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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think ONE holiday ONCE in term time should be allowed

201 replies

SilverStreak7 · 09/09/2013 16:02

Basically we booked to go away on a Sun Break (don't buy and newspaper but did buy for the vouchers) and only date we were given was next weekend .. We didn't think it would cause a major problem as my older two , when younger, came on two such holidays with us with no problems .. Now though Im given a letter (with a form to fill in) and letter says if permission is denied Id be liable to a fine or court action .. Some will say we have had six weeks for holidays, which is true, but Im on a limited income as only me and my boys and term time holidays are very expensive and I want them to at least have one holiday away . . This will not be a regular thing . ,probably won;t go again in term time.

To be more reasonable I have said if Homework is given I will make sure it is done and ready to be handed in on Tuesday

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 09/09/2013 18:05

Good point Sirzy bur I imagine parents with no moral integrity in terms of the truth will be selfish and shortsighted in not considering the potential impact on other children, particularly those with chronic illnesses.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 09/09/2013 18:05

Don't know about anyone else, but I don't take mine to see the GP every time they have a 24 hour bug!

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 09/09/2013 18:06

I think you are right mrsDB op has flounced but will be back after a name change.

I agree with those saying a holiday is lovely but you don't have a right to one.

ilovesooty · 09/09/2013 18:07

If your child is genuinely ill for a day the doctor is not going to issue a sick note as a matter of course.

missmapp · 09/09/2013 18:08

I'm a teacher and we went on one of these holidays, but went after school on fri and left late sun night so I , and the dcs, could go to school .

BTW, it is the only holiday we went on, despite my pittance megabucks income as a highly paid teacher.

Enjoy your weekend, you can do school and breaks.

Sirzy · 09/09/2013 18:11

DS has asthma, most of his problems involve overnight a and e trips - I very much doubt at that point I would be thinking to get a doctors note but he would need a few days off school to recover.

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 18:12

So originalsteamingnit and ilovesooty, if you don't take your DC to the GP when they have a 24 hour bug, then you wouldn't be expected to provide a sick note I take it? So I still don't get it. Why would it impact on the genuinely ill?

DDs school only asks for sick notes if illnesses are more than a weeks duration. Otherwise a note from the parent is enough. Is that not the same everywhere?

mumandboys123 · 09/09/2013 18:14

it's reasonable if teachers are also allowed one holiday during term time each year, yes.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 09/09/2013 18:19

Well because your child might have been off with a genuine stomach bug, but you might not have gone to get a GPs note! I'm just saying there are times of genuine illness when a note may not be provided, and if we had to give one just for a day's absence, that could be a problem. That's all.

luxemburgerli · 09/09/2013 18:21

it would be annoying ltEveDallas because you'd actually have to go and get a sick note, when your ill child should be in bed. I would frankly just refuse though, if the school tried that!

ilovesooty · 09/09/2013 18:22

There are schools asking for notes for all absences now, precisely because of lying parents trying to cover short term unauthorised absence.

ghostspirit · 09/09/2013 18:23

with my primary school children i have never been asked for a sick note. secondry school has asked for it when my daughter has had time of. the gp says they don't just give them out to school children and said if the school have a problem then they should ring the surgery. on the other had the school did say that an appointment card would be fine. to proove we have been. or even proof of medication.

my daughter missed quite abit of school at one point (not due to holidays) and you get lots of letters warnings and court threats. i was still getting them even after she had not had any time of in ages.

so yeah although i have said i would lie for a long weekend away. i guess you have to weigh up the risk that might bring as well

Titsnteeth · 09/09/2013 18:25

Yanbu I think holidays should be taken when you want (obviously not missing exams etc) holidays were never an issue when I was a child so I don't really understand all the fuss now.

Hiphopopotamus · 09/09/2013 18:34

I have to say for me, the worst part of this thread was the inference that the only people who can earn megabucks are the DP'S and the DH's.

Because obviously females never earn their own money for their children...

Confused
MNHQ
OliviaMMumsnet · 09/09/2013 18:36

Rules is Rules
TIA

soverylucky · 09/09/2013 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JenaiMorris · 09/09/2013 18:38

The only reason the OP isn't getting a barrage of "phone in sick" responses is that she's talking about a Sun holiday. fwiw I get quite sniffy about taking children out of school during term time, but whatever.

The obvious solution - as already mentioned - is to go after school on Friday and head back late on Sunday. Or even really early Monday morning - straight to school. Actually fuck it - come back early on the Monday but if you're a bit late apologise and say you went away for the weekend and got stuck.

Saffyz · 09/09/2013 18:41

YABU

Saffyz · 09/09/2013 18:42

A Teacher, I imagine, can well afford the over inflated holiday time holidays ..

This speaks volumes about your attitude to education, school and teachers.

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 18:45

Ah right ilovesooty, I could see how that could be annoying. Strangely DDs school doesn't do this, despite their awful attendance record. Maybe OP is also in an area where this isn't an issue.

Thymeout · 09/09/2013 18:46

Some of you are just thinking of your child and how much they'll miss by being absent. What you don't see is the effect on your child, when they're in school, of the absence of all the other children whose parents had the same idea as you and took them out for a cheap holiday.

At some times of the year, the teacher v rarely has a full class and new work has to be taught again and again. Everyone's learning is stalled while the absentees are brought up to speed.

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 18:51

To be fair saffyz, OP is talking about going on a £9.50 Sun Holiday. I'd be astounded if a teacher couldn't afford better than that Smile

GwendolineMaryLacey · 09/09/2013 18:51

MN at its absolute best as usual. Is it any wonder we have the reputation we do if this is an example Hmm?

Must hide AIBU again before I get totally pissed off at what a bunch of bitches there can be on here.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 09/09/2013 18:56

IMO, it makes no different if the OP is taking her children to her private island or to Skegness, I don't believe in taking children out of school for holidays. I wouldn't flame the OP but she has been seriously aggressive and irate in this thread, which is why people got cross with her.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 09/09/2013 18:57

I have to say in MN's defence, it was not bitchy but the OP got very aggressive. These threads get heated but not bitchy, the OP was gunning for a bun fight and oh look.........!