To be curious about boarding school children being at home all the time and the parents...

[blueglassandfreesias]

I wonder how it is having children around the house all the time when parents of boarders aren't used to it.
I saw something about Harrow/ Eton etc will not be re-opening until September.
For families who aren't used to dealing with their children daily, maybe some are re-thinking sending their children away and enjoying getting to know their kids.

I wonder how many parents after all this enforced time in close proximity with their kids will consider sending their kids to boarding school after lockdown.

Quite. Am thinking of starting a crowdfunding page for mine.

Actually, I went to a boarding school. I begged my parents to let me go, and won a scholarship. The majority of other girls (all girls school) had parents in the forces. I think the implication that people send their children to boarding school because they don't want to be bothered with them, is unfair.

Not defensive because my dc chose to go to specialist schools (which happen to be boarding), I didn’t choose to “send them away”. I’m loving having them home, as I always do. We’re all very close and spend lots of time together. They’re desperate to get back to their training though.

Most of us don't have DCs in boarding school, so you can hardly call us defensive, OP.

I agree that the tone of your post is offensive. You seem a bit clueless to be honest.

As for your imperious "STAND DOWN!", well, words fail me!

What makes you think that boarding parents don't know their kids?
I see mine a lot more than friends who work all day and their kids are usually in wraparound until 6pm.
Then there's clubs and activities they are ferried around to, as well.
Some don't see their kids at all, the main difference is I don't tuck mine up, but not many parents tuck older kids up anyway.

I'm loving spending all day with my dd, she's brilliant and I love her to bits, but i know she has to go back sometime, she's looking forward to it and misses her friends, like most kids at the moment.

Just out of interest what do you think happens during all the many weekends, (exeat) and long holidays, if we aren't used to seeing our kids daily?

It doesn't matter how many people go onto these threads and say how much their dcs love boarding, people that know nothing about it will still swipe.

Posh people HATE their children, OP. It REALLY interferes with their rich lifestyle when they are at home. It means that they cannot look down on inferior oiks like you as much as they would normally do, because that is of course, their main pleasure in life.

That OK for you?

When my oldest was borading school age (although she didn't board - she went to day private school) we had a full time nanny for her youngest siblings so certainly had boarding school been off then there was already childcare on hand which is what we used in school 8 week summer holidays anyway to some extent ( as we both work full time)

I expect they already know their kids quite well and many go home at weekends as well as having longer holidays than many schools. It is probably like an extra long school holiday only at home! If they have a garden they can camp out there sometimes, have barbecues. People adjust.

Calling the OP ‘dim’ is not going to make you look clever.

@blueglassandfreesias do you home educate?! If you send your children to school every day usually, are you enjoying having them home and reconsidering your decision during this time? It's the same question really. Everyone 'sends' their children somewhere for some length of time, except for a few home educators who do it all themselves.

You will need to tell me what I'm jealous of. Certainly not jealous of not having my children actually living with me and the psychological effects of this.

Lol, they'd have been a lot of psychological effects, had I refused to let mine go, she said she'd never speak to me again, or forgive me if I tried to stop her.
Are these the effects you mean, coz looks like we dodged them, phew.

For families who aren't used to dealing with their children daily

so you mean all the parents who are moaning on here that school holidays are too long, that WEEKENDS are too long, that it's unbearable to spend any time with children and that they are unable to cope with children off school for a few weeks like now?

as opposed to the children boarding in private schools, with much much longer holidays than the ones in state schools, and who spend a lot more quality time at home?

Is that what you meant OP?

My dd doesn’t board (although she may choose to flexi board later in life) and I am loving having her home! She is at private prep with very long hols and I’m always a bit sad when she returns to school. So I don’t think it’s necessarily a “boarding” thing.

No, you're not interested, you're judgy AF, hence the comment at the end.

One of my DC boards, at a specialist school. I have never encountered this attitude in real life, thankfully.

This. My son boards at a specialist school. It's done him the world of good. It's done him the world of good. He was marginalised and bullied at the schools here and his education was entirely neglected. He's now confident, well-adjusted, his conditions managed well and he's going to university to study engineering.

LEE, do it! We did and we all agree we should have done it sooner. It's been the making of him and us, too.

My son is driving me mad. He doesn’t board but now I am seriously considering it...

Why would someone be jealous that someone else’s child boards?

because it implies that someone can afford something they can't, which is a HUGE red flag on MN

Op I like threads like this. Genuinely interesting question. So different from so much of the corona crap being spouted.

Just wish more relevant responses! Thanks

And I’m talking from perspective who’s son will be going to weekly boarding!

Why would someone be jealous that someone else’s child boards? That’s the weirdest post on this thread.

Very possible. Some boarding schools are truly remarkable schools. I went to one that offered boarding but I was a day pupil as my parents couldn’t afford boarding. I was desperate to weekly board. The boarders all loved it.

Another boarding school parent here. I ditto most of the other responses. Its not a defensive response at all. You clearly know nothing about it and some of your comments are goady.

My relationship with my son Monday to Thursday is mainly me nagging him to get up, get organised, tidy up, do this and do that.

Weekends is quality time.

When he boards, there will be so much less of the former which causes such tension between us and so much more of the latter

Genuinely interesting question
hardly a genuine question, unless the OP "genuinely" confuses prison with boarding school.

Not being used to dealing with their children? Really?

If you read the threads about people desperate for nurseries and schools to reopen for a bit of peace and quiet, it doesn't sound like it's parents of boarders who are not used to dealing with their own kids.

How is there so much attacking of the OP? Boarding school to the majority of people I know IS considered a slightly alien/selfish concept. Unless its a special needs boarding school or the DC has no siblings and is desperately lonely at home how is it NOT selfish?Why have kids to send them away- unless they need dedicated, specialist care and teaching?
My DH and his 3 siblings were all sent to boarding school from age 8- they all hated it. Their mum was a "stay at home mother" and had zero reason to send them away, other than she wanted more time on her hands. My cousin also was sent, totally against her wishes.