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

Day off school on birthday?

553 replies

Givemeabreak88 · 06/03/2021 09:36

What are your thoughts on giving a child the day off school on their birthday? If they are asking for the day off..

OP posts:
Rollintodarkness · 07/03/2021 19:00

@Givemeabreak88

He doesn’t like school hence him asking for the day off. He will be turning 7. Just to add he’s been at school throughout so he hasn’t been at home.
Haven't read the full thread beyond this but he has been at school throughout lockdown which would suggest to me you needed childcare as either a key worker or as a vulnerable child, yet on his birthday you are able to look after him? If you are able to have him then, then surely you didn't need him to be in school during lockdown and you have unnecessarily exposed him and the school staff to another point of possible covid contact. School is compulsory. Perhaps you need to address why he doesn't like school to see if the school can help him like it more, or if it isn't the right school for him, find another school with places.
cherish123 · 07/03/2021 19:01

No. Especially as they've just had a few months off.

Baabaagreensheep · 07/03/2021 19:16

Don’t understand the people who are so aghast at the idea. You get one childhood, missing 1 day of school to celebrate his birthday after the year we’ve just had sounds like a nice idea.

Jontomsam · 07/03/2021 19:18

@Soubriquet

Here we go again

Shall I do?

Everyone:- No
Op:- but he really wants to
Everyone:- still no
Op:- I’m gonna do it anyway

Why bother asking if you was going to do what you wanted to anyway?

☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻 This!!!!
Beautiful3 · 07/03/2021 19:19

No!

Buffs · 07/03/2021 19:23

Absolutely not. Don’t they make a fuss of them at school anyway?

expatinspain · 07/03/2021 19:24

I would say no, but then I don't have a child who really doesn't like school. I mean it's only one day I guess. If it makes him happy, it's not the end of the world.

bellocchild · 07/03/2021 19:27

Everyone has a birthday, for heaven's sake! No-one's that special...It would be absolute total chaos if we all got the day off...

mytwocats · 07/03/2021 19:32

So if child does get her day off,that like taking a day off your work for same thing,and losing pay! Ask yourself,what does the child gain from it? absolutely zilch, but it does teach her,that just taking a day off at anytime is ok as it's ok with parent as well,not good standing for later in life children have to learn not everything goes the way they want all the time, I hate it when parents say No or If you do that again you won't get whatever,& the child still ends up with the whatever,very poor parenting,

Frazzledstar1 · 07/03/2021 19:33

My son hates school but he didn’t get the day off on his birthday last year - we did something fun after school that he chose. Sucks yes but it’s kinda tough luck.

Yorkshiretolondon · 07/03/2021 19:36

Personally it’s setting unrealistic expectations for birthdays.... do adults get a day off their jobs? Nope not usually .... tbh it would be pretty boring anyway everyone will be at school or work surely

Bunnyfuller · 07/03/2021 19:42

Are you one of those adults who wants their birthday off in the workplace?

mdh2020 · 07/03/2021 19:45

Sorry but you go to school on your birthday . End of. Have presents in the morning, celebration tea when you get home.

DariaMorgendorffer · 07/03/2021 19:47

Not a chance.

Notthemessiah · 07/03/2021 19:51

School is glorified childcare anyway, although it's good to see that it's done it's secondary job of turning so many here into unquestioning, line-towing, cheerless drones.

That said, it is important to to teach your child the realities of our world, so maybe this is a good opportunity to prepare him for a life of doing what he's told even when there's no really good reason for it. Otherwise he'll no doubt turn into one of those dangerous people who thinks for himself (which ironically should be the goal of any real educational system).

Lucyk1 · 07/03/2021 19:53

I think if you were actually able to do something, go somewhere then yeah. I take my kid out of school every birthday for centre parcs... But if I want able to do something, and we'd be sitting in the house like normal, is just shove him in school for his birthday and celebrate after school and weekend.

Totallyfedup1979 · 07/03/2021 19:54

Ah just give him the day off! They are only kids once.

toocold54 · 07/03/2021 19:55

I’m not sure where I’ve missed when the birthday is - in normal circumstances I’d say having the odd day off is fine but sometimes it’s actually really fun going in on your birthday. However if it’s in the next month then I don’t think he should as he needs to get back into the routine again, but if it’s April and onwards then yes I’d let them have a day off if they don’t usually have days off.

N1no · 07/03/2021 19:58

I remember hating my birthdays at school. I got bullied throughout and hated the extra attention on my birthday. I wanted to sink into the ground when the teacher made everyone sing happy birthday for me. I also wanted to stay home but then I would have gotten the song the day after. I would never have been allowed to stay home and I asked a lot for it. I tried every trick known to me.. drinking salt water or shampoo. It never worked.

Notthemessiah · 07/03/2021 19:59

@Bunnyfuller

Are you one of those adults who wants their birthday off in the workplace?
What is wrong with taking your birthday off work if that's what you want to use your entitlement for? Are you the holiday police?
DoWhatYouWantTo · 07/03/2021 20:00

@SleepingStandingUp

Why?! Because he hates school *@FreddyTheFlute* and it can be hard enough to get him out the door as it is, I'm expecting it to be worse when they go back next week, and the idea of on top of that being all "no presents, no cake etc until you come home" sees especially mean after a frankly shit 12+ months and his second birthday in partial lockdown
Why ask then? You know everyone is going to say no!
LemonRoses · 07/03/2021 20:01

Absolutely not. Perhaps if you valued education more he might enjoy it more.

Notthemessiah · 07/03/2021 20:03

You know everyone is going to say no!

Well no, actually a reasonable minority think it's fine clearly. Or did school teach you to simply ignore the opinions of people that didn't agree with you?

Howdoin · 07/03/2021 20:03

@Julie21255

No. Do it this year and you'll have the same discussion in years to come. I'd be addressing the fact that he doesn't like school and why rather than wanting a day off.
Agree. I know someone who started with their birthday off for her kids in primary. She now has 2 out of 3 kids who are school refusers, one was supposed to be GCSE year now.
2andahalfpints · 07/03/2021 20:05

I normally let mine have the day off if they want to - time with parents playing with new toys is waaay more fun.
They normally want to go once they get a bit older.
Having said that, mine will go as they have missed so much school already - in your situation I would let him stay home!

Swipe left for the next trending thread