To take Friday off work

[pleasingone]

As it's the day after GCSE results.

Just come home from work and mentioned to DH that I've taken this Friday off work just in case in need to help DD with colleges.
I don't work on a Thursday so I am around for GCSE result day.
He said I have no belief in her capabilities and and I am wrong to have booked it off just to be here just in case things have gone wrong.
I think it was a sensible thing to do. She couldn't have worked harder in preparation and deserves to have done well but this year particularly with the new English & Maths exams are very uncertain.
I think he is being a dick. Am I showing I don't believe in her?

Nobody I know has taken time off to do such a thing. I don't agree 100% with him...but if my parents took the day off in case they needed to pick up the pieces after my exam results, I'd have been rather peeved. But that's just me. Your DD might feel differently. I'd be cautious, in your choice of position, that she doesn't get the feeling that you think she's going to do badly. It kinda feels like your setting up already for failure.
But it's not like you've been unkind - I think you've just gone a bit too far in trying to be supportive!

Not sure what the day after results will achieve?

Can't you badge it "taken the day off to celebrate together" instead??

Seems a strange reason to take a day off to be honest.

yes you are. It seems like an unusual reason to be off work.

That's a bit of an odd reason.

I was away on holiday in Switzerland when I got my GCSE results! I rang my mum to get them and she was out so I had to ring back later. I don't remember being particularly nervous or worried either - it was my A-levels that were the big ones!

I think taking the day off on the day should be enough and I'm sure she'll want to go and celebrate with her friends the day after rather than hang out with her mum, but it's your choice. If you have the holiday to use, why not have a long BH weekend?

Why didn't you say it was to support her? Take her out for lunch etc. not in case she messed up?

Whilst good intentioned I do think it shows a lack of confidence in her abilities. But I think it depends how you mention it to DD and her abilities whether its very likely she's done well, uncertain or less likely.

FWIW I know it's a big deal to the pupils but in terms of further education looking back anyone who wanted to get into college/ sixth form were let in IME so with that considered if she doesn't do as well as expected there are many options available generally

It does seem strange to me. Though to make a four day weekend given a bank holiday on Monday would have been a good reason.

Not strange, if anything goes wrong, you'd want to be on hand.If it doesn't, then great, you've got the day free for treats.
Why is DH getting involved in what leave you take?

It's fine, a nice thing to do. And if all is well you can go out the the day, shop for college supplies, do something nice together.

YANBU. My friend, a workaholic hospital consultant, left an important meeting last week to help her dc who'd dropped a vital A' level grade.

Weird that people think it is weird! It is a nice thing to do. Ignore DH and the miseries.

Hovercraft parenting I'm afraid. She's not 6.

A couple of my colleagues have booked results days off. One has a DD with special needs who is likely to have a melt down so understandable. No idea why the other has though. My DS would be horrified if I booked time off! I have got a couple of hours off on college enrolment day though to go with him just to make certain he actually does enrol

Ooh I think I got that expression completely wrong

Helicopter Spirited

Its not strange. My friends son last year completely messed up meaning he wasnt able to stay on at school in the sixth form as expected and they had to spend the whole next couple of days trying to sort his life out. Got him into a college in the end but helped that she was around to drive him round the local colleges and speak to people about courses.

Doesn't seem strange to me. I've taken results day off before and supported DD through the highs and lows. Would've found it hard to concentrate properly at work and was a good excuse to take her out to celebrate.

I've taken Thursday off at dd1's request. We will either spend it celebrating or commiserating. I hope for the former, and if they haven't mucked about with grade boundaries to make everything seem harder, then I expect the former.
However it was the thought of her sitting sobbing on her own at home which is my scared thought. If she's done well then I expect the cloud nine will mean she won't care if I'm there or not.

Wouldn't you be helping her Thursday, if she really needs it?

No I think it shows you're around to help her plan her future whatever that holds and it makes it five days off for one days holiday!

Thank you for the (mixed) views.
I do believe in her but not the new examinations as I expect many other parents of DCs getting results on Thursday will understand.
There was so much uncertainty with the new English & Maths this year. The school constantly said they didn't really know what the grade boundaries were and what was expected. This year group are the guinea pigs. IF something has gone wrong for her she won't be able to get into her chosen college as they don't do a resit year.

I think I will just tell her that I've got Friday off as I'd like a long weekend (that'll actually be quite nice anyway) and hopefully we can do something together.
I'm more available & responsive to the DC than DH. I feel he'd stand back and let them get on with everything alone, I just constantly think about them.

I don't think you are BU. Much better to be there and her not need your support, than. It be there and she does. Besides presumably it's your own annual leave and you can take it whenever you like!