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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Woke up late so gave kids a day off

658 replies

queenjolo29 · 04/02/2020 09:44

I'm feeling kinda guilty not sure why has they are my children after all, but i forgot to set my alarm last night, didn't wake up till 9 which I might add never happens at the weekend lol. So I thought fuck it give kids a day off.. Please tell me I am not the only one who has done this. They don't have days off unless ill but that's rare. I feel strangely guilty 🤔🤔

OP posts:
Mamboitaliano · 04/02/2020 15:09

Agree with others - normally, no biggie. With your posting history - problematic.

Raspberrytruffle · 04/02/2020 15:10

These are the sort of happy memories I have with my normally strict parents too bollocks lets call in sick! Asking as theres no exams

nsav · 04/02/2020 15:12

My mum and dad did this with us a few times. I’m now at university studying social work and have bought my first home at age 20. Don’t worry, a day off school is fine

Mumalu · 04/02/2020 15:16

Most of the people of mums net are the most full of them selves stuck up judgemental people I've ever come across op the world won't end she's 5

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 04/02/2020 15:16

I'd have taken the 5 year old in late and apologised to the school. Nursery is optional so I think OK to just say child overtired.

ItWillBeBetterinAugust · 04/02/2020 15:20

Ironically I live in one of the much mentioned countries where children don't start school until they're 6 or 7 (dependent on exactly when their birthday falls) and once your child actually is of compulsory school age there is such a strong taboo coupled with stringent laws about school attendance that there is no way on earth a child who isn't sick would miss school.

Oversleeping wouldn't wash as you must inform the school office between 7am and 7:45am at the latest, otherwise all your emergency contact numbers will be called one after the other on the assumption something awful may have happened.

School is often taken more seriously, not less, when it starts at a later age.

Even non compulsory Kindergarten would call before 9am if a child hadn't come in, to find out what was wrong.

Third day off in a row (including weekends - sonic you're off on Friday and Monday, Monday is day four not two) require a formal doctor's certificate. Any absence requires a written note (email now but 9 years ago you had to physically get a piece of paper to school on the day via someone or yourself). Permission for medical appointments in school time must be granted in advance, in writing. There simply is no way to get permission for term time holidays and children of compulsory school age are not allowed through passport control if they should be at school. Permission to miss school for educational purposes such as a non school orchestra competition or missing the last day for a language holiday is discretionary and by no means guaranteed.

English school attendance is pretty lax and optional by comparison.

No such thing as attendance certificates though Grin

VestaTilley · 04/02/2020 15:21

You did what??

You're feeling strangely guilty because it's an awful, lazy way to behave. It's disorganized, immature and bad parenting.

Take them to school on time tomorrow, apologise to their teachers and own up that it was your error, not your children's. And set an alarm in future.

AndThenThereWereSeven · 04/02/2020 15:21

It's fine - she's five! 🙂

My GCSE year DC2 overslept the other day and knew he would get a Saturday detention if he went in late. I let him stay home. He has really good attendance, gets good grades, never gets into trouble and needs his Saturday lie-ins. I'm a great believer in picking your battles.

formerbabe · 04/02/2020 15:28

I’m now at university studying social work and have bought my first home at age 20

Totally off topic I know but you surely can't have worked for long enough to be able to save enough to buy a house at age 20 as a student.

OkPedro · 04/02/2020 15:30

@VestaTilley THE OP LET HER CHILD STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL
Jesus she didn’t break the law.. calm down 🙄

MargotB7 · 04/02/2020 15:32

I did it the day after my MIL's funeral. Me and the Husband were off so we had a nice family day chilling after an awful day.

You are hardly going to do long term damage.

You shouldn't have posted it in AIBU because some people love giving other people a telling off on here. It is quite amusing how sad some people are.

spongejack · 04/02/2020 15:33

@VestaTilley it was ONE day not a month, did you misread the OP?

MargotB7 · 04/02/2020 15:34

VestaTilley for example Grin

Lweji · 04/02/2020 15:35

No such thing as attendance certificates though

None here either.
Children who miss more than 2x the number of classes per week (effectively miss more than 2 weeks) without proper justification fail the year. Although then they can compensate it by doing some extra school work.

Womenwotlunch · 04/02/2020 15:37

My mother never did this and I sometimes wished that she would throw caution to the wind and give us the odd day off.
I did this with my GCSE aged daughter last year. We stayed at home watched daytime tv ate loads and she went back to school the next day. She got ten GCSE’s grade 8 and 9’ and told me it was one of the happiest days of her life

Lweji · 04/02/2020 15:40

Some pps seem to have missed this
They don't have days off unless ill but that's rare.
And that the OP also has an older child, who doesn't seem to miss school on a regular basis, based on the above.
If the OP managed with her 12 year old, I'm sure she won't lose it with the younger two.

Sorry, OP, you won't get the worst mother of the year award this time.

lilybetsy · 04/02/2020 15:42

do you do this with your work too? Just fancy a day off so don't bother ?

augustusglupe · 04/02/2020 15:46

DD is grown now but I would never in a million years have done this.
I just don’t think it’s a good example to set OP.
If for whatever reason, DD was late for school, then I took her in late, we didn’t just not go.

deareloise · 04/02/2020 15:46

To be fair, I have with work. Not very often but there have been times when (very occasionally) I just can’t be bothered to go in Blush

RandomUser3049 · 04/02/2020 15:47

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

LaMarschallin · 04/02/2020 15:48

Iminaglasscaseofemotion

One of the doctors may be having cute snuggles with their DCs after forgetting the alarm, so appointments for 6 doctors are squashed into 5. Or even 4.

I didn't realise 5 year olds could be doctors confused ridiculous comparison there. Proving once again that MN is nuts sometimes.

Or possibly proving some people can't read properly.

Maybe because their parents didn't take them to school.

WendyMoiraAngelaDarling · 04/02/2020 15:48

And surely you would have had a more relaxing day with them at school and nursery?

Some people actually like being with their kids and do actually love a day at home with them without having to do the school run. Some people see it as a lovely treat. I am one of them Smile

waterlego · 04/02/2020 15:49

Wow Handsoff Did you really just imply that dozens of posters on this thread are awful, boring, idiots and arseholes for having an opinion on this? Forgive me if I pay no attention to your opinion then.

I think it sets a bad example. If that makes me an arsehole, I’ll just live with it. 🙂

WendyMoiraAngelaDarling · 04/02/2020 15:50

With your history - posted on MN - it's an issue

To be fair though, no one knew this history to begin with and OP still got the full weight of MN wrath.

SoupDragon · 04/02/2020 15:54

Or possibly proving some people can't read properly.

Maybe because their parents didn't take them to school.

What is the excuse for the person making the poor comparison?

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