunacy. Either way, kids shouldn't be picnicing today.

Owllady · 22/07/2013 13:36

and the weather makes me as grumpy as fuck. I don't cope well with it at all Blush

XBenedict · 22/07/2013 13:37

Because it is different in hotter countries. DD went to school in temperatures over 40 on a regular basis during pre school, reception and Y1 but there were rarely any cases of heatstroke, severe sunburn, dehydration

XBenedict · 22/07/2013 13:38

Transplant us all to the South of France and we'll all cope fine!

Now there's a fine idea Wink