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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we don’t need to order teaching supplies?

27 replies

BananaPeeling · 06/09/2021 23:39

My friend and myself both have 4 year olds starting school tomorrow.

She has ordered from some teaching supply place a reading diary as the schools ones are too plain, teacher stamps saying ‘well done’ ‘reading checked’ ‘super star’ and hundreds of stickers saying ‘Mummy and Daddy say well done’ on them.

I didn’t think this was the normal so I haven’t ordered any supplies.

She is annoyed at me as I said it might be a bit much, aibu

OP posts:
MaidEdithofAragon · 06/09/2021 23:44

You are fine. She's over the top. The school won't use her reading diary.

lawofdistraction · 06/09/2021 23:45

Hahaha. No, that isn't normal!

MurielsWedding · 06/09/2021 23:48

No it’s not the norm but equally if that’s something that makes her happy then that’s ok too.

If she was listening to her child read every night that would make me happy if I was her child’s teacher.

I would use her diary. I would just think she’d lost the proper one.

WinTheNight · 06/09/2021 23:54

She will probably be the only one, but it’s nice that she’s excited and interested, if a bit over the top. So many kids have parents that can’t be bothered, don't take much interest in school and don’t read with them.
Smile and let it go over your head.

SonicStars · 07/09/2021 01:12

If it makes her happy, why steal her joy.

I know a mum who at the start of the first lockdown copied out the maths worksheet onto another piece of paper with different colours and wavy underlining etc.

Doubt she did it for long and rather her than me, but I managed not to laugh at her (to me) wasted energy.

SilverOnToast · 07/09/2021 01:22

Or… the kids will be kept home in the near foreseeable due to a new variant and she’ll be laughing due to having all the homeschooling supplies needed!

After the cock-up of the last school year, I’m not laughing at over-prepared parents!

BlackeyedSusan · 07/09/2021 02:52

it is rather sweet though. rather that than not getting kid to read.

Oceanbliss · 07/09/2021 02:56

Why did you feel the need to tell her you thought it was over the top?

LittleBrenda · 07/09/2021 07:06

@MaidEdithofAragon

You are fine. She's over the top. The school won't use her reading diary.

Where dies your child go to school? Borstal?

Why would a school mind which reading diary a parent wanted to use? I had a child in my year one class last year whose mum threw his reading diary and the school book in the bin if we ever sent it home as she 'wasn't going to do our job'.

I'd be more than happy for your 'friend' to stamp her DD's diary and give her as many stickers as she wants if she was supporting her and listening to her read.

In fact, I'd probably ask her if she would like to be a reading volunteer in my classroom and she can spread her enthusiasm to other children. Her stamps would be more than welcome too.

MydogWillow · 07/09/2021 07:15

@LittleBrenda

Am unable to quote your post but I agree with everything you've said.

And I haven't heard the word borstal for years...!

chinateapot · 07/09/2021 07:19

Not unreasonable to have not ordered any supplies - I’m sure school will have everything your little one needs

Unreasonable to tell your friend it’s “a bit much”. I don’t think that’s what friends do.

Dozer · 07/09/2021 07:22

YANBU not to order that kind of stuff.

YABU for your comment to your friend.

Jangle33 · 07/09/2021 07:27

It’s weird. And all the teachers that say that it alright what about the other 4 year olds whose parents can’t afford it. There’s a perfectly good school reading record and it’s a waste of paper not to use it. YANBU!!

ChocolateChipBelvitaSoftBake · 07/09/2021 07:31

Shes keen and excited to help her child at school. Yes maybe a little OTT but why are you knocking her enthusiasm? If I was excited and enthusiastic about something I would be annoyed if someone burst my bubble just because they thought it was odd, ott, not normal. I mean its a fancy reading diary that she and her child can have fun using, harmless and well intended.

BlusteryLake · 07/09/2021 07:36

She is a keen and enthusiastic parent doing what she can to help her child with school. Whilst it's probably not necessary to buy the diary if school provides one, I have over the years bought many additional learning materials that my children have benefitted from. I think you should move that massive chip off your shoulder before it weighs you down permanently.

PurpleDaisies · 07/09/2021 07:40

Well, you really pissed on her chips, didn’t you! Confused
There was no need for you to comment. She’s been keen and enthusiastic. Maybe her child is really motivated by getting a stamp. Who knows?

Whinge · 07/09/2021 07:41

@WinTheNight

She will probably be the only one, but it’s nice that she’s excited and interested, if a bit over the top. So many kids have parents that can’t be bothered, don't take much interest in school and don’t read with them. Smile and let it go over your head.
I agree. I think it's lovely that she's so excited and enthusiastic about helping her daughter. Op, you don't need to copy her, but there was no need to be so sneery about what's she's done.
saraclara · 07/09/2021 07:43

If the reading diary was a different size from the others, I'd find it a pain in the neck when gathering up the diaries into a pile! And presumably the school ones have a format. Yeah, that's just a bit silly. She'd be better using it to record books that her kid reads for herself.

2andahalfpints · 07/09/2021 07:46

Ya u for making your friend feel shit about it

Somuddled · 07/09/2021 07:48

How dare she be enthusiastic about supporting her child's education? You do it your way and let her do it her way, without any sneery comments from you.

gogohm · 07/09/2021 07:49

This was the case in my DD's class, one mum ordered everything! Well the school didn't let her use non school issued things or send in the "better" reading books either as all kids were treated the same - she couldn't use the fancy personalised bag she bought either as the school had standardised book bags,

HungryHippo11 · 07/09/2021 07:50

Neither of you are unreasonable just going about things differently.

languagelover96 · 07/09/2021 07:50

You are being unreasonable a bit.

PurpleDaisies · 07/09/2021 07:54

@HungryHippo11

Neither of you are unreasonable just going about things differently.
Except the op told her friend she was going about it the wrong way. That’s what was unreasonable.
GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 07/09/2021 08:35

YANBU. I think your friend should have waited to see what school supply first and go with that unless there is a gap.

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