Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to scream at school WhatsApp - THANK YOUs

94 replies

SpaceOp · 18/12/2020 15:53

I am being a total grinch, I get it. But last day of term and the 400 Merry Christmas, thanks everyone for being so great, thanks class reps for organising presents, I love this class so much... messages have started. At last count I was on 15 messages in the last 30 minutes.

This, of course, follows the endless confirmations we've had this week such as, "Ooh, johnny didn't get a Christmas card from the teacher, is there a mistake" and then every single person checking in to say that yes, they got theirs.

I know, I know, just mute or exit group. But usually it's actually pretty sensible and v useful. It's just this crazy end of term at Christmas thing!!!!

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 18/12/2020 19:20

It has to be said that my son's year whatsapp truly out did itself last night. It well and truly made my week!

There are some people who should never be let near a mobile phone!

Spiderbaby8 · 18/12/2020 19:34

Just mute it for a week, why do people complain about something that can just leave or mute.

Pipandmum · 18/12/2020 19:39

Our WhatsApp group is just full of things like 'where shall we meet for coffee', or 'why haven't the grade reports been sent' or 'please check your kid's sport bag for Sam's top'. It's just for parents so no one is thanking anyone, no virtue signalling at all.

Branleuse · 18/12/2020 19:43

you can mute it. Ive done that with my local lockdown group

FireUnderpants · 18/12/2020 20:02

Oh god, Yr 2 WhatsApp hasn't stopped this week. There was a class collection for teacher gift, so 30 reply for count me in, 30 for money sent, 30 for thanks for organising and 30 saying looks great when a photo of an envelope and wine appeared.

A couple of people seem to love being the first to post a screen shot of school emails, you know the ones we all recieve.

My class has some complete bellends, so I stay for the entertainment factor. One argument ended in an actual fist fight the next day at 9am. One parent was most put out that she wasn't wanted as a parent helper on a school trip, so said her DD wouldn't go if she couldn't come too. The day before the trip she was told to bring her DD to a different classroom in the morning where she would be for the day. A WhatsApp rant ensued about how the school were really going to let her miss the trip. She thought they would cave at the last minute and let her come.

HamishDent · 18/12/2020 20:11

YANBU OP. I refused to be on the school one and made DH go on it instead. I can’t be bothered with trawling through the useless drivel, but he can pick up any important stuff like teacher collections etc.

Leaannb · 18/12/2020 20:15

So thankful this isn't allowed here

pipnchops · 18/12/2020 20:24

Same on mine, that's what mute is for Wink

HitthatroadJack · 18/12/2020 20:34

This is exactly why a little group of us are fighting very hard to avoid whatsapp like the plague, and stick to Facebook groups.

The groups are very helpful and useful, but having to scroll through dozens of pointless posts on Whatsapp is too much to ask.

You see the "have you got Sarah's jumper" post on FB, you can safely ignore all the comments on it.

Being a working mum to start, then unable to catch up with anyone at the school gates with Covid, these groups are brilliant. But leave my Whatsapp alone!

Backtoblack1 · 18/12/2020 20:48

Exit the group and make a statement without saying a word.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 18/12/2020 20:54

YANBU I don’t like muting my phone completely but I’ve turned off WhatsApp notifications one day when I got 100 messages before breakfast... I’m much happier since. I just check it once a day and no constant beeping.

RandomUser18282 · 18/12/2020 20:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BitterMelon · 18/12/2020 20:58

My favourite is the Overeager Mum who insists on joining every single WhatsApp group associated with the school - it's a LOT - and then makes a sport out of forwarding / sharing / cross-posting things she sees in one group across all the other groups.

Occasionally it's helpful but mostly it's really not, and tends to include a lot of blather / rumour / irrelevant unfunny nuggets. A lot of 'copy pasta' where you have no idea where it came from, who said it, and why it's important. Oh yeah...and the audio files you would actually have to listen to, to find out what's on them. (Most memorable one was the one that was circulating from the 'NHS worker' back in March who said she wasn't worried about this Covid thing because it was all going to be OK!!!)

OrigamiPenguinArmy · 18/12/2020 21:09

Try being on a WhatsApp group with mostly late teens/early twenties. I’m currently a student, there’s a few older ones, but most are young, and they seem to post every thought they have, plus a reaction gif to go with it. Some mornings I get up to 300 + messages. The mute button is your friend, make use of it.

HitthatroadJack · 18/12/2020 22:03

even if you mute, you still have to scrolls through dozens of messages to check if there's anything interesting. If you don't, you might as well not being in the group at all.
Complete waste of time.

Parker231 · 19/12/2020 07:53

Is it worth having the class group App? Sounds like they are more trouble than they are worth. We managed without them previously. What happened with parents without a smartphone?

PinGwyn · 19/12/2020 09:14

@ImPrincessAurora I see, still sounds pointless to me!

We get emails/texts/phonecalls directly from school for necessary updates.

If they changed times I'd be expecting a phonecall to update us to ensure that details were received and understood rather than via WhatsApp which could easily be missed. Sounds like a logistical nightmare!

Each to their own but definitely not for me. I've managed 11 years of school so far without it so I'm sure we'll cope another few.

RedToothBrush · 19/12/2020 09:33

@Parker231

Is it worth having the class group App? Sounds like they are more trouble than they are worth. We managed without them previously. What happened with parents without a smartphone?
No. And they are like the Hotel California too.
RedToothBrush · 19/12/2020 09:34

Parents without a smartphone actually bother to pay attention to the messages the school send out rather than ask 5 minutes after the school have told you something the exact same thing because they can't be arsed to check themselves.

sunnysidegold · 19/12/2020 09:44

Our pta one is awful. Basically an opportunity to bother thirty people with a dull question you could have asked a mate or checked in the website for.

Are they doing dinners tomorrow?
What time does school finish tomorrow?
Do they need pe kit tomorrow?

What I really hate is when someone wheels in with somethbf about staffing - I'll take my child out of school if they get Mrs so and so next year.

I mute.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 19/12/2020 09:58

@HitthatroadJack

This is exactly why a little group of us are fighting very hard to avoid whatsapp like the plague, and stick to Facebook groups.

The groups are very helpful and useful, but having to scroll through dozens of pointless posts on Whatsapp is too much to ask.

You see the "have you got Sarah's jumper" post on FB, you can safely ignore all the comments on it.

Being a working mum to start, then unable to catch up with anyone at the school gates with Covid, these groups are brilliant. But leave my Whatsapp alone!

This is fabulous!
TeachesOfPeaches · 19/12/2020 10:03

I work full time so don't have time to chat at the school gates. the WhatsApp group has been useful. It's on permanent mute and I've never commented on it, just extract the useful info.

HitthatroadJack · 19/12/2020 11:07

@RedToothBrush

Parents without a smartphone actually bother to pay attention to the messages the school send out rather than ask 5 minutes after the school have told you something the exact same thing because they can't be arsed to check themselves.
depends on the school

some "announcements" from one of our schools have been made on a board at the gates so you see them at pick-up. It's great, but when you don't pick up yourself, or the board is gone by the time you pick up from after-school club, you are missing out a bit.

Rhiannon13 · 19/12/2020 12:27

This isn't a real problem is it? Just mute the chat! Bloody hell, people must wonder how we all survived before the invention of these incessantly intrusive apps...

RedToothBrush · 19/12/2020 12:47

HitthatroadJack our school get a text AND an email.

The parents STILL ask (sometimes minutes later) the exact same bloody thing.

They can't be bothered to open a different app. Thats how lazy they are.