wibu to keep my 9 year old off school after late home?

[FarterChristmoose]

Hi my 9 year old son went on a school trip on Wednesday, they were supposed to be home at 5PM but they got stuck in a motorway crash and didn't get back to school until 10.45. My husband then drove 2 of his friends home to save their single mums having to come out so late with younger children. DS eventually got to bed at midnight and was up at 7 for school. He usually goes to sleep at so lost 4 hours sleep. He was so tired, lots of tears so I kept him off and he went back to sleep until 9am then rested all day.

At school today his teacher took me to one side and said she was disappointed he didn't go school and everybody else did.

Wibu to have kept him off? Hes still very tired today!

[AnotherEffingOrangeRevel]

Some sanity at last.

Where do you live, squiggle? I'm thinking of emigrating.

[Pteranodon]

Yanbu, not at all. He's a kid, he was crying with tiredness. What would he have learned by being forced into school? That you don't care about his feelings, I guess. Can't imagine that someone weeping with exhaustion would learn much academically. Your kid, you know best.

[Brokenbiscuit]

I think the responses on here are rather harsh. Poor OP, I'm not surprised that she hasn't returned.

FWIW, I'd have taken my dd to school in these circumstances, it wouldn't occur to me to keep her off. However, I know from previous experience that she can cope well with a bit of tiredness, so no big deal.

The OP knows her own son, and did what she thought was right. Perhaps, with hindsight, she should have taken him in after he woke up at 9am, perhaps not. Either way, she doesn't really deserve the harsh responses that she has had from some posters.

It shouldn't be news to people that we all parent differently. OP, like the rest of us, was just trying to do what she thought was best for her DC.

[catkind]

I was talking hypothetically about my DC, no idea what OP's son did all day. DS loves school so I wouldn't not send him without good reason, but for various reasons it seems makes more learning progress in the holidays.

[squiggleirl]

He is 9. It was one day. He missed nothing in school that day that will impact on his future.

Not being from or living in the UK, I am often surprised by the UK approach to education.

Here, had I kept my child off school in a similar circumstance, there would have been no comment, no discussion with the teacher. I am the parent. I know my children better than anyone else. I am the responsible adult who decides what is best for them, and if I think a day off school is what they need, so be it.

[DogStuff]

I don't see the point in sending a child that young to school on time if they are completely shattered from something like that. I would have sent him in after he woke up naturally.

[Bunbaker]

I also can't believe some of the answers on here.

[Girlfriend36]

I don't think ywbu, my dd doesn't cope very well when tired and would be hideous if had gone to bed that late and made to get up the next morning.

I think some posters on here have been unnecessarily harsh and jumped on the aibu bandwagon tbh

[mommy2ash]

I can't believe some of the answers here. If I think my child needs to stay at home I make the judgement. Some children will cope better than others. My dd could cope fine with a late night but would have been a nightmare on the bus if she got hungry and there was no food. She turns into an emotional wreck. I imagine some children done cope well with a late night. I think the school should have advised everyone involved to come in later than usual if it suited.

[Notimefortossers]

I'm SO surprised by the majority of responses on this thread!

I absolutely would have kept mine off too . . . because you know, their well being is kinda important to me.

Jeez guys . . . it's one day! What's the big deal!?

I also agree that the teacher was out of line to say anything to you. Your child, your decision.

[Baressentials]

I would have taken him after lunch. A good sleep, get up have relaxed breakfast then go into school.

[Soooosie]

Maybe she's teaching her child to look after her own physical/mental health. So what if everyone else managed to attend school without a problem. Not everyone is the same.

[Soooosie]

Yanbu. You are the best judge of your sons needs. Not the school.

[StealthPolarBear]

He rested all day! I'm not aware the op taught him at all.
Whenever anyone suggest taking their child out of school for any reason, someone always pipes up that they'll learn so much more at the museum/beach/package holiday/tesco.
I wonder whether/why people bother sending their children to school at all if it's so utterly ineffective that you can learn more by "resting"!

[RoseWithoutAThorn]

I'd have taken him in later. If he was up at 9 he could easily have made school for 10. Every other child made school, ok, probably tired but they made it. What are you teaching your child for later life? That its ok to rock up late to work because you had a late night? I sent letters out to the parents of latecomers that had been at a One Direction concert last year.

[Janeymoo50]

I bet by 1pm he was playing Xbox.

[catkind]

Stealth, 1:1 or 1:2 adult, able to follow own interests at own pace, no sitting around waiting till the whole class is listening, no queuing up for this that or the other.

[StealthPolarBear]

" (They'd learn a heck of a lot more at home too.)"
How?

[DancingDinosaur]

I would expect a 9 year old to go in

[Bunbaker]

"I would have kept him off."

All day! Really? Why? Why not let him sleep in and take him to school at morning break? Taking the entire day off is taking the piss.

[SaggingTits]

I don't think it's bad you kept him off. He's 9, not like he's in the middle of exams. Some harsh replies. And someone saying "this is the most ridiculous thing they've ever heard" - really . A mum and child didn't get to sleep until midnight and couldn't be arsed for ONE day. Not a big deal.

[CheshireChat]

It's unfair comparing a 9 year old with his teacher, an adult. Of course the teacher had to go in the next day, the OP's son less so. And for those saying he won't cope when he has a job, come on! His age isn't in double figures yet, I'm sure he'll manage.