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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To stand in the rain for an hour so I can be at the front for my son's navitity

46 replies

mightyducks · 17/12/2014 13:25

DH thinks I'm mad, they make us queue up outside and it's peeing it down! He has one of the main parts though, am I bonkers or have you gone to desperate measures to see your little one in their play?

OP posts:

threepiecesuite · 17/12/2014 19:14

We went last night and were in the 6th row of about 15, it's only a small school. Did someone on the thread mention a theatre?!

As part of my job in primary transition, I used to attend about 8 nativities a year and always had a reserved seat on the front row that I'd dash into at the last minute. Bet the parents hated me.

Allingoodfaith · 17/12/2014 19:16

I absolutely would have done the same !!

TheRtHonGeorgianaGobshite · 17/12/2014 19:22

I got the front row at the play last week; and I didn't have to queue. I got a lovely email from Baby Gobshite's teacher telling me that it was reserved as they knew I was on crutches.
Only time I've been able to see anything as I am particularly short (ten bloody years). Well worth the big holes and bits of metal in the leg in my opinion.
YANBU

DeeCayed · 17/12/2014 19:28

YANBU

We went early to dd's nativity which was at 2pm but we went at about 1:20 were right at the front of the queue, we were closely followed by lots of other parents. When the teacher came to let us in everyone speed walked into the reception area only to find out there was other parents already waiting, they'd came in through another door that apparently we were supposed to use (news to me!) where one of the parents told the teacher where we were waiting so we'd have been standing out there for God knows how long if they hadn't said anything. Luckily we got to sit at the side which is level with front row as df is disabled and uses a scooter. Both my dc were fab in their plays.

MissDuke · 17/12/2014 19:31

Glad to hear that gobshite. Princess, that is a disgrace! Parents in wheelchairs always get front row in our school, and rightly so. The layout in our place means that the front row is in line with two exits, so it is safer to have them near there in case of fire, and is much more practical anyway rather than them trying to squash to the back.

I am not a fan of people standing queuing for so long, but I cannot do it so maybe that is why!!!

flipchart · 17/12/2014 19:41

Libitina That was how I read the post. If I'm wrong fair enough.

However disabled people are like the rest of the population in as much some are thoughtful and considerate for others and others are self entitled and others are arseholes. People are people!!!

All I was saying is a little thought from everyone goes a long way and that included people who stand right in front of others who can't move around easy ( eg people with mobility issues, people with young children sat on their laps etc etc)
My pet hate about the plays at school was the (usually) dad who obviously thought he was filming a RSC production with his semi professional cameras and blocked everyone's view so that he could capture every single frame.
I did wonder how many times these people watch the videos they made!

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 17/12/2014 20:47

We got there early for dd the other day as she was Mary and we never sat more than 4 rows close before and usually manage to sit the opposite side of where they are. I was worried. When we got there the gate was locked and other parents started drifting by. Dh wanted to follow them on the long and very unnecessary walk to the infants and round the back. I said don't worry. Let's wait here. More people were drifting by. Dh was panicking. I could see the other parents on the opposite side of the playground and kicked myself for being lazy. Just as we decided to walk round the teacher appeared and opened the gate. We got there first and I heard one mum growl "I knew we should have waited like them!" Dd was thrilled to see us on the front row. However sitting for over an hour on a hard, minuscule chair in an awkward position really hurt my fanny. I had a numb tooth achy feeling after a while.

ThePinkOcelot · 17/12/2014 21:55

Totally off your rocker! The plays are usually crap anyway!

LynetteScavo · 17/12/2014 22:05

YANBU

I was an hour early yesterday for a front row seat at the school carol concert. Because after this year, there will only be one more and then my youngest will be at high school.

At DDs school the infants do a nativity in the school hall, all very nice and friendly. The juniors do a carol concert in the church. Pillars obscure the view, and elbows get very sharp. If only I had a pound for every time I'd heard "If this wasn't a church...." muttered by disgruntled parents whose view of their child is being obscured.

DD could see me watching her.....beaming and doing a thumbs up when she caught my . Yes, I'm one of those parents and will quite happily get there an hour early for the privilege.

manicinsomniac · 17/12/2014 22:28

Awww, glad you have fun.

I shocked that people actually complained about a wheelchair user being at the front!
At our school we don't actually put wheelchair users at the front, we just take a seat away from the end of whichever row the rest of their family is sitting in and slot the wheelchair in its place.
But if we did (and tbh if a wheelchair user ever asked then we would) then I genuinely can't imagine another parent saying anything about it. Appalling.

Our headmaster also deliberately sits in the back row so that he doesn't block a parent's view. I will reserve seats for governors but only from the third row back.

I've never seen one of my kids' shows because I'm usually directing them and, if not, then I'm assisting. So weird sideways glimpses from backstage it will forever be!

Sparklingbrook · 17/12/2014 23:41

YourMa I used to get tooth ache fanny sitting on the teeny tiny chairs.

BackforGood · 17/12/2014 23:52

Obviously depends on the layout of the hall, but the best schools turn things sideways, so the "stage" backs up to one of the long walls rather than the short walls. You can then get about 40 seats 'on the front row' (more if it's a larger hall).

My dcs' Infants' school also used to do the small chairs on the front row, then normal chairs, then a row of tables people could sit on, then space to stand at the back - worked very well from the pov of everyone being able to see their dc.

freemanbatch · 18/12/2014 00:03

I'm a governor at my daughters school but i always queue with the parents for plays/assemblies/nativity etc. I'm not a fan of governor privilege BUT i will be using it tomorrow as the abusive ex and all his family are coming and I can't face the risk of sitting near him. my reserved seats is the one closest to the door though so I can get out easily if the baby cries. It won't be a great view but DD will know I'm there which is what matters really.

BeaLola · 18/12/2014 00:08

YANBU at all. I went to my sons which started at 930. So after I dropped him off in playground I waited and I got front row seat and I could see him and give him thumbs up etc. It means a lot to him that he can see me. DH went the next day and also got front row. I love gong and seeing it - last year I went both days. Its over all too soon.

SunnaClausIsComingToTown · 18/12/2014 08:39

Thinking about the wheelchair - maybe other parents were sitting on little chairs and their view was completely blocked. That's the only legitimate reason I can think of for not allowing it at the front.

Or (sudden thought) maybe it was a fire escape issue?

But either way the school should have found somewhere else for it to allow the mum to actually see the show.

Songofsixpence · 18/12/2014 08:47

I'm a Governor at my DD's school and I've never had a front row seat reserved for me. None of the governors or PTA members get front row seats reserved for them. Front row is usually taken up by the same old faces who then proceed to reserve seats for all their mates

I stand at the back and get a fab view. If you can't get a seat in the first 2 or 3 rows you can't see a thing so standing at the back is the best place to be

RojaGato · 18/12/2014 09:31

As long as you aren't doing it to record it on your phone then post it on facebook, then I think you are totally nuts but being nuts about your infant is a defining part of motherhood, no?

jellybeans · 18/12/2014 13:48

This is the first year i have had a front row seat. We got there 20 mins early. We were also advised which side was best to view each class. The day time shows are the quietest by far so i try to attend that where i can. Its so lovely being able to see your child properly.

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 28/12/2014 18:34

Sorry sparkling old thread I know but so pleased I'm not the only one who suffers fanny toothache. :o

Sparklingbrook · 28/12/2014 18:47

YourMa. One of the many advantages of having DC at High School is the lack of teeny tiny chairs.

TooHasty · 28/12/2014 19:55

a genuinr question, but why do wheelchair users need to be at the front any more than anyone else?

Also to the postert who said wheelchair users were placed on the front row next to the fire exits, i would have thought that was an unsafe practice because they could obstruct the fire doors , in a similar way to on an aeroplane where children/people with mobility problems aren't allowed by the emergency exit.

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