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

[JudesBiggestFan]

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!

@ilovesooty

It's sad for you but transmission in schools is very high and it's presumably been risk assessed as unwise.

The kids are in school ANYWAY every day and going home to parents every day ! HOW is a nativity any different?

My 5 year daughter is a close contact from school nearly twice a week. There is so much covid in her school. We're regulars at the walk in PCR test centre.

I don't give a damn if she gets to be a sheep in a nativity. I would hate to sit shoulder to shoulder in a crowded hall for some performative Christianity.

I am so glad she gets to go to school and learn every day and to her amazing teachers that take all this risk.

“They’ve cancelled my son’s nativity”

Is that you Mary? Welcome to mumsnet.

Yanbu it's ridiculous.

I’m sorry.m, that’s rubbish. In the scheme of things it’s just a nativity play, it’s a small thing, but in many ways these small experiences are what make up life!

YANBU. Its always the kids that are targeted. Mine spent his last months of primary at home alone and missing out on all the usual celebrations . He's now been in a face mask for the whole of his time at high school so far, but anyone in the world can enter the UK with no quarantine, adults can party away masklesss or attend stadiums with thousands and then of course maskless Boris and others at COP. I'm way past the nativity stage but I'm angry on your behalf OP, it's ridiculous.

@SnoopDogisamenace

I hear you! My kids are older and they’ve got to wear masks all day in school meanwhile nightclubs at full capacity. Makes me sad too.

That's the one that got me.

Nightclubs and pubs can be packed.

Bio to supermarket, corner shop etc or on an empty bus - wear a mask.

I'm still unsure how I feel about it.

I think masks, I do think covid passports should have been created. So jabbed, negative test or post infection.

I don't see how half arsed restrictions do anything.

And I agree no nativity for 4/5yo but 18yo nightclubbing is non sensical

I'm with you Op. if they cancel DDs I'll be disappointed too. Went to cardiff winter wonderland last week and it was heaving . So you can go to places like that with zero restrictions and they cancel a nativity which can be better controlled.

My reception child won’t be able to be a wise man as we are all stuck at home with Covid. I’m a teacher also and as of today we have cancelled assemblies. We have a massive spike in numbers right now, so regrettably it makes sense.

I just think it's ludicrous. West end shows are full, pubs are teeming, my elderly parents have just got back from a Spanish holiday...but I can't see my four year old in the school hall.
CoVID has already ripped through the school this term, there can barely have been a family unaffected, including my own. No-one to my knowledge seriously ill, just a few days off colour.

If you're still scared of catching CoVID then of course don't go. But given kids have been stuffed into unventilated classrooms for months, it seems a little weird that it's suddenly a problem for parents to spend half an hour in the school hall.
I feel I've been having this argument for months, but kids should be the priority. Their development, their emotional well-being, their childhood.
As an emergency services worker my kids have gone to school throughout...because I was legally allowed to send them and I chose to (all bar a few weeks in the first lockdown). The older two are excelling academically and the youngest's teacher this week said it shines through that he has gone to school throughout, both because he is doing so well and because he still has a discipline that loads of them have lost.
As an emergency worker I see on the streets the consequences of disaffected children...increased violence, drug taking, hostility to authorities. No, one nativity play won't change much of course. But a society that continually shrugs its shoulders at depriving its children of all that previous generations took for granted, is causing immense harm. Because covid doesn't cut it for me anymore.

I will add I do think it's right restrictions are in schools. I work in one and watch it rip.

I just don't understand the irregularities in rules

Although I feel very sad for the parents I think it's a wise decision. We have had high transmission rates in the primary school I work in and quite a few of the staff have been very sick with Covid despite being double-jabbed. My Head has decided not to allow parents into school yet as she has a duty of care to protect the remaining staff from catching Covid before Christmas. The Nativity will be recorded (per class) and shared with parents. We are in the middle of a pandemic and things are still very tough in many schools with staff shortages and sickness.

It is total bollocks. Nightclubs and venues holding thousands are packed and kids who already spend every day together are not allowed to be in the same room with their parents to enjoy well anything. It feels like we will be restricting our children for a good year or 2 or 3 or 4 yet and it has already been 2 years. By the time it is sorted some children will have missed many of the little joys of childhood, lots of education, practicing social skills, sporting opportunities and the list goes on. You only get one childhood or for the covid generation you don't.

So all those concerns and your worried about a nativity? Surely that would be an argument against using time that could be used to improve upon lost schools for doing a play for parents?

Yes it’s a shame but in the grand scheme of things it’s a play. Nobody is going to suffer long term because you can’t cram like sardines into a hall to watch a play!

I don’t understand why they can’t do it and just stream it online for families to watch. Almost every school has a laptop to do this, and did daily live lessons during lockdown! Such a shame for the children and families to miss out on this!

I hear you. DD1 started Reception this year and the first nativity is a milestone, it's just crap for young DC missing out. We didn't get to attend her leaving party for nursery either which felt awful after she'd been there for 3 years, they were part of the family really so it's tough not being able to celebrate these milestones.

I agree with the PP that said cases don't matter if hospitalisation figures aren't rising dramatically.

But all the kids that are going to school are going home to all their parents and sharing around whatever their class mates have. They're not in bubbles any more.

Once you send your child to primary school you're basically squeezing up on the sofa with every set of parents, siblings, Grandparents, child minders and teachers of every other child.

At primary level you're basically one huge family.

What awful difference is it between all of us sitting in the hall watching a nativity with a mask on or all of us sitting in our living rooms every night with our DCs?

I'm glad they cancelled ours and it was by request from the majority of parents. Our issue was a little different, though, as they wanted a joint one with another school (larger) and for all parents to go to that school. We have the highest rate of covid in the country at present and some other local schools have had to close. It seemed ridiculous for this to happen at this time when, in the summer, we weren't allowed to attend Sports Day in a playing field when cases were almost non-existent locally.

I agree OP. I think my son's head agrees too. Their Xmas performance is going to have two showings and we've been asked to wear masks. They can use the church next to the school so lots of space to spread out as well.

I get the impression that the head has seen what impact missing these things has had on the kids and she doesn't want to do that again.

Yes it’s a shame but in the grand scheme of things it’s a play. Nobody is going to suffer long term because you can’t cram like sardines into a hall to watch a play!

We have no idea what the consequences are going to be for children of having their formative years disrupted like this, their hopes of normality repeatedly raised and dashed. Suspect quite a few people will be suffering in the long term.

Such a shame I agree! Our school is love streaming it and recording it. My son is autisic and got a part as the inn keeper and I'm so sad I can't be there in person but at least I'll see a recording, awful for people who can't. It's all part of Christmas isn't it but as long as the pubs are open many don't care 😔💕

@BettyOBarley

Ours is going ahead but being filmed by a professional company so we all have to pay £15 to watch it!

£15!!!!!

Oh that is sad, I really hope they don't cancel dd's. She's a star, got the costume and is really excited.

Crappy for you OP! these are really nice memories we keep from when our children are young rubbish for the kids too who will have been practising and getting excited for it.

Ours are still doing it but on youtube instead last year it was all cancelled this year they didn't even try to do it just told us we are filming it and it will go on youtube