AIBU to think that my children had every right to expect my OH/their dad to come to sports day on his day off

[EnglishRose1320]

Sports day tomorrow and the boys are really excited that daddy doesn't have work this year, turns out however that my OH doesn't see the need to go and is planning to get on with other things. Would you expect your OH to go along? I said the boys want him to and that I didn't expect him to stay for the whole day.
Not looking forward to telling the boys tonight. :(

Exactly what I was typing BackforGood- it is about looking back and remembering the times when he was able to pop along to school events.

He came for an hour today and DS's were pleased, DS1 finds things like sports days quite a challenge anyway being out of the normal routine so it was good moral support for me as well when DS1 was having a few wobbly moments!

Xcountry

"light a rocket under his arse or make his day off hell if he doesn't"

That suggestion sounds fairly abusive to me.

But they are stuck at school anyway where as he has the day off and the opportunity to do something he enjoys. Can't the children understand that watching a school activity might not be that exciting for a parent?
I've never been to a class assembly for my kids, my kids have to go to school I no longer have to.
There's alot of mummy martyrdom here.

There is no martyrdom in attending these things. I do it because it matters to the kids, it means the world to them to look out and see my face or their dads or grandparents, it shows them that we care and want to encourage them. Yes they can be very dull, and yes there are a hundred things I could be doing instead, but I go because it matters to them and I am happy to give up an afternoon to sports day if it makes them feel loved and supported.

Rather than having at go at those of us who actually give a shit about how our kids feel at such events and go along to support them, perhaps you should consider why you care more about your own boredom levels than your childrens need to be supported.

DH has taken time off work to attend things like sport's days and assemblies - just like I have too.

It isn't just a mum's role to attend these things - ideally it should be both parents attending some, though not necessarily at the same time.
Its only once a year.

FWIW at DD's primary school sport's days a mix of both parents have attended. At my school - when it was non competitive, carousel of events -it was mainly mums and even then not many. Now it is competive - more parents come and we see far more dads than ever before.

2Rebecca - I bet to a child sports day is more important to them than you going to parents evening.

You should be allowed to take pics - data protection act doesn't cover personal use but worth checking with school in case they have any advice or school policy on photography.

Lord Rebecca have you never seen your kids face light up when they see you at their school? Poor little buggers having nobody to hug while watching their classmates get one from their mothers and a well done at the end.

You go because it matters to them.. even if it's the most drool worthy event going, you suck it up!

Lord Rebecca have you never seen your kids face light up when they see you at their school? Poor little buggers having nobody to hug while watching their classmates get one from their mothers and a well done at the end.

You go because it matters to them.. even if it's the most drool worthy event going, you suck it up!

I use to work in schools and it makes a massive different to how the children partake and what they achieve if their parents are there, mostly kids are okay if they know their parents are working as well, but the ones who parents just didn't come don't put the whole into whatever the event is assembly/sports day etc and constantly look at the door to see if they have come, or are so use to them not coming and disrupt the activity for the other children- I'm sure not all children react like that but a lot do.

Singsongmamma- lots of people were taking pics so I took a few :) seems sports day is more relaxed than assembly/plays etc in regards to photos at this school