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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

LAPLAND AIBU??

63 replies

Team11 · 05/10/2020 12:42

MIL has booked to take children to lapland as a suprise however she has booked it on a school day (its a friday) as she said the weekend dates were too expensive. AIBU to tell her I'm not comfortable with this? Are they likely to be turned away at the door or questioned as to why they are not at school by lapland staff?

OP posts:
MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 05/10/2020 12:44

As in..actual Lapland?

022828MAN · 05/10/2020 12:44

Of course you're not BU to tell her she can't take your children out of school. You'll be fined for a start.

CitizenFame · 05/10/2020 12:45

Lol, no.

Have you ever known any tourist attraction - here or abroad - to question why children aren’t in school? Because I haven’t.

DieSchottin93 · 05/10/2020 12:45

I doubt staff in a different country would be interrogating you over the term dates Confused they've got your (well, your MIL's) money, they don't care.

Soubriquet · 05/10/2020 12:45

Yabu

It’s an experience and missing one day of school isn’t going to harm them.

I would do this too

Spied · 05/10/2020 12:46

I'm pretty sure the Lapland staff won't have any clue about when your school holidays are/aren't etc and I'm pretty sure they won't give a toss whether your DC are skiving from school Grin.
Seriously.

KarenCaron · 05/10/2020 12:46

No they wouldn't be questioned by staff as to why they are there. Lapland is for kids, they'll be loads of them there. Staff aren't going to be questioning each and every one of them and asking for a permission letter. If they are your concerns, then there is no problem. If however you are really concerned about the children missing a school day, or visiting busy attractions in the midst of a pandemic, then that is a different issue.

FancyARoot · 05/10/2020 12:46

Is it allowed with Covid!?

If so I’d definitely let them go. One day of school vs amazing memories? No contest in our house.

Soubriquet · 05/10/2020 12:47

It’s Lapland UK you’re talking about though yes?

Not Lapland abroad

Zoecarter · 05/10/2020 12:47

What an amazing thoughtful MIL the staff won’t question it

ShinyGreenElephant · 05/10/2020 12:47

Lapland UK or proper Lapland? Neither will question why they're not in school. I would let them miss a day for it but I wouldnt be impressed with someone booking it without asking me. I absolutely wouldn't let anyone take them abroad without me, especially at the moment

tyrannosaurustrip · 05/10/2020 12:48

OP you do know lapland is in Finland and they'll need a passport, right? And there's a chance it won't be able to happen because of Covid? unless its a local tourist attraction called lapland, and even then I can't imagine staff saying anything other than maybe 'oh lucky you, no school today' but I doubt the Finns will know UK term dates.

justanotherneighinparadise · 05/10/2020 12:48

We are going on a Friday, the day after my son’s birthday. After this shit storm of a year I’m hoping it will be something lovely to look forward to. Thankfully our school don’t fine for absences so I shall dutifully fill out the yellow form of shame and hope to god Santa isn’t wearing a hazmat suit.

Cinderellashoes · 05/10/2020 12:48

If it’s Lapland U.K. I wish my mil would offer to pay for it lol. Could you put the difference and take them on a weekend day instead?

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 05/10/2020 12:49

Why on Earth would they question why your children aren’t at school?!

tyrannosaurustrip · 05/10/2020 12:49

Ah just saw from other posts there's a Lapland UK. I still don't think missing a Friday off school in the current stressful context is such a big deal, but still wouldn't count on it going ahead depending on Covid numbers so maybe wouldn't tell them until nearer the time just in case.

NoddyMcPintsAlot · 05/10/2020 12:50

Are they likely to be turned away at the door or questioned as to why they are not at school by lapland staff?

Turned away by someone working in another country? Why would they even care about this ?

ohidoliketobe · 05/10/2020 12:51

We're due to go in December. Booked a year ago
Still unsure if it's going ahead due to restrictions in Finland.
You won't be fined for 1 day (it's over 5 days unauthorised absence in a single term). We discussed with school and they said it would be unauthorised but would be amazing and had their blessing
However MIL should have checked with your first, she'll need your permission to take them out of the country.

justanotherneighinparadise · 05/10/2020 12:52

@tyrannosaurustrip

Ah just saw from other posts there's a Lapland UK. I still don't think missing a Friday off school in the current stressful context is such a big deal, but still wouldn't count on it going ahead depending on Covid numbers so maybe wouldn't tell them until nearer the time just in case.
It is going ahead. It’s basically a stage that is built yearly so they have been able to make the necessary changes to follow the guidelines. Of course if there’s a national lockdown we’ve been told the tickets will be valid for as 2021 instead.
NoddyMcPintsAlot · 05/10/2020 12:53

Do you mean Lapland experience in the UK. ? Of course they are not going to care about kids being out of school. If they did they wouldn’t run an event on a school day that is primarily aimed at school going aged kids.

justanotherneighinparadise · 05/10/2020 12:53

I would imagine the OP is talking about Lapland Uk. If it was Lapland abroad that would be a holiday surely, not a one day trip.

HostaFireAndIce · 05/10/2020 12:55

I think it's a bit off of her to book something on a school day without asking whether you minded, but otherwise there's nothing to see here. Of course the staff won't ask why they aren't in school. They could be home schooled for all the staff are going to care!

emilyfrost · 05/10/2020 13:03

@justanotherneighinparadise

I would imagine the OP is talking about Lapland Uk. If it was Lapland abroad that would be a holiday surely, not a one day trip.
It can easily be a one day trip. I’ve done it.

If it’s Lapland in Finland, nobody will be going because of Covid.

Either way, nobody is going to be stopping kids and asking why they’re not in school, but YANBU. Your MIL should have proposed Friday and asked what you thought rather than just going ahead and booking it anyway.

I would just tell her to cancel the tickets and check with us in future rather than making unilateral decisions herself.

Original poster
Team11 · 05/10/2020 13:14

Thanks everyone. Yes sorry its lapland UK. I know it was massively kind of her to book it and the children will absolutely love it im just worried about them getting really excited about going and then not being allowed in Blushthankyou for reassuring me that this won't happen! Im a bit concerned about COVID too ive never been so I dont know the set up but hopefully they will make it safe for them! Also a bit annoying that she booked without asking but she said she only had a 20min window to book and her defence she did try to call me but I missed the call. So if they go do I tell the school the truth or call them in unwell?? I was concerned about them missing school but I guess it's only one day and lots of children are going to be missing a lot of school at the mo any way with all this isolation going on so maybe it's not such a big deal?

OP posts:
Bluetrews25 · 05/10/2020 13:23

Take a day off school? In an ordinary year, maybe. When they've missed months of school already....not something I'd be happy with TBH.

BUT. Lapland UK? Mind. Blown.Shock
I've heard of continental drift, but this is scary!

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