To keep the DSs off school today.

[MagicLlama]

We had one of our horses PTS yesterday. The DSs (9 & 8) knew about it, said goodbye before they went into school. I told the teachers and they both seem to have been OK.
After school when we went to the field to sort out the others, both DSs were really upset at the absence of the old mare, and have spent most of last evening crying about her off and on.
They have both had really restless nights sleep with nightmares (which is unusual for them) and have only just woken up this morning, despite usually getting up around 6!. They both look like zombies, and are still curled up in bed.
WIBU to keep them off school today, on the basis that they are both just worn out from last night?

Would being in school, especially with Christmas fun, not be a good distraction though?

I'd be inclined to send them, but let their teacher(s) know they had a bad night and may be tired. I think Christmas fun at school might be just the tonic.

Routine is good for kids, even if it's the mucked up routine of fun at the end of term. Get them to school but tell the teacher they were pest overnight and if they don't cope to ring you.

Very sorry to hear about your horse, by the way.

See I'm not sure tbh. School might well be a fun distraction for them and it won't be heavy going this close to Xmas.

However distraction isn't dealing with it. And maybe a day at home to rest, talking about how they are feeling and coming to terms with the loss of your poor dear horse might help them feel better.

Let them choose and if they want have a cosy day at home. School isn't the only part of a child's life.

Did you mean to put a sarcastico face next to your sympathy? I am sure you didn't

I'd send them, even if you're a little late because they got up late. They will be doing fun things today and it would be a shame for them to miss out, especially when they have a reason to need cheering up. Otherwise they will mope at home all day.

Yes being in school would be a distraction for them, they just look so tired. My DSs are usually w whirl of -uncontrolled-- energy from the second they awake to the second they pass out from tiredness, so to see them both just lying in bed means they are either ill or just worn out. Given the crying fits from yesterday, I guess just worn out.
If given the choice they would definitely spend the day off. DS1 has already asked if he can spend the day with the other pony. Its hit him harder than DS2, and he tends to internalise his anxieties, so I worry a bit about sending him off to plaster a happy face over it, which is what he'll do.
They are still in bed, although are now dressed in their school clothes in bed. They just seem really .... well sad.

I don't see any harm in keeping them off but the school might.

If they do stay home I wouldn't let them wallow too much. Some time with your other horses would be great but try to be fairly matter of fact. She had a nice life with caring owners, was very much loved and has been put down to stop her suffering. Remind them that they won't always feel this sad when they think of her because they may not realise that their feelings of grief will diminish.

If they were my children, I would send them in, ask the school to call me if they were upset and I would collect them early and plan something nice to do with the others horses straight after school, while it's still light. In school they will probably have fun and have a break from feeling sad.

It is sad when we lose animals, but it's also important that they learn that grief can be manageable.

On my iphone it looks like a sad face, I'm sure it wasn't meant to be sarcastic.

Both these faces look sad on my phone, perhaps the second is sadder? But an easy mistake to make.

I hate the sarcastico face, obviously was not meant in that post.

I would send them but let the teacher know they had a bad night. Sorry to hear about your horse.

I think Goldmandra has it spot on.

So what did you decide in the end OP?