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?

[80schild]

I never put my kids stuff on the internet. I feel it is slightly chavvy and to be honest neither of them work very hard, so to me it isn't classified as a meaningful achievement. When they work hard for something they love and do really well then it will be posted on Facebook.

However, in 3 weeks I am sitting a big exam myself. It has consumed my life for the past 3 months. I have every intention of posting on Facebook about my freedom afterwards and if I get a halfway decent mark I will be putting it on Facebook. It has consumed my life for so long.

[Toxicity]

U2hastheedge I can't speak for others, but I no longer have FB!

[ricketytickety]

Children have the right to a bit of privacy despite their parent's pride

[originalmavis]

Yet another reason why I am happy not to Facebook.

[TheRollingCrone]

YANBU Facebook makes you hate your friends

Feeling blessed oh fuck off cunt chops

[CallieG]

I don't get it either, I think they are maybe fishing for compliments, living vicariously through their offspring? Perhaps they think their child's good grades are a reflection of their great parenting, maybe even "My kids smarter than your-ors, nah ne nah ne nah nah (pokes out tongue)I 'm done can't explain it either.

[Cuddlymummy77]

I think it's more to do with the parent being proud of themselves! My feeling is that people think that they're better parents if their children do well at school. " Look at what my child has done ".
They're usually the same people that feel the need to share their lives on fb! Well, the good bits. I know people that have a fb life. Their real life is actually a bit shit 😞

[pictish]

Or maybe they're just happy because their kid is doing ok. The bastards.

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

I don't post copies of the actual reports but I do post how they've done as my family want to know and, like it or not, social media is here to stay and it's how many people communicate now. I'm much more likely to communicate with my family who are not physically close on fb than by phone or email.

If you don't like it, fair enough. Stay off fb. meh.

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

How many people communicate now

[PlatoTheGreat]

Arch with FB you can choose who you are sharing stuff with. You can share the report with family only and not bore everyone else with it.
FB is there to stay but learning g how to use it efficiently would be good too.

[TupperwareQueen]

Ha being mother of twins is illuminating re cut and paste reports. Especially at their old primary!

[whattheseithakasmean]

I quite enjoy it as it makes me feel unappealingly smug. My oldest always achieved and is continuing to achieve stellar results, that I never share, apart from with grandparents and a few close friends when asked. So other kids achievements splashed everywhere just make me feel quietly superior, because my kids are doing much better and I am far too cool to boast about it. Like I said, unappealing smug.

[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.

[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 .

[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.

[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.

[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

[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!

[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

[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!

[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)

[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.

[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.