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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unaceptable taking a "snow day" when schools are open

409 replies

Creambun2 · 28/02/2018 11:28

It really annoys me that the vast majority of schools are open in my area, yet many, many children have been taken out of school by parents "to enjoy the snow". Talk about lack of respect for the staff and other pupils who bother to turn up. We only have a couple of cm of snow!

OP posts:
ReanimatedSGB · 28/02/2018 13:06

Generally, if you do an 'essential' job, your employers will have some sort of policy for how to manage things in bad weather - and if you're not a complete newbie (ie never had to tackle your commute in snow before) or a complete idiot, you will have contingency plans as well.
In the case of a lot of jobs, it really makes no difference in the long term if you have a day off or not, except that employers with a poor attitude towards staff are likely to dock your pay.
It's a lot better for kids to take days off from school now and again than to be made to struggle in and struggle back and miss out on spontaneity and fun, especially at primary age (the best thing you can do for primary age DC is to remind them constantly that all the tests they are put through DO NOT MATTER and, while they should try to be polite rather than disruptive, and do a reasonable job with their schoolwork if possible, there's more to life than school.)

hibbledibble · 28/02/2018 13:07

Well, I didn't take a snow day.

Now the school has closed and wants all parents to collect their children immediately. It is going to be difficult to reach the school due to the weather.

So I think yabu.

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 13:09

Ah, I do so enjoy watching people who are convinced they know best just proving the point

Ah I do so enjoy parents of babies and toddlers telling parents of older children what kind of parent they'll be Wink

Mummyrowland · 28/02/2018 13:09

The not playing in snow is because they will get cold and soaked and then be in wet cold clothes for the rest of the day. I send mine in full snow suits and this appropriately dressed are allowed out. Those not have to stay in. It's sensible Iotherwise kids get ill and then parents complain!

bridgetreilly · 28/02/2018 13:10

YANBU. It's not the only time it'll ever snow. It's not even the first time this winter.

SaucyJack · 28/02/2018 13:15

Yeah, I guess I agree with you as I sent mine in (although I couldn't care less about other people's kids.

I just wish schools would unclench a bit to make it a pleasanter and more fun experience for pupils.

DD1 has gone off to school in flat ballet shoes because there's nowhere to store winter boots, and the school won't relax the footwear policy for the week (and yes- she's too lazy to carry boots around in a carrier bag all day).

Dd2's primary initially said they weren't allowed to throw snowballs, but they relented in the end and said it was OK if they asked permission from the "target" first. Bloody snowflakes indeed.

fleshmarketclose · 28/02/2018 13:15

Dd's school closed today when there didn't seem to be much snow where other local schools stayed open. However we've had loads come down since and the schools that were open are sending children home. I'd prefer schools made the call early tbh.
Ds is at work 14 miles away and police have advised their offices to stay where they are as it isn't safe to travel. Some children at dd's school travel from the area ds works in so I think schools have to be wary when they decide to calla snow day.
Personally I would keep dd at home if I felt travelling was going to be a problem regardless as to whether the school was open or not.

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 13:16

valentine

My teen lads had good trench coats, never wore them even in the minus 10 of 2010!!!! The girls would wear little jackets, no hat or scarf!! Beyond daft Grin

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 13:17

saucy

Permission from the target Grin that made me laugh

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 13:21

Valentina - proving the point nicely again.

I've got lots of family who are teachers, an older stepdaughter, and we had my nephew living with us for a while when he was 8. But hey - you're a SAHM with older kids, so you are the only one who can know anything about parenting, eh?!

For the record, I didn't say what type of parent I'm going to be. I said, the sort who thinks they know best about education and child rearing is what I will definitely not be. There are so many people who think that nobody other than themselves can possibly have a valid opinion on their child. Sometimes people have very valid points (e.g schools not taking bullying seriously or handling it well), but often they don't. Guff about making memories when it's perfectly safe to go into school and the snow will be there before and after as well as for playing with friends during? The snowflakes in the sky aren't the only ones!

SparkleFizz · 28/02/2018 13:21

Generally, if you do an 'essential' job, your employers will have some sort of policy for how to manage things in bad weather

I saw a post on a local Facebook page this morning, thanking volunteers with 4x4’s for ferrying nurses from snow hit areas to the hospitals where they worked.

Bimbler · 28/02/2018 13:25

Valentina, fess up now. Did you say you're the only person who knows anything about parenting?

JacquesHammer · 28/02/2018 13:26

@creambun interesting choice of points to pick on, touched a nerve? She doesn't need it because I can help her do the work rather than the teachers needing to give her extra.

I'd have been FAR more obvious had I been boasting. Grin

Your being "really annoyed" has clearly ruined your day. Whereas we've had a smasher. PJS, movies, snowman.

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 13:29

It's not the only time it'll ever snow. It's not even the first time this winter.

First time is snowed this winter in my area.

Valentina - proving the point nicely again
You have yet to make a point.

I've got lots of family who are teachers, an older stepdaughter, and we had my nephew living with us for a while when he was 8. But hey - you're a SAHM with older kids, so you are the only one who can know anything about parenting, eh?!

Grin I'll defer to your vast experience of having once had an 8 year old in your house. Not sure how your family being teachers is relevant at all though. Confused

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 13:30

Valentina, fess up now. Did you say you're the only person who knows anything about parenting

I'm not going to say I never thought it. But I've definitely never said it aloud. Grin

IpreferFrieda · 28/02/2018 13:30

guff about making memories

You havnt made many yet with s pre school child. Nephew and step dd totally different.

Mine are now 28/27/24/18/17 and They don’t remember the average school day but the weeks holiday we had in wales with their dad and me and we had to take them out of school for a week or we couldn’t have afforded to have s holiday together.

They remember snow days with sledging and hot chocolate as School was too dangerous to reach.

Never call memories guff. They are the most precious times of your child’s life. And yours

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 13:30

Yes. Having him live with you for the best part of a year is "once".

No, that doesn't surprise me. Maybe try getting a job as one and then you'll see?!

Valentinesfart · 28/02/2018 13:32

No, that doesn't surprise me. Maybe try getting a job as one and then you'll see?!

So if I get a job as a teacher, all my family will become parenting experts? Good plan.

Twocatsonebaby · 28/02/2018 13:32

I agree with@tinkywinky

Seafoodeatit · 28/02/2018 13:35

I wouldn't keep DC off school because of snow but seeing as I need to use the bus I would keep them home if there was severe disruption to public transport.

Farmerswife36 · 28/02/2018 13:35

YABU it's horrific and dangerous to have kids in school especially as roads in some areas are closed . Yeh we may get kids into school but why take the risk of not being able to get back for pick up . All schools in my area thankfully are closed - get off your high horse , one or two days missing school won't make a difference.

greenbeansqueen · 28/02/2018 13:35

We had a tiny amount of snow and the school closed anyway - teachers not able to get home if they're not local etc. SO yes you big judgy pants YABU even if the school's not shut completely a day n the snow when kids aren't used to it and it's very exciting and it's not the end of the world if they have a day AWOL. Maybe the teacher's will enjoy doing something less structured and more relaxed with the smaller group of kids they do have in...

beepthemeep · 28/02/2018 13:36

nah, you're right. Best stick to making smug comments on here!

If you grow up with a teacher/head in the family, and you listen to them talk about it for many years, and you go in to help them in the classroom regularly, and support them with all the admin like prepping for lessons or decorating the classroom, and you help out at the school regularly - no, you're not an expert. But you get a pretty good feel for it and the types of parents that are a PITA!

MotherforkingShirtballs · 28/02/2018 13:37

My DC are off school. I can't get the pushchair out in the snow, I tried and we got stuck before we even got to the end of the street. They're too young to walk to school by themselves, no car, and no one else to take them. They've been playing out in the garden and throwing snowballs at the shed.

CavoliRiscaldati · 28/02/2018 13:38

YABU it's horrific and dangerous to have kids in school

seriously? Grin
Someone really should write a song about snowflakes in the snow.

(No one is saying that schools must stay open at all cost by the way, just mocking the lazy parents who feel overwhelmed about walking 20 minutes and prefer to keep their kids in front of the TV)