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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to keep my son off school for this?

529 replies

Fantoosh · 26/06/2015 14:55

So I had a hairdresser appointment this morning for 9.30. I desperately needed a cut and colour before going on holiday next week.

Unfortunately my dd was sick at 7.30am...although she seemed fine afterwards. This meant I had to keep her off school.
Given that the chances of getting another appointment in time for the hols was zero, was I bu to call in a sicky for my eldest son (14) this morning to watch her while I kept the appointment I had? Fridays are a half day at school anyway here.

My hair is looking great now but I don't know if I did the right thing.
What would you have done?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fantoosh · 26/06/2015 15:39

Finola - my husband and children. We break up for the summer next week.

OP posts:
Finola1step · 26/06/2015 15:40

Great minds Sparkling Grin

elderflowerlemonade · 26/06/2015 15:40

They aren't 'doing nothing' - in every school I've worked in the only dvd lessons were in the very final week - IF the school OKd them. Many didn't.

Icimoi · 26/06/2015 15:41

It's half a day near the end of term. I bet he was just aching to be sat in front of some awful dvd at school for the morning.

Three weeks till the end of the term (at least), there's still plenty of important academic work being done.

Who's looking after the kids when you're on holiday next week? Or are they at private schools?

Sparklingbrook · 26/06/2015 15:41

Grin Finola.

Finola1step · 26/06/2015 15:41

Ah, Scottish term time?

Original poster
Fantoosh · 26/06/2015 15:42

We're not actually going until a week on Monday, but that seemed too boring a detail to include. The salon is booked up solid for the next two weeks. I suppose a lot of people get their hair seen to before going on holiday so it's a busy time for them. I was only able to get the appointment I had owing to a cancellation!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fantoosh · 26/06/2015 15:42

Yes, we're in Scotland.

OP posts:
Number3cometome · 26/06/2015 15:43

He's not doing exams?

It's not the fact that he is being taken out of school for 1/2 day that's the issue.

It's the fact you are teaching an impressionable teenager that getting a fucking haircut for a holiday is more important than his education.

LashesandLipstick · 26/06/2015 15:43

Elderflower they hardly do taxing work towards the end though. It's what, 3 weeks left? OP you'll get people telling you you were wrong but in the real world a morning off school doesn't mean you're doomed to working in tesco stacking shelves

thehumanjam · 26/06/2015 15:43

I would not be admitting this to anyone even strangers on an Internet forum. When your son decides he doesn't want to revise for his GCSEs and would rather do his hair/cut his toenails, ask yourself where he got the message that education isn't important.

Sparklingbrook · 26/06/2015 15:43

I think all details should be included however boring so I can boggle I bit more. Grin

00100001 · 26/06/2015 15:44

YABU.

Why couldn't the little one have come with you?Confused

Number3cometome · 26/06/2015 15:44

LashesandLipstick

Well going by your thinking, she might as well have kept him off for 3 weeks then seeing as they don't do any work Hmm

00100001 · 26/06/2015 15:44

is this the only hair salon in the area?

elderflowerlemonade · 26/06/2015 15:45

In the schools I worked in they did 'normal' work lashes.

Just - lessons, tasks, work.

Normal.

vvega · 26/06/2015 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AuntieStella · 26/06/2015 15:46

'Oh for gods sake. Exams are over, they're doing nothing at school now'

14? Year 9 (poss 10). No, they won't be doing "nothing" now. Lessons right up to the end of term once in the GCSE years.

thehumanjam · 26/06/2015 15:46

I had my hair done on holiday in a similar situation. It never even occurred to me to get my eldest to take a day off school!

Original poster
Fantoosh · 26/06/2015 15:46

001 no, but it's the only salon I will use.

OP posts:
00100001 · 26/06/2015 15:47

So - here's the BIG question.

If it was so reasonable for you to do this... why did you lie to the school about why your son wasn't there? hmmm?

LashesandLipstick · 26/06/2015 15:48

Number3, I don't personally object to parents taking their kids out of school for holidays so I guess by logical extension then I wouldn't have a major issue with it.

Elderflower, how recently? When I was at secondary school post exam period was mainly just childcare for parents before the 6 weeks off

00100001 · 26/06/2015 15:51

Lashes I challenge you! Ring up your school on Monday and ask if it's OK for your DC to miss the day because you 'need' to get a haircut.

RagingJellyBean · 26/06/2015 15:51

Love all these nellies on their high horses.
Like you've not done something slightly outside the morally correct norm.

I personally wouldn't do it but only because I wouldn't trust a 14 year old to look after themselves let alone another kid.

elderflowerlemonade · 26/06/2015 15:51

I last worked in a school in 2011. I know many teachers. I have a school aged son.

We would probably have got a disciplinary for not bothering to teach until the last day. Seriously.

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