To keep children off school for an hour tomorrow morning?

[Flippetydip]

My mother-in-law passed away very suddenly just over a month ago. We were all very shocked and are still sad and slightly in disbelief. DH and I went away for a week last week for funeral/lawyers/scattering of ashes etc whilst my parents stayed with our DC. We said that we would do something with the DC to mark the passing of their granny when we got back.

At the weekend, we went to buy some aptly named plants that we were planning on planting. These are now sat on the dining room table. We were planning on waiting until the coming weekend to do this and have a few words/prayer etc. However, looking at the forecast, tomorrow is likely the only gale-free/hail-free/rain-free window for about two weeks and I'm worried we won't get to do this before the plants die.

WIBU to ask the school for a short leave of absence tomorrow morning first thing so we can have a small ceremony for their grandmother?

Of course that's not unreasonable!

Sorry for your loss

It wouldn't be unreasonable to have them join you for a ceremony that had been arranged for that day, but since it's just you and them, I don't see why you couldn't do it after school (It's now light until 5pm), or wait till a suitable weather window. Is there any special reason to think that the plants will die (other than that you have them in a warm dining room in poor light rather than outside or somewhere cool with good light)? They'll have been in the nursery for weeks if not months.

Condolences on your loss.

Tbh, I think you and the school will struggle to get memorial gardening recorded as an authorised absence. It will be easier to collect them an hour early than bring them in an hour late. However, one half-day unauthorised absence (as your plans would mean missing morning registration) will not result in a fine.

Just inform the school that your dc will be late as they are attending a memorial ceremony for their grandmother.
It’s not a lie.

I agree with laudete. It’s easier to take them out an hour earlier. Also it could be very emotional for your DC so they might struggle to go to school straight after. It’s very nice idea but you can’t do this in a hurry, you need some time for chatting, sharing memories.
Sorry for your loss.

Ask yourself if this is the best time to plant anything? Sodden ground is fit for nothing but bog plants. Put the plants into a cool, light place! Don’t allow to dry out, and wait for the weather to perk up a bit. Otherwise you risk viewing the Far from Madding Crowd scene where all of Sergeant Troy’s efforts got washed away!

Seriously, I bought two dozen Lavenders for my Mum in early November. They were for Christmas, all survived six weeks of Northern climes and still look great.

Yes, I think you're right re. going back in afterwards. We will rethink and just keep plants watered and hope they die. I am a crap gardener (unlike my DMIL who had the greenest fingers ever!) which just makes me panic a bit!

Hope they DON'T die that should say

It’s fine. In fact I’d take them out for the day. Tell the school it’s a memorial service for their grandmother. Do the planting, go for lunch, maybe an activity like pottery painting or something they can do in memory of granny. Make a day of it which they’ll remember fondly.

I can't take them out for the whole day - DH and I are both working later in the day. I think I've decided that next week (I'd forgotten half term!) would be better for all concerned. Thanks for those reassuring me the plants won't die!

It will also give the DC some time to write a few bits and pieces to read if they want to.

I'm sure if you call school and explain, they should be ok about it. I had to do something similar with my girls. I just called the school explained, told them when I would have them back in for. They were fine about it. They just said as long as they know it's ok x sorry for you loss x