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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to keep DC1 off school so he doesnt go on a school trip?

56 replies

QueenComplicated · 05/03/2015 15:55

N/C as this may out me.

DC1 is in reception.

We live near Bristol and you may be aware that following last year's Gromit trail they are doing a shaun the sheep trail this year. For those who don't know about it - there will be 100 or so 5ft high shaun the sheeps, all decorated differently, dotted about the city.

we did the gromit trail last year with the DCs and they loved it, we have photos with all the gromits etc etc. we aren't going on holiday this year so we decided that DH would take the first 2 weeks of the summer holiday off and we would do the shaun trail - plan routes to make day trips out of it, as we did with the gromits. we were really looking forward to doing this, hadn't told the DC yet but know they will love it.

just got the school newsletter and they are taking the whole school on a trip to find 'as many as they can' 2 days before the end of the summer term. so before we will have done any ourselves. DH and I are a bit gutted as this was our 'summer holiday' and we wanted to do it ourselves with the DC.

DH says keep him off, I'm worried DC1 will be upset if he goes back for the final 2 days and all his class are talking about it. WIBU to keep DC1 off school that day so we can save it to be a family thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenComplicated · 05/03/2015 16:22

elmer I think that is what we will have to do, will require some rejigging of other plans as there is only 1 weekend I think between the trail opening and them doing the trip.

deep down I know you're right - this is about DC1 and he would love the trip and be upset at missing out. DH and I are grown ups and need to deal with our own disappointment at having the shine taken off our summer plans!

OP posts:
memememum · 05/03/2015 17:42

If your little one is anything like mine they will really enjoy doing something exciting more than once and will be especially proud to be able to 'show you' what they discovered Smile

LizzieMint · 05/03/2015 17:47

This happened to us with the gromits - there was a school trip, although not specifically to see them, so my DS saw all the ones around the centre before we'd even been out to see any.
It didn't affect our enjoyment of it, he was happy to show us ones he'd already seen and there were so many new ones we found together.
I can't wait for the Shauns, the gromit trail was brilliant.

specialsubject · 05/03/2015 17:50

YABU but understandably.

but don't worry, he can show you the few he will see and you can all find the rest!

Original poster
QueenComplicated · 05/03/2015 17:51

thanks lizzie - nice to hear from someone who has been in the same situation that it didn't ruin the enjoyment for you as a family.

took the DC to see the enormous shaun at the mall at cribbs - very excited by that!!

OP posts:
Minshu · 05/03/2015 17:55

My DD is the same age and I reckon she would love having a day showing off to me and DH about how she knew where everything was! It'll be totally different for him with you compared to his friends!

waithorse · 05/03/2015 19:38

YABU. There is no reason why they can't do it twice.

CombineBananaFister · 05/03/2015 19:54

I've done the dvd thing someone mentioned up thread - bought latest dvd excited that me and Ds could have a sofa cinema when he broke up from school then the bloody teacher showed it them as an end of term treat hahaha! you just suck it up though, end result is they got to see it and enjoyed it Grin (and I was a tenner down Sad)

This is different though, this would be good because he gets to be excited on the trip then he gets to be mR knowledgeable when you guys go - won't he be chuffed to bits to be the 'man in charge' when you go again?

dixiechick1975 · 05/03/2015 20:21

He will know about the trip though as school will talk about it in the run up eg be paired up with a buddy for the coach.

From what you've said he will only see a few on the school trip - he can show you those if he remembers and the rest find as planned.

My DD has always been keen to revisit where she has been on a trip so she can show me.

ChillySundays · 05/03/2015 21:56

He will be gutted to miss the school trip.

Am seconding the go again so he can show you. When my DD was younger she enjoyed a school trip so much we had to go back at the weekend. Have to say I didn't enjoy anywhere as much as she did but that wasn't the point

Permanentlyexhausted · 05/03/2015 22:13

Mine would have loved (and still do love) to do this sort of thing more than once so I'm sure your DS would too. Let him do the trip and then tell him he's the leader on your family trip because he knows more than the rest of you do. I'm sure he'll love it.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/03/2015 23:00

I've just googled this as was unaware they were doing this, per the website there will also be a Shaun the Sheep trail in London during April and May. Could you possibly have a day trip to London so you can experience it first as a family before he goes on the school trip?

We will definitely have to have a trip to London or Bristol to do this, as failed miserably to do the Gromit one, and DS loves everything Shaun the Sheep

peutetre · 05/03/2015 23:07

So it is his disappointment at missing the school trip versus your disappointment at your summer plans being spoiled?

And you believe that it might be ok for him to miss out because you thought of the idea before the school did.

Speechless!

LindyHemming · 06/03/2015 02:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lauralouise8 · 06/03/2015 04:22

I think you are being a bit harsh, Peut Etre. OP is entitled to ask for views.

I'm afraid OP that I agree that your little one should go on the trip, but perhaps the school could let you know what areas they covered so you can plan accordingly. I think it is lovely that you are putting so much thought and effort in.

chrome100 · 06/03/2015 05:16

I think you'd be U to keep him off. School trips are so exciting and a great chance to be with his friends. I understand your disappointment though.

Could you pitch your family trip as "daddy and I really want to see Sean the sheep and we really need you to help show us where they are"

Then he'll feel important and enjoy going again.

sashh · 06/03/2015 06:17

Lol at a reception age child being able to remember where all the Shauns are and direct an adult there.

OP make his second time seeing them different, give him a camera and get him to photograph his younger siblings or something to make it different

Springcleanish · 06/03/2015 06:37

Not really the point, but sounds a nightmare school trip to me. How big is the school? It was hard enough shepherding DD and a couple of friends around the gromits, some of the places aren't really suitable for loads of children to be milling around. Even in the city centre they'll see a fraction of what you would as a family. I'm glad I'm not a teacher there!

thatsucks · 06/03/2015 06:40

Totally agree with others - let him go or he'll really miss out and just press ahead with your plans, I'm sure he'd love to go again.

LillianGish · 06/03/2015 07:01

I really wouldn't worry. If he loves the school trip he'll love going with you. Going with your parents is entirely different to going on a school trip - posing for photos, spending as long or as little time as you like, being able to divert from the itinerary and look at other things of interest, stop for an ice cream etc. We've been on numerous trips as a family to places the Dcs have visited with the school. They enjoy having prior knowledge and being able to show you something for a change. Also they won't have seen all the sheep with the school so you'll still be able to surprise your ds. I would see it as double the fun for him rather than spoiling the fun for you.

EugenesAxe · 06/03/2015 07:10

Haven't read all but I strongly feel you should let him go - he's not going to be able to really appreciate every sheep if he's one of 30 and I expect he'll be really excited being 'in the know' when you come to do them as a family.

I don't think it will blunt any of the wonder for your family trip - there are 100 after all! - and could deny him some great experiences with his school friends.

Final check - do you think he will be disappointed on your holiday because he's seen them before, or will you be? Chances are these will be ones you'll see when going about your business anyway; I think this is more about you than him.

Aside - we visited for the Gromits last year and hope to return for Shaun; hopefully we'll meet you unknowingly on the trail!

Middlerose · 06/03/2015 07:39

Letting your son stay off school when he is not sick sends a really bad message IMO

ConfuddledPickle · 06/03/2015 07:52

A couple of years ago I kept ds1 off school for a day because the school trip was to go and see our local panto - the panto that I'd spent £100 on tickets for Dh, me and the dc to go toConfused

In your situation though I would still go as the school trip will have a very different dynamic. And realistically, with 30 dc, how many are they likely to find? 20? Even 30 or 40...still plenty for you all to do together.

DamselNotInHerDress · 06/03/2015 08:16

PeutEtre isn't being harsh at all Confused
Op is being grumpy as her ds will have done something before she had planned them all to do it. She is/was considering him missing out on the trip altogether because she didn't want it to overshadow family plans.

He will be excited both times.
If op was planning on going and finding them over the course of 2 weeks, how much does she think he's going to see in one day?

It's a timely thread as Dp and I have booked tickets for the 5 of us to do the Harry potter studio tour as dd1s surprise birthday treat. Yesterday she came home with a letter saying that her final year school trip was to the same place 2 weeks before we go. Am I going to not let her go with school because I'm cross it will spoil her and our enjoyment when we go? Don't be ridiculous.

They leave at 9, won't arrive until 10:30. Factor in an hour for lunch and returning for the end of school at 3:15 and they'll have barely seen anything at all.

Ops ds will more than likely hardly see much on his trip.

Original poster
QueenComplicated · 06/03/2015 08:22

Thank you all for your thoughts. I accept that IWBU to keep him off. as I said up thread and as some posters figured, this is because of my disappointment, not so much his.

DH and I will possibly take a London trip to do a few or if not we will go and do some of the Bristol ones the weekend before the school trip.

the whole school is about 250 kids so from and organisational point, yes its unlikely they will do very many!!

OP posts: