To keep the kids off school?

[HarleyQuinnRocks]

I had an engineer come out at 6.30pm to change my gas meter as the battery was low.

Whilst changing this it was found that I have a gas leak.

A team and a couple of vans arrived at 10pm and at 11pm they were drilling into the pavement outside my house, much to the annoyance of my neighbours.

They then came back in the house every ten minutes to check the gas levels as they cannot leave until it is at a safe level.

I sent my boys to bed at 11pm.

The engineers are currently outside my house digging with a shovel and are still checking the levels every ten minutes.

My gas has been cut off but clearly there is still gas leaking from somewhere.

Whatever result they get to at this time, at 9am they will drill properly and replace pipes etc to resolve the issue fully.

I'm the meantime I have work tomorrow and my 9 and 11 year old have school.

I will have had no sleep at all and will need at least the morning off to resolve the issue.

But would I be unreasonable to give my children the option for a day off school to sleep? They've had a few hours of broken sleep, but will need to get up at 6.30 to get ready for school.

From your update, if the sleep was just disturbed as they're not objecting this morning, I'd send them in OP.

Boys to school and you stay off work.

What a nightmare for you! Hope it's sorted soon - I agree, send them to school. It won't do them any harm, and you don't want them asking to stay off again in the future because they are tired - kids are pretty cunning!

I can't not drive because of the distance. I've had a strong coffee and I'm alert.

Not sure I'll get away with no work but I'm taking the morning off at least for the engineer.

I would send them, ring the school to let them know they may be a bit tired.

Your neighbours are a disgrace. I had similar a couple of years ago but it was an electricity cable that kept fusing, on,y me and next door affected but the utilities contractors were digging the road up all night.

Our other neighbours were all wonderful and never complained.

Well I would keep them home personally but it doesn’t matter what we think OP you assess your children not use we cannot see them!

One unauthorised absence means nothing and the school might authorise it anyway

Gosh when we had a suspected gas leak the first thing they told us was to get out of the house and stay out until the engineers told us it was safe.

Hope it’s ok.

I wouldn't have any qualms about keeping them off if they didn't feel up to it - one of mine functions fine on very little sleep but the other is beyond useless and over emotional when she's tired, would be more of a hindrance to the teacher tbh - but it sounds like your boys are fine so I'd just take them :)

As a side point, I'd be asking the engineers if its standard practice for a family to stay INSIDE a house with a known gas leak, I'd have thought you should've been evacuated for safety reasons!

I’d send them if they aren’t objecting

What an absolute nightmare!
Make sure you get some sleep, you'll be exhausted!

Another one surprised you’ve been allowed to stay inside, and who’d send them in not because I’d be opposed to them having the time off, but because they’ll be safe and out the way.

Both of the kids where they need to be. I'm back home now waiting for the engineers. The weather doesn't look the best for them working outside.

I'm guessing the level of gas leaking must have somehow not been safe to leave but safe enough for me to stay in the house?

Maybe it's them having to cover themselves for just incase, but 12 hours spend in a cold van or digging the pavement can't be nice for them.

Yes they will mark it as unauthorised but if they are in drilling at 9 surely they won't get to sleep anyway. Send them in a bit late

I'm seriously lagging now. Pipe still being replaced. Hoping won't take too long.

I'm hoping I can fit a sneaky hour nap in once they have finished and then go into work.

I would love the day off, but I can't afford to be a day down on my wages plus I'll just create a back log for myself.

Oh dear OP, hope you're all sorted now!

All sorted now thank you. Was all finally resolved after 1pm sometime.
I am now trying with all my might to stay awake until its a sensible time to send the kids to bed.

I will sleep well tonight!

Your neighbours are annoyed?! Bloody hell,they should be grateful that you've acted upon this and sorted it out. Would they rather put their lives at risk with a possible gas explosion?