To keep kids of school

[user1489094655]

Hi,
Me, do and dd5 and ds4 are going to Disney Paris in June. We are going in June because my dh has 2 weeks fixed hols from work so we are going the second week of his allocation.

We won't get fined but it is classes as an unauthorised absence so before we start the term we already know dd will get 'red' letter. (Ds is nursery so not included)

I have ocd and am an emetophobe so sick/ germs eto is very difficult for me to cope with and I find it difficult for the kids to go to school anyway.

Would it be OK to keep the kids off school for the week before as well because

1. I would be scared they would pick something up from school and to be ill away from home is even worse.
2. It would give dh more time to spend at home and in the garden with kids. Other than weekends, his next break is 16th October week ( again not school hols)
3. Dd will still be on red for attendance missing one OR two weeks.

If we did this what would we tell school?

Thanks for reading

Apart from anything else, OP, what are you planning to do with that week? Will your whole family stay in and have no contact with anyone else? Because they're as likely to pick up a germ in the supermarket/park/town/anywhere really as at school...

You're going to disneyland paris where there will be thousands more germs and nasty things going around for them to catch. YABU keeping them off for a week before a holiday thats ridiculous. They can catch germs at home as easily as they can at school. Wow you need some help OP, how will you cope travelling to Paris and then being in Disneyland?! Germs everywhere!

I think they are more likely to pick something up at Disney then they are at school.

YABVU!!! Don't put your issues on your children!

As a teacher it really frustrates me when children miss school! She may only be 5 but in that two weeks it may be the only time they encounter money in maths for example until next academic year, when she will have missed all the prior learning and be behind. Yes as teachers we have a duty to catch them up but the curriculum is so full it's hard to find this time!

Please don't make your children miss their education because you can't handle your issues.

Rant over

Those saying as a one off its fine, it's not a one off though is it? Presumably DH has the same compulsory holiday every year. And the OPs issues are permanent (or at least long term). So if it's OK for this instance then the same logic applies to the next time the OP is too anxious to send her DCs to school. A very slippery slope intend and one Social Services are not going to look at too favourably.

As a couple of you have mentioned the children missing their education by being off school, not all education happens at school.

I dont think its helpful to call peoples MH issues "ludicrous".

As a couple of you have mentioned the children missing their education by being off school, not all education happens at school

Then home school.

That's not really an appropriate point in this instance is it though Titty?

Yes we could turn this in to a conversation about home schooling and parents' rights under the Education Act.

Or we could assume that whilst the OPs DCs are going to be kept off for school for her fear of them catching germs they probably aren't going to be experiencing anything very worth while.

If you are suggesting there is any educational value to DLP Titty you're having a giraffe.

OP, I'm an emetophobe (albeit not to your extent) and you need to tackle this now, before your kids pick up on it.

I dont think its helpful to call peoples MH issues "ludicrous

Pretty sure I didn't say that.
I said, imagine if all parents did the same. If everyone had a week off before a holiday..... Thats ludicrous

not all education happens at school - well, no, but I'm pretty sure that more education happens at school than in the house when a child is kept home because of mum's anxieties.

Well presumably all.parents dont have MH issues.

Ok first of all my DH suffers from OCD so you do have my sympathies there.

However, you really can't allow it to interfere with your DCs education. Have you had CBT? Are you on medication?

I'm sorry to say I also don't think you can keep them off just in case OP.

You would be totally unreasonable. You need to get help for your issues. It's not fair on your children.

Just keep the four year old off nursery for week one. When did your dd turn five?

Yabu. You probably will get fined if you keep them off that week too.

Well presumably all.parents dont have MH issues

Never said they did, but keeping a child off for a week for this reason is ludicrous. MH issues or not. Does not change the situation. The OP clearly needs it pointing out to her that this is not a normal or rational thing to do.

For a holiday in fixed leave time is fine.
A week before just in case is not
I agree with others that if you haven't already you maybe could seek help for your MH

You must send your children to school before the holiday.There will always be another reason for your mental health to flare up and for you to justify them not going.You have to get beyond this, its very unfair on them.

You can't keep your kids off in case they get sick before their holiday. Reception is an important year much as some people think it's just playing.

The week off before not fine. The week off fine.

Then home school.

I do. For the 76% of their waking hours that they aren't at school. ;)

Yanbu to go on holiday.
Yabu to keep them off the week before, for all the reasons mentioned by previous posters.