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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:
Growingboys · 04/02/2020 19:25

Shoddy parenting IMO

MintyMabel · 04/02/2020 19:25

on which planet is it highly unlikely that a 5 year old cries about going to school

Because the OP has given no indication that her child is a serial school refuser, and in fact, people who have kids who do this are less likely to give an ad-hoc day off IME.

Really great parenting.
Teaching your child that parents are in charge and sometimes things happen, and in life you need to be flexible and adjust to change. All important lessons.

lilmishap · 04/02/2020 19:26

@MintyMabel DS2s class has a whatsapp group, it's how I found out that some mums are genuinely resentful their kids missed out on 'class attendance awards' because of my son.

It's also how I found out most mums couldn't give a shit about attendance ratings.

formerbabe · 04/02/2020 19:30

Teaching your child that parents are in charge

Mum over sleeping then not being arsed to get herself and her dc ready and to get to school doesn't scream being "in charge" to me.

dwum · 04/02/2020 19:31

Haven't RTFT but this is one of my favourite ever HONY posts.

I'm a teacher and a mum of four.

Life is too busy, we all need duvet days from time to time.

YANBU

Woke up late so gave kids a day off
AmICrazyorWhat2 · 04/02/2020 19:31

@boylovesmeerkats That's great, as long as he's never gone in with a nasty cold/cough, dodgy tummy and spread the germs to other children?

I honestly don't know anyone with primary-aged children who haven't been off ill occasionally. Not that it's relevant to this thread, but I can't stand it when parents send clearly ill children in to infect their classmates!

boylovesmeerkats · 04/02/2020 19:38

It might sound annoying but he's never had d&v or been clearly ill on a school day. Maybe a runny nose, but certainly not a temperature or more than that. I've not had a day off sick from work since 2013 myself.

Just saying although everyone thinks that days off are part of life, they're not always part of everyone's life and you have to accept you or your kids might miss out from not being there.

Schools have more problems with kids not going in with a sniffle and parents keeping them off than having the children there.

Oysterbabe · 04/02/2020 19:44

I'm with the posters questioning the OP, a preschooler and 5 year old all randomly sleeping past 9 on the same day when presumably they are normally in a routine of getting up on time.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 04/02/2020 19:46

I suppose it depends, you can get both over and under-cautious parents.
I walked into DS's classroom recently to find the teacher disinfecting everything. She said so many of the children were ill (and in school) that she was doing everything possible to minimise the contagion.

I'm guessing that's why my DS is now ill!

maddiemookins16mum · 04/02/2020 19:53

Imagine this scenario.......

I overslept (as did my wains), they were due at a special party/trip out/treat with Granny/fun event etc etc etc.......

I never bothered taking them.

Wouldn’t happen would it, you’d have been up and out the door in no time.

YABU (and lazy).

TheChosenTwo · 04/02/2020 19:53

I have 3 children in my class whose parents see no real value in bothering to get their children up and to school on time. It hacks me off as with the right attitude to their education from home they would all be achieving so much more than they are now. They struggle to pick up the learning from previous days and it’s hard for us to try and plug those gaps created by multiple days off ad hoc while not holding the rest of the class back.
As a one off, at age 5, it could easily have been a sick day and no harm done so I’m not tarring you with this brush but just make sure it’s not a slippery slope! I personally would have had mine out of the door ASAP - a day without them would be heavenly Grin

confusedandtired99 · 04/02/2020 19:53

Ah life happens. You were all obviously knackered. I can’t think one day will be the end of the world.

Musmerian · 04/02/2020 20:02

My God - there’s nothing so smug and self righteous as MN sometimes. The child is 5 for crying out loud. She’s hardly going to fall behind in a day!

Marmunia1975 · 04/02/2020 20:03

Highly irresponsible. I'm a school governor, and it's not looked upon favourably. Can also lead to social services getting involved.

snotthatfurrry · 04/02/2020 20:08

I would have taken them in. It's better to be late than miss a whole day

hopefulhalf · 04/02/2020 20:11

I work with safeguarding and this has all my antenae twitching. I am thinking is it the 12 yo who usually gets everyone up and out ? Why wasn't an alarm set on a monday night ? Was it a late night (Drinking ? Drugs DV) not saying it is any of these things but " oversleeping" and missing random days of school to me suggests a certain amount of chaos which is in no way in children's best interests. 2 questions (ok 3)
What is the 5yo s previous attendance like ?
What time did you put your DCs to bed on monday? And what time did you yourswlf go to bed ?
If the answear is 95, 7:30 and 10:30 then go for your life.

Hercwasonaroll · 04/02/2020 20:13

@hopefulhalf

I agree with you on the safeguarding concern. The 12yo sorting everyone else out is particularly concerning. Alongside the fact that when you woke at 9am you didn't even try and get them to school.

Lweji · 04/02/2020 20:14

Can also lead to social services getting involved.

Well... Maybe ring them and get it on record. Every single missing day.

I don't even allow DS days off, but this thread is Shock

missymousey · 04/02/2020 20:16

Can also lead to social services getting involved.
Pretty sure they've got higher priorities than a 5 year old missing a day of school. Also, social services isn't meant to be a bad thing, they're meant to help families who are struggling.

TheFuckingDogs · 04/02/2020 20:18

Totally fine, kids need a duvet day sometimes!

hopefulhalf · 04/02/2020 20:18

Sure and regularly " oversleeping" and not getting children to school can be thought of as struggling definately.

maddiemookins16mum · 04/02/2020 20:21

It’s only Tuesday, they probably had ‘duvet days’ two days ago.

changeofname0987 · 04/02/2020 20:21

I say a day off the hamster wheel is often much needed. At that age you and your babies won't regret bonus time together. Enjoy it and enjoy them.

spongejack · 04/02/2020 20:28

Highly irresponsible. I'm a school governor, and it's not looked upon favourably. Can also lead to social services getting involved.

Yeah sounds like a typical school governor and exactly why no way in hell would I do that job! The school governors always seem to think they're the best parents ever!

Wereallsquare · 04/02/2020 20:29

Safeguarding? Social services? DV? Drinking? Drugs? Struggling?

What is wrong with you people? Do you always overreact? You sound insane. You must be impossible to endure.