WIBU to phone the school?

[sportmom11]

Name changed for this.

An old school friend of mine works as a teaching assistant in the local primary school. This evening, she has uploaded a photo to Facebook of her two nephews aged 9 & 10 drinking an alcopop to celebrate their football team winning a game.

WIBU to phone the school tomorrow and let the safeguarding lead know? Her nephews attend the same school she works in.

I know it’s not illegal for under 18s to drink alcohol at home, but surely it’s morally wrong? And as a teaching assistant she should know better?

Or should I keep my nose out? As an ex teacher I used to despair when kids (15/16) came in to school with a hangover!

@BlackberrySky

I absolutely hate this modern day tendency to run bleating to "report" things. If you are concerned, the first thing you should do is talk to the woman directly. Otherwise you could be causing unnecessary trouble just because your desire to "report" outweighs your ability to talk to people.

Interesting. Why do you think that's a "modern" or "new" tendency? Innate generational superiority?

RainbowsSunshine792
If it makes you feel better Karen, call the school

You sound balanced and mature.

They're not even her kids. She won't get in trouble. Or is it you want their parents to get in trouble?

You really need to rethink using the word 'friend' OP, you clearly don't know the meaning of the word!
Get a frigging life!

Mind your own business. What's the matter with you? Crazy.

@HarebrightCedarmoon I think it's become much more prevalent since the rise in digital interactions, and the corresponding drop in face to face conversations. Lots of people these days are poor at actually talking to people in person. Couple that with the increasing expectation that someone else will deal with things or take the responsibility /blame, and you get threads like this one.

YABU meddling in someone elses life and considering messing with their career! I wouldn't dream of contacting the school, she hasnt done anything wrong (you dont know any alcohol was consumed not that its any of your business) and you're likely to get yourself a reputation, and be discussed in the staff room as unlikely any action can or will be taken!

Or should I keep my nose out?

Yes!

This is one of the most BU that I have ever seen on AIBU.

Unless she’s taking them info school and sharing them with other kids, then absolutely do not report her.

I don't understand the reactions here. I would be horrified seeing children of this age with alcohol, it's absolutely shocking. I don't think you can report it but I see where you're coming from!

I presume the kids are well looked after and you have no other concerns else you most likely would’ve mentioned it. If this is the case just leave them alone- it’s most likely posed/a joke.

Why don’t you have a word with her and point out (the obvious) that that is highly inappropriate to do and then post regardless of the safeguarding issues.

You’re right though, she should know better as a Teaching Assistant.

@sportmom11
What exactly do you hope to achieve by this? That she is reprimanded at work? That the children and their parents are investigated by the Safeguarding team for a local of morals? I just can’t understand your reason for doing this - and I was a safeguarding lead for 20 years.

Lack, not local

@sportmom11

They had a bottle of WKD each. The caption said ‘X and X celebrating their win today with a cheeky drink’, but I supposed it could just be posing 🤷🏼‍♀️

My mum has a picture of me and my siblings holding a pint in a pub during a seaside holiday. We definitely didn’t drink it! We all thought it was funny at the time. I’ve seen loads of similar pictures over the years. I would honestly assume it was a joke, and they were just posing with it.

Think you need to get a life.

Mind your own fucking business.

Christ I wouldn't want to be any kind of friend of yours. Get a hobby.

Don’t be ridiculous 🙈.

@TheAverageUser

I don't understand the reactions here. I would be horrified seeing children of this age with alcohol, it's absolutely shocking. I don't think you can report it but I see where you're coming from!

Many people believe that allowing (very) controlled access to alcohol with children can help to ‘demystify’ it and make them less likely to experiment out of the home. We did with ours - admittedly when they were a little older than the children in this post - but they were allowed a small glass of wine at family occasions and under supervision.

If you were genuinely concerned about the safety of these children you would ring social care. You know that they are not at risk. You just want to get your 'friend' into bother at work hence the decision to report it to the school.

Honestly, mind your own bloody business!

You have absolutely no idea whether they were actually drinking it/just posing with it/had a little taste. You have no idea if it was their aunt who gave it them or even if she was there - perhaps their mum/dad sent her a pic.

Just leave things alone instead of trying to get someone into trouble.

Some friend you are ☹️
Mind your own business ffs.