AIBU to wonder why some parents feel the need to...

[AnnaToboggan]

Post the contents of their childs school report on FB?

It seems such an odd thing to do. I understand that they are proud of their achievements, but I just don't get why they do it.

School reports out today and we have photos of exam results, transcripts, snippets and full sections copied out.

Is anyone else as baffled as I am?

[hel123]

YANBU

The only time I ever posted something like that was when my son came home from beavers with a 'Beaver of the Week' trophy - you couldn't make it up. (fnar). Almost as good as when he made and brought home a badge saying 'I love beavers' - I'm saving that for when he is 21....

Facebook should be ok for those 'Carry on' moments!?

[Philoslothy]

I never put my kids stuff on the internet. I feel it is slightly chavvy

What on earth does that mean?

[Philoslothy]

I think how lovely that they are proud of their children, don't we all discuss how our children are doing with our friends?

[Alena2003]

One of my relatives posts her kids school achievements, and another about her perfect husband and kids. Yepi lucky me. Do I give a toss? Hate when people do this. Why??

[kungfupannda]

Could be worse. A mum at DS1's school used to open the report outside the classroom door and read it out to everyone within shouting distance.

Until the school told her to stop.

[exLtEveDallas]

Meh. Most of my FB posts are about DD - my life is pretty boring whereas hers is going great guns.

We live between 1 and 5 hours of our families (not including the branch in the US!) and between 1 and 8 hours of our friends. It's a way of keeping up with them, of letting them know she's doing OK and is enjoying life.

Today DD has received an academic award and a sports award at two different ceremonies (fucking long day...) and I've done a quick post (and photo of her with her mates). My mum has already been on the phone (which is amazing when you consider she's not on FB, doesn't have the Internet and is deaf so the phone is a challenge!) to tell me how proud my dad is of DD. I've had one email and a couple of texts from different parts of the country, oh and a 'like' from someone currently in training for the Olympics...not bad going from a post that took me about a minute to do.

I wouldn't post a school report - but anything 'out of the ordinary' is fair game.

[suharding]

peacefuleasyfeeling I applaud you. My Dd's and DDbf's last school report were identical in every way except for their names They were good reports though proudmummies

[turquoise88]

The parents don't actually believe it. They need the external approval and recognition - from you and anyone out there. They live their insecure little lives through social media. Fact.

This.

[Katherine2626]

I really don't get the FB thing; I can't believe how many people put all sorts of
personal stuff on there and then get upset when the world knows that they've gone bankrupt/got divorced/ gone to jail. You would think that the 'www.' bit might give them the clue.

[BennyTheBall]

I have hidden all my friends that do this.

Also the ones that wish their 6 year old a happy birthday on FB, along with a 'you are so beautiful and clever and funny...' type post.

Bleurgh, such posturing.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I can top the weirdness.

Someone on my FB who is 20 weeks pregnant with first baby, been with the dad 9 months (putting this in as it's relevant to how bizarre this all is!) she did a gushing status saying happy father's day to him, how lucky she is to have him as a dad for her baby etc but didn't even write a status for her own Dad (the dad she moved to another country to live with! AND is close to!) I thought that was weird as fuck! The baby isn't even born yet ffs!

[martinhavlin999]

Am in second relationship and have dd age 8 and ds age 3. Am stay at home dad having been a doctor for 40 years (we all have our own way of going mad) Love seeing pics of friends' kids. Not interested in how marvellous they are. Reminds me of a Xmas card/ letter from local parent telling me how wonderful his kids were and recording their achievements- modest by any measure. This was at a time when my own progeny were decided overachievers in music sport and academia., none of which I broadcast. Letter/card was filed in the bin almost as quickly as I delete similar on Facebook.

[peacefuleasyfeeling]

That should be 1.5 - 2h on each report, not the whole lot.

[peacefuleasyfeeling]

I'm writing reports at the moment and am very much bearing the possibility that they might end up on FB in mind!
Having said that, I'm surprised at the low expectations some of you seem to have of what goes in to reports. We tend to spend on average 1.5 - 2 hours on ours, and comment candidly on progress, or the lack thereof, in all areas of the curriculum, as well as a detailed general comment, which touches on subjects such as friendships, attitude to learning and anything else that seems relevant. What's the point in cut-and-paste jobs, does that actually happen? I like writing them, it's an opportunity to 'sum up' and celebrate the relationship you've shared over the year and to reflect, honestly but kindly, on the learning and development that has taken place. Regardless of whether a pupil has made good progress or not, it is important to me that parents read the report and feel that their child's teacher has 'got' their child and has appreciated them for who they are and the contribution that they have made to the class.

[Anna275]

I find that the people who tend to do this are oversharers on social media in general so if a post is too long or boring I just scroll by it. The only thing that ever makes me stop and pause are those posts like "This is Bill. Bill feels secure in his relationship and doesn't need to post all over Facebook how much he loves his partner. Be like Bill." I don't really share much online but stuff like that just strikes me as bitter and defensive. No one needs to provide an explanation/justification for why they do or do not post on Facebook unless they feel insecure about it.

I find the photos of the Instagram mummies posing for selfies while oblivious to the fact that their child is screaming or totally uninterested amusing. And I have one relative who has started posting photos of things like bubble baths and champagne with captions like "husband and wife time", or what can only be described as after sex selfies. That's a little bit tmi, but as I said above, I just scroll on by it.

[ample]

I stepped away from FB and the endless 'brag fest' was just one of the many reasons why.
The parents don't actually believe it. They need the external approval and recognition - from you and anyone out there. They live their insecure little lives through social media. Fact.

My great gran would say 'folk that brag 'ave nowt' (brilliant Yorkshire lass she was)

[lozzylizzy]

What about the parents that read out the child's work from their book as we are waiting to go into the parents evening and turn up half an hour early so they can loudly read and make comments about how good the work is in front of the largest audience possible!

[Pritti7]

I feel the same. don't do it myself. but have to Like the comments and posts from casual friends/DD's school friends' parents only so they don't get offended or think I am jealous .sigh!.

but I guess thats what fb is for. boasting about everything

[Mynameisdominoharvey]

123lekl the 'proudmummy' between the first and surname thing infuriates me lol its just stupid. Every time I see it on FB I want to scream. No one fucking cares!

[SpaceUnicorn]

Aren't they all just generic with a few bits changed/name inserted anyway?

Yes. A couple of years ago I was contracted to proofread school reports for a large primary school. The amount of cutting and pasting that was evident was quite an eye-opener

[shillwheeler]

YANBU

I have been sitting on my fingers for past few days, resisting posting sardonic rejoinders.

We are all (un)distinctively average here, not even placed once in three consecutive years of the egg and spoon race, and count ourselves lucky to have survived exams and parents' day without major bloodshed .

Feeling left out, I have taken to posting pictures of my hens' eggs and the occasional cake I've made that hasn't sunk in the middle. May have rubbish school reports, but at least we're rich in omelettes....

How sad is that? Agree, it's all very annoying and cringe-making but, at the same time, a bit like a road traffic accident, hard to resist....

But you're right. FB seems to encourage vicarious narcissism.

[StripyHorse]

JeffreyNeedsAHobby You can change the audience of who you post pictures for. I do this with pics of the my dds - if we have a day out with friends and I have taken photos I will post an album that can only be viewed by me, dh and the children's parents.

[paxillin]

I love "congratulation to xxx on getting into St Mary's". St Mary's is the local secondary, the only way to get in is by living in the catchment area .

[impossible]

I seldom use fb and had no idea parents do this! Presumably they only post the bits they're proud of.
My dcs are now 17 and 14 and when your dcs reach their teens you quickly realise you will be very happy if they reach adulthood in one piece and find something in life they want to do. All the fussing around small achievements seems laughable looking back, though understandable. It’s the showing off that’s horrible.