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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed they've cancelled my son's nativity

552 replies

JudesBiggestFan · 29/11/2021 15:22

I'm just so tired of the arbitrary and pointless decisions that rob children and parents of yet more joy.
Last year my son had his nativity play cancelled at preschool. This year, the school (after designating him a shepherd and giving him a line...the excitement!) have cancelled again. Because Covid. Never mind all the pubs, restaurants, Christmas shopping, family parties that all the kids, teachers and parents will be going to.
The nativity is some kind of super spreader event that must be forfeited!
It's not going to make the news, but I'm just so bloody tired of it all. He'll never be this little and innocent again...I tolerated it last year but my patience is gone.
Anyone who wants to be is jabbed, we have lateral flows, it's as safe as it ever will be.
Yet the commercial stuff can go on, but the pure joyful ness of a kids Christmas nativity can't. Just wanted to vent really. No point complaining in real life anymore!

OP posts:
Doublechins · 29/11/2021 21:54

My DC are recording it and we get a DVD of the performance. I wasn't going to be able to go due to work commitments so I'm over the moon this is the plan.

Laiste · 29/11/2021 21:54

@Italiandreams

Apologies *@laiste*. I think I was referring to the poster that wanted a back up plan for children who were absent for the nativity concert but I must have got confused. Sorry for the confusion.
No probs *@Italiandreams* :)

Thinking about it, if i was pushed for a suggestion for a back up plan (in the case of a lot of sudden absences) i'd say just have all the children dress up in their costumes and sing the nativity songs. Plus a couple of carols to pad it out. A quick apology and explanation to the parents on the night? Better than a total cancel if absence really was the only issue. It is a really tricky one though.

Will ramble now but I used to adore the whole run up to xmas with the yrs 1 + 2 children. Planning the nativity, doing the scenery, revamping the costumes, unbending the stars, shaking out the sheep outfits and staggering through the rehearsals. Loved it. The children loved it too. Each in their own way. Some needed heaps of help to overcome the fear of simply sitting still near the stage with such a big audience. All of them achieved something on the night. So many gained so much confidence.

I so loved sitting watching my own kids doing their performance too! For those saying there'll be other years, well it's only reception, year one and year twos which do nativity at our primary. So that's 3 shots. My youngest DD has missed her last 2. She was too shy to do much in her first one as she was only 4 yrs old. She's in yr 3 now so that is that. I won't be made to feel stupid or selfish for being sad about that.

@BogRollBOGOF summed it up perfectly.

munchbunch12 · 29/11/2021 21:55

@Butteredtoast55

As someone organising such events and trying to do them in a safe way that's still enjoyable for everyone, I've been told everything from what ridiculous Covid scaremongerers we are to it being my fault if the children get ill for Christmas or I kill someone's Grandparents. It'll be on me. So really schools can't win.
You have my sympathies. Ir's impossible to please everyone.
carrythecan · 29/11/2021 21:55

@BogRollBOGOF

It's just a nativity (x2) It's just a Christmas fair (x2) It's just a sports day (x2 but you can watch the football/ tennis on TV) It's just a residential trip It's just a class outing (x2) It's just a disco It's just trick or treating It's just a scout camp It's just two birthdays It's just a birthday party (x a lot!) It's just a holiday It's just Christmas It's just a swimming lesson (or half of your allowence) It's just an open evening It's just a parent's evening It's just seeing your mum's face as you walk out of school after holding it together all day It's just a kiss before you walk through the school doors each morning It's just 10 minutes waiting for your sibling (do not play! Keep your distance!) It's just a play ground It's just SEN support It's just 6.5 months off school without access to friends (when you can hear the key worker children at playtime from your garden) It's just to keep granny safe (even though the care home rules banned you from seeing her and it's now over two years and you barely remember her)

Good job kids are resilient isn't it eh? Hmm
It's just a nativity after all.

Absolutely spot on! I think it's appalling that we are restricting our kids lives time and time again. For those of you who think it doesn't matter, it does, it matters hugely.
munchbunch12 · 29/11/2021 21:56

*it's

spitneybrears · 29/11/2021 21:56

Totally with you, OP. My DC's nativity hasn't been cancelled (yet) but it feels like it's coming. He only started reception in Sept 2020 so we didn't get to attend the first nativity either. No sports day. In fact I haven't set foot in the school since he started. It's shit.

Butteredtoast55 · 29/11/2021 22:00

Thankyou munchbunch

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 29/11/2021 22:02

And once again adults inflict suffering on children in this pandemic. Masks back in the class but did you see the teacher awards the other night?! Packed and not one mask on them. As long as adults are ok eh? Sod the children.

My Ds's primary isn't even having a Christmas concert so nothing to see or record. Fuckwits.

After school football
Club cancelled too. It's OUTSIDE FFS

Some heads are morons.

phonetica · 29/11/2021 22:04

@BogRollBOGOF

It's just a nativity (x2) It's just a Christmas fair (x2) It's just a sports day (x2 but you can watch the football/ tennis on TV) It's just a residential trip It's just a class outing (x2) It's just a disco It's just trick or treating It's just a scout camp It's just two birthdays It's just a birthday party (x a lot!) It's just a holiday It's just Christmas It's just a swimming lesson (or half of your allowence) It's just an open evening It's just a parent's evening It's just seeing your mum's face as you walk out of school after holding it together all day It's just a kiss before you walk through the school doors each morning It's just 10 minutes waiting for your sibling (do not play! Keep your distance!) It's just a play ground It's just SEN support It's just 6.5 months off school without access to friends (when you can hear the key worker children at playtime from your garden) It's just to keep granny safe (even though the care home rules banned you from seeing her and it's now over two years and you barely remember her)

Good job kids are resilient isn't it eh? Hmm
It's just a nativity after all.

This

‘Just the nativity’ is part of a very long list of things, when we are approaching 2 years, several lockdowns, a huge vaccination rollout (and a big chunk of our kids childhoods) later and it’s STILL ongoing, it does feel very frustrating

MarshaBradyo · 29/11/2021 22:04

@BogRollBOGOF

It's just a nativity (x2) It's just a Christmas fair (x2) It's just a sports day (x2 but you can watch the football/ tennis on TV) It's just a residential trip It's just a class outing (x2) It's just a disco It's just trick or treating It's just a scout camp It's just two birthdays It's just a birthday party (x a lot!) It's just a holiday It's just Christmas It's just a swimming lesson (or half of your allowence) It's just an open evening It's just a parent's evening It's just seeing your mum's face as you walk out of school after holding it together all day It's just a kiss before you walk through the school doors each morning It's just 10 minutes waiting for your sibling (do not play! Keep your distance!) It's just a play ground It's just SEN support It's just 6.5 months off school without access to friends (when you can hear the key worker children at playtime from your garden) It's just to keep granny safe (even though the care home rules banned you from seeing her and it's now over two years and you barely remember her)

Good job kids are resilient isn't it eh? Hmm
It's just a nativity after all.

Good post

And yep resilience always crops up but it’s a cop out to make people feel better

Benjispruce5 · 29/11/2021 22:04

Adults are mostly vaccinated.

tttigress · 29/11/2021 22:05

Covid is the gift that keeps on giving to people that don't want to do any work!

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 29/11/2021 22:06

@Drumshambo

The sheer selfishness and self absorption of some parents on here is mind blowing. A bloody nativity play ffs. It's far more about them than their kids. Everybody has suffered during the last 18 months. It's not all about you and your school events. Put on a play at home if it's so importantl. I'll reserve my sympathy for the cev children and their parents who don't have the time or luxury to worry about such crap!
Yeah CIA who gives a shiny shit about kids mental health eh? They'll cope.

Let's face it NOTHING is more important than covid 🤦🏼‍♀️🙄

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 29/11/2021 22:08

@BogRollBOGOF

It's just a nativity (x2) It's just a Christmas fair (x2) It's just a sports day (x2 but you can watch the football/ tennis on TV) It's just a residential trip It's just a class outing (x2) It's just a disco It's just trick or treating It's just a scout camp It's just two birthdays It's just a birthday party (x a lot!) It's just a holiday It's just Christmas It's just a swimming lesson (or half of your allowence) It's just an open evening It's just a parent's evening It's just seeing your mum's face as you walk out of school after holding it together all day It's just a kiss before you walk through the school doors each morning It's just 10 minutes waiting for your sibling (do not play! Keep your distance!) It's just a play ground It's just SEN support It's just 6.5 months off school without access to friends (when you can hear the key worker children at playtime from your garden) It's just to keep granny safe (even though the care home rules banned you from seeing her and it's now over two years and you barely remember her)

Good job kids are resilient isn't it eh? Hmm
It's just a nativity after all.

Like others, completely agree. It's just 3 weeks to flatten the curve......

My children have still not recovered themselves from last year. DS still sleeps on the floor in our room. Dd has been self harming.

But they're resilient eh so fuck em!! 😡😡😡

TheKeatingFive · 29/11/2021 22:08

Wonderful post BogRollBOGOF

rrhuth · 29/11/2021 22:08

@tttigress

Covid is the gift that keeps on giving to people that don't want to do any work!
Biscuit

Teachers have worked really fucking hard. What do you do that is harder?

I'm not a teacher btw (any more). I have a job whch whilst it has been tougher during covid, is an absolute doddle compared to what school staff have done.

Thebackofbeyondandback · 29/11/2021 22:11

Not all school staff, and I’m a teacher myself.

Teachers don’t need their workload added to, but as a general point, Covid has allowed some companies and organisations to get away with shoddy service,

Suzanne999 · 29/11/2021 22:14

It is sad. Can’t understand why school don’t put on the performance and film it / Zoom it or whatever. Not the same as being there but the children would still enjoy the experience.
Can you suggest this at school?

DockOTheBay · 29/11/2021 22:21

@BogRollBOGOF

It's just a nativity (x2) It's just a Christmas fair (x2) It's just a sports day (x2 but you can watch the football/ tennis on TV) It's just a residential trip It's just a class outing (x2) It's just a disco It's just trick or treating It's just a scout camp It's just two birthdays It's just a birthday party (x a lot!) It's just a holiday It's just Christmas It's just a swimming lesson (or half of your allowence) It's just an open evening It's just a parent's evening It's just seeing your mum's face as you walk out of school after holding it together all day It's just a kiss before you walk through the school doors each morning It's just 10 minutes waiting for your sibling (do not play! Keep your distance!) It's just a play ground It's just SEN support It's just 6.5 months off school without access to friends (when you can hear the key worker children at playtime from your garden) It's just to keep granny safe (even though the care home rules banned you from seeing her and it's now over two years and you barely remember her)

Good job kids are resilient isn't it eh? Hmm
It's just a nativity after all.

One million percent agreed
CallmeHendricks · 29/11/2021 22:25

"Masks back in the class but did you see the teacher awards the other night?! Packed and not one mask on them."

The other night? Before we had restrictions reintroduced? And few people had even heard of Omicron?

tttigress · 29/11/2021 22:25

@Thebackofbeyondandback

Not all school staff, and I’m a teacher myself.

Teachers don’t need their workload added to, but as a general point, Covid has allowed some companies and organisations to get away with shoddy service,

Yep, I wasn't really getting at teachers (though I can think of a couple over the years that would cancel any activity on the flimsiest of pretexts).

It is more a generally point, I have been working from home for the last 20 months or so, in a team with ever more declining productivity, various attempts have been made to get colleagues back to the office, which are met by mass apathy, and any bit of Covid news is jumped on as a reason why they can never return to the office again.

CallmeHendricks · 29/11/2021 22:28

@tttigress, I have reported your goady and inflammatory post.

Drumshambo · 29/11/2021 22:29

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully

And once again adults inflict suffering on children in this pandemic. Masks back in the class but did you see the teacher awards the other night?! Packed and not one mask on them. As long as adults are ok eh? Sod the children.

My Ds's primary isn't even having a Christmas concert so nothing to see or record. Fuckwits.

After school football
Club cancelled too. It's OUTSIDE FFS

Some heads are morons.

You're making yourself sound like a petulant child. Adults inflicting suffering on children, Calling head teacher fuckwits. Get over yourself. and stop being such a drama queen. Your kid will survive! There are far worse traumas!
SirSamuelVimes · 29/11/2021 22:30

@BogRollBOGOF

It's just a nativity (x2) It's just a Christmas fair (x2) It's just a sports day (x2 but you can watch the football/ tennis on TV) It's just a residential trip It's just a class outing (x2) It's just a disco It's just trick or treating It's just a scout camp It's just two birthdays It's just a birthday party (x a lot!) It's just a holiday It's just Christmas It's just a swimming lesson (or half of your allowence) It's just an open evening It's just a parent's evening It's just seeing your mum's face as you walk out of school after holding it together all day It's just a kiss before you walk through the school doors each morning It's just 10 minutes waiting for your sibling (do not play! Keep your distance!) It's just a play ground It's just SEN support It's just 6.5 months off school without access to friends (when you can hear the key worker children at playtime from your garden) It's just to keep granny safe (even though the care home rules banned you from seeing her and it's now over two years and you barely remember her)

Good job kids are resilient isn't it eh? Hmm
It's just a nativity after all.

Yes. All of the above.
CallmeHendricks · 29/11/2021 22:34

@tttigress, You posted on a thread about schools (by which many mean teachers) cancelling events and are now trying to say it was a general point about the wider workforce?
I call bullshit.