Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep DD off school or not?

64 replies

AjasLipstick · 07/02/2018 21:01

For background, we live in Australia where it's going to hit 40 degrees today (100f)

And I can't drive...we walk to school which is about a mile away. DD is 9.

I am learning to drive but in the meantime, on hot days if DH can get home early, he does so that he can pick DD up...our older DD is away.

Sometimes one of DD's classmates' parents will see us and pick us up or offer us a lift but there's no knowing because all of the women I know at school work part time and have varying shifts.

We walked home once last year on a 44 degree day and I actually thought I was going to die....I was quite ill and it felt terrible to walk in that heat.

OP posts:
SciFiG33k · 07/02/2018 21:37

Let her have the day off. One day a year because of the heat wont ruin her education. And walking anywhere when its 40plus is horrible.

Seryph · 07/02/2018 21:37

Carry plenty of water, take an umbrella/parasol and remember to slip, slap, slop.
Unfortunately this is one of the problems with living in Australia, you just need to get used to it.

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 07/02/2018 21:40

Blue I have a good parasol with factor 50 protection...I notice not many other women carry them too! I don't care though!
Wolfie I don't think you can have been in much extreme heat at all! there is no "somewhere shady to sit" in that sort of heat....you might get shade but the heat is all encompassing and there's no respite.

And I know I can't do it all the time but as I said in my OP, DH usually comes home early in heat but cant today which hasn't happened before. This isn't a common situation for me.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 07/02/2018 21:40

Didn't you post about this before? It all seems very familiar down to not wanting to accept lifts

CommanderDaisy · 07/02/2018 21:41

Well, I'm 45 and I hate the heat but to be honest, it's part and parcel of Australia.
I've worked on a farm in 40 plus heat and survived - and that was last year this time when it was that temperature for a number of days. You get used to it, if you don't hide from it. Constant air conditioning won't help.
In that kind of heat, it's like breathing something solid when you move or do anything- I do understand, but as pp and myself have said - you won't be able to pull her from school everytime it gets this hot, and it's February. This is usually the worst month in most areas.

Umbrellas, hydrolyte, Salt in your water ( and drink lots of it ), don't eat heavily, and don't blast your air con all day.

Sort the bikes ASAP, if you can't do the driving lessons.

MrTrebus · 07/02/2018 21:43

I don't get why people post threads like this then get all offended and defensive with any sort of suggestions and any ideas at all. It's exhausting and annoying and pointless!

timeisnotaline · 07/02/2018 21:45

I’d walk it, but I’m Australian. Even in Melbourne there are at least a few days a year every year of 40+. But why aren’t the bikes fixed given it’s February and you knew this would happen reasonably often in feb? Yabu not to take all suitable precautions to be prepared to get your daughter to school. In your case that would be fixing the bikes. It’s only a mile.

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 07/02/2018 21:46

CMOT no...not me. I like lifts but can't expect them...and sometimes nobody I know is on the pickup.

Mr Trebus I'm not offended but it's annoying when people don't read the OP properly. Then suggest things I have already covered.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 07/02/2018 21:46

Yes I have. Only on holiday but no car and no other way to get around at all. Fucking melting.
The shade won't be cool but you could rest and rehydrate.
You need to sort out a way to make this doable.

Passthecake30 · 07/02/2018 21:48

I'd beg a lift.

I can't even contemplate 40c atm.

MsWanaBanana · 07/02/2018 21:51

Ffs I struggled in England when it hit 30 deg! My body does not cool down very quickly and I easily overheat and start feeling dizzy. If you can’t do it OP, just keep her home. There’s no point in you getting sick over it.

Saracen · 07/02/2018 21:55

I think you should keep her off just this once, but come up with a plan so it doesn't happen again.

I would suggest that being a bit bolder with asking for lifts would be a good solution. It would be very rare, not as if you are asking someone to go out of their way every day. People are likely to take pity on you. Be very effusive with your thanks and then give them a gift as a token of your appreciation.

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 07/02/2018 21:55

Wolfie As I said, DH is generally able to come home when he pleases and always does when it gets this hot but he can't today.

He has an emergency dental appointment and really needs that to be sorted.

It's never an issue for me these days...not since that walk of hell I did!

OP posts:
bluetongue · 07/02/2018 21:56

I understand feeling sick with the heat. Even though I was born in Australia I’ve never acclimatised. My coping method is simply not going out when it’s hot if I don’t have to.

Saying that, I think you need a backup plan for days like this until you can drive. Someone must be able to give your daughter a lift.

Wolfiefan · 07/02/2018 21:57

Oh well. Just ignore any suggestions of how to cope with it and keep your child off school every time it's hot. Confused

namechange012 · 07/02/2018 21:57

I really don't like the heat either, and the only things I found that truly helped were:

  • carrying a couple of bottles of ice water (one for the way there, one for the way back) and drinking from it constantly.
  • Put some freezer packs in a rucksack so that they lie against your back (pad the rest of the rucksack out with an old pillow or something so they don't move).
  • Wet cloths against the neck and wrists (even better if they've been in the fridge overnight) to help cool down the major points of blood flow (probably medically nonsense, but it really helps me regardless. Refresh them with a bit more water once you get there for the journey home.

Also make sure you've eaten / have a snack with you of something sweet or salty in case you feel faint.Sorry, I know they're obvious and you've probably tried everything already but just wanted to post in case there was anything you hadn't already tried.

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 07/02/2018 21:58

Blue not really...a lot of the other Mums work and many of the kids go to after school club which you need to book in advance or I'd have arranged for DD to go till DH could get her.

MIL lives an hour away.

OP posts:
trappedinsuburbia · 07/02/2018 21:59

I'd take the day off, once you learn to drive it won't be an issue and its hardly going to ruin her education.

BoomBoomsCousin · 07/02/2018 21:59

Would a water bottle not help? It’s only a mile. If you just feel bad rather than it actually doing you permanent harm, I think you should suck it up. If it’s actually harmful for you and there really is no way of getting a taxi etc. then stay home.

Trailedanderror · 07/02/2018 22:00

I struggle in the heat, but when I lived in Oz I slowed right down and coped. Walk slowly, cover up and take water. You'll survive. On the way back can you stop off for anywear en route for a drink or icecream?

MrTrebus · 07/02/2018 22:03

Not really OP,please have suggested loads of things that aren't in your OP and you've batted them all away. Pointless.

MrTrebus · 07/02/2018 22:03

People not please

callmeadoctor · 07/02/2018 22:04

What about a scooter, has DD got one? Can she scoot on her own?

floriad · 07/02/2018 22:07

I'd probably take her off. This time.

And get a bike ASAP.

Bigpizzalover · 07/02/2018 22:08

A mile there and back really isn’t that far, as PP have said iced water, umbrella and cool cloth on your neck. Also take a light snack for if you feel dizzy. And yes I have walked that far, in 38 degree heat at 6 months pregnant.

Anyway....

Does any of your daughters friends walk home in your direction? Could she start off walking with them and you meet her a bit closer to home? Is there any other local transport such as school bus/public bus that her friends travel on that she could go with?

Swipe left for the next trending thread