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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that leggings as school uniform is not 'lazy parenting'?

208 replies

NewStateswoman · 05/05/2017 10:55

Had a bit of a debate last night with a friend.

My DD wears black leggings to school. Her school isn't that strict about uniform; ties are optional, polo shirts are normal, etc. They do a daily mile run and lots of outdoors activities, and gym 3 times a week.

She's comfortable in leggings, they keep her warm, so that's what she wears (sometimes - she also has skirts and a summer dress).

But my friend was very scathing about the leggings! She says it's lazy parenting, to which I asked in which way I was a lazy parent for sending my daughter to school in comfortable clothes which adhere to the dress code.

She had no reply; essentially she just doesn't like leggings. It's sloppy, apparently, to let kids wear leggings, but other forms of black trousers are ok. I think she assumes it's to save me on ironing, maybe? Which it isn't.

So AIBU to let my daughter go to school in leggings?

OP posts:
Pinkheart5917 · 05/05/2017 10:57

If the school has a relaxed uniform policy it's fine and assuming you buy decent thick good quality leggings not the god awful fashion of thin see through leggings

WorraLiberty · 05/05/2017 10:58

You're overthinking this Confused

Your DD likes leggings, you like her wearing leggings.

You friend doesn't like leggings (also sounds like a bit of an arse).

Just crack on.

RachelRagged · 05/05/2017 10:58

If its alright with school I think your friend should butt out .

I see plenty of little girls in leggings (ok, perhaps not going to school n them granted) and they look cute (in my opinion). Do other parents send their DDs in leggings OP ?

MrsT2007 · 05/05/2017 10:59

As long as school are ok with it, no business of anyone else's

BollardDodger · 05/05/2017 11:37

How old is your dd? If reception or infants leggings I would have thought are ok. But they're not smart dress that would usually be considered to be part of a smart uniform. Lazy wouldn't be a word I would particularly use, though.

Sirzy · 05/05/2017 11:39

I wouldn't do it simply because I think leggings should be worn with tops which are longer than the average school top is.

But if school is happy and your daughter is happy what anyone else thinks is a non issue really

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 05/05/2017 11:41

Your friend is a loon and quite frankly it is none of her business.

Gileswithachainsaw · 05/05/2017 11:41

If i could send dd in leggings I bloody well would.

Far more practical.

DeanKoontz · 05/05/2017 11:45

Your 'friend' needs something better to worry about.

It frustrated me that I could send me ds to school in jogging pants, but wasn't allowed to so send dd in leggings.

I really hate school uniform.

Original poster
NewStateswoman · 05/05/2017 11:58

Phew, thanks.

I was a bit worried that everyone was secretly thinking I was some sort of lazy slovenly slut!

She's 6, and she's comfy in them, so I never thought about it any more than that, really.

OP posts:
UppityHumpty · 05/05/2017 11:59

My dd's muslim friends often wear leggings under their uniform dress. Not sure what the big deal is.

youngestisapsycho · 05/05/2017 12:01

My DD wears black leggings to school.. she hates skirts/dresses.
She starts Secondary in September and will have to wear shirt, tie and blazer with a skirt.... she's not happy LOL

Floggingmolly · 05/05/2017 12:03

It's quite odd for a school which has a specific uniform not to enforce it? What's the actual point of uniform if only some kids wear it? Confused
If they're fine with leggings though, there's no issue.

lottieandmia · 05/05/2017 12:03

It's not lazy parenting. However, i personally think that a lot of schools have a uniform which isn't uniform enough so it looks scruffy. I really don't like that. Either have a uniform and everyone have standard clothes or do away with it altogether imo.

kel1493 · 05/05/2017 12:04

If the school are okay with it and so is your dd then it's fine. And how you dress your child is no one else's business
Personally, I'd inly ever send my child to school in full uniform, and IMO for a girl that would be trousers, skirt, pinafore dress or a summer dress.
But each to their own. There's no right or wrong

luckylucky24 · 05/05/2017 12:05

Slovenly slut? Do you really know people who would think this of anyone?

Original poster
NewStateswoman · 05/05/2017 12:05

Well, that's kind of my thinking Youngest, there's plenty of time when she's a bit older to be strapped into a tie and blazer all day.

flogging yeah I don't really get it either, but it seems to be that as long as they're wearing school colours then it's fine. Certainly nobody has ever said otherwise to any parent that I know of.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewStateswoman · 05/05/2017 12:05

lucky I was being over-dramatic for effect Grin

OP posts:
WomblingThree · 05/05/2017 12:17

I don't understand why "lazy parenting" has become such a stock insult. How is it lazy for your DD to wear one type of trousers instead of a different type. FFS, some people must have way too much time on their hands if leggings bother them so much.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 05/05/2017 12:21

Tbf I think most parents don't go around looking at kids trousers

LadySalmakia · 05/05/2017 12:23

Anything that involves less ironing strikes me as the very definition of smart and organised parenting, regardless.

But what a ridiculous thing to say - one style of trousers doesn't require more parenting effort than the other, unless the idea is that you're supposed to have a row to get her into trousers and not having the row is bad parenting?

Because really who cares what she wears as long as it's clean and tidy and fits in the rules?

DontBeASalmon · 05/05/2017 12:23

I would contact the school and complain about leggings being accepted instead of trousers. It's not the same to wear them under a school dress! That said, if it's allowed, then why wouldn't you?

I just can't see the point of a uniform if everything is allowed.

On a side note, in schools where there is not a uniform, it's a constant battle to get people to respect the dress code. Yes, even without a uniform, pupils are expected to have a certain standard. It's much easier to have uniforms.

Original poster
NewStateswoman · 05/05/2017 12:25

Exactly Wombling, it's just trousers - no kind of trousers requires more or less effort than any other.

I'm going to make myself a badge that says 'Mumsnet validates my parenting choices' and wear it at the school gate later.

Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
NewStateswoman · 05/05/2017 12:27

Salmon would you really? But why? Leggings are not instead of trousers, they are trousers. Confused

OP posts:
EllaNB · 05/05/2017 12:30

Is this primary or secondary school?

I'm really surprised that there are schools that accept the students wearing leggings as 'uniform', especially if it's a secondary school.

Are leggings any more convenient then trousers for parents? I personally wouldn't want my children to wear leggings to school nor would it be allowed.

However if your school is fine with it and your daughter is happy then it's of no concern to your friend.