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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pull my DC out of school for the rest of term?

138 replies

RiverOrla · 08/12/2021 13:03

Rates are skyrocketing at the DC’s primary. We have lots of Christmas plans with extended family (Christmas is a huge deal to us, celebrations relating to several different cultures) and I don’t want to risk it being ruined by covid. If I take them out for the rest of this week and next week (last week of term) this would seriously reduce the risk of them having it for Christmas.

Anyone else doing this?

YABU - keep them in school
YANBU - take them out to safeguard family Christmas.

OP posts:
rooarsome · 08/12/2021 15:08

YABVU

Highlanders372 · 08/12/2021 15:08

Also, you wouldn't miss a family chritmas, you might not get to see extended family but you'd still have a lovely chritmas at home.

Largethighsbadeyes · 08/12/2021 15:13

@Highlanders372

Also, you wouldn't miss a family chritmas, you might not get to see extended family but you'd still have a lovely chritmas at home.
To be fair you can't really say that when you don't know people's circumstances.
Highlanders372 · 08/12/2021 15:18

Largethighsbadeyes
Well I know that she has 2 DC and her DH, she doesn't live alone.

Lulu1919 · 08/12/2021 15:31

Pity all the school staff can't do they same !!!
I'm a TA ...so much covid in staff and children ...but I have to keep going in ...just hoping I don't get it so it spoils my Christmas..my children are adults so if I'm isolating I won't be seeing them !!!!

Kotatsu · 08/12/2021 15:33

I just pulled mine out for 2 weeks for a holiday we'd been waiting over a year for and I didn't want to risk - although the second week the youngest's whole class was sent home anyway as a firebreak (not UK).

They're very understanding here, about 1/3rd of the kids have been out at any one time all term, sometimes higher, and we're all just trying to decide when to call it a day so we can hopefully see families at Christmas too!

NoSquirrels · 08/12/2021 15:37

@Indecisivelurcher

I see where you're coming from op, but mine would be gutted to miss all the Christmas fun at school. They've got the nativity, Christmas jumpers, Christmas lunch, a film night. That's part of Christmas too.
This.
Original poster
RiverOrla · 08/12/2021 16:10

DC3 has come home all excited about christmas party next week. DC2 isn't bothered and would rather see the GPs and Great-GPs than go to school next week. DC1 just shrugged.

if relevant our christmas day involves the GPs, christmas just us at home is never what we do.

i do see what you're all saying about the fun parts being the best bit for kids during winter term.

now i don't know what to do!! DH and GPs think we should keep them off.

OP posts:
Whitecushion · 08/12/2021 16:31

I'd like to do this too. I'm the teacher. My Christmas plans involve a terminally ill parent. Tricky isn't it? Guess you do have a choice. I dont.

Macaroni46 · 08/12/2021 16:47

Maybe I'll pull myself out of school for the last week and a half (don't break up until 21 December).
Oh hang on, I'm the teacher!
I realise I'm biased but I find the OP's attitude very selfish. Part of the cosy WFH I'm alright Jack brigade.
We've all got families we'd like to spend Christmas with. Just that some of us don't have the option of staying at home.
And for what it's worth, we are doing proper lessons alongside Christmas stuff for the remainder of this week and most of next week including teaching new concepts. There's so much pressure on us to catch children up and content to cover that missing a week of school would be quite consequential.

flippertyop · 08/12/2021 16:58

I'm also thinking of doing this. Probably from Monday. We've got amazing Xmas plans and I'm not having them ruined again for 4 days of games etc

AnnPerkins · 08/12/2021 17:09

@RiverOrla

It’s the last week of term, it’s all Christmas show practise. They won’t miss much.
Your OP says rest of this week and next week. They’re still very much teaching at DS’s school.
Phrowzunn · 08/12/2021 17:11

I know it’s not the same but my 4.5yo is off preschool at the moment with another cough/cold and I’m thinking about just not putting her back again before Christmas. Her and my 2yo (and pregnant me!) need a break from the constant infection after infection and I just really don’t want them both to be sick on Christmas Day. Obviously I don’t have the same concerns re missing work or unauthorised absence, but I do feel bad about her missing all the Christmas activities with her little friends. But honestly I just think her wee body needs a break and she’s so excited about Santa I don’t want her to be out of it with a fever or exhausted after being up coughing all night. I don’t know, I think you just have to do what you think is best for your family.

Original poster
RiverOrla · 08/12/2021 19:41

I have revised my thinking to just next week rather than this week too.

yes i do have a choice. i realise I'm lucky to have that choice. i do realise the teachers do not have that choice. but me not exercising my choice (in this or any other things i'm privileged enough to have a choice in) doesn't change things for those who dont have the choice.

It's not 'im alright jack' attitude, its working within the choices available to me to minimise the risk.

So they will definitely go the rest of the week. will continue to consider about next week.

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 08/12/2021 21:41

@RiverOrla

You never answered my question about PCR tests.

What will you tell the school when you are unable to provide 3 PCR test results?

meh12 · 08/12/2021 21:47

The most memorable days of my school life were those days before school broke up at Christmas, no I wouldn't deprive my kids of that, you're bring precious.

twinkletoesimnot · 08/12/2021 22:01

Also a teacher and if I'm considering doing this from next Tuesday.
I'd do it tomorrow if I could.
It's creeping up in dds class, and in my own class I have children in with positive siblings.
It seems like a ticking time bomb.
I have lots of animals to care for that are not based at home and a self employed dh - whose wage we rely on.
As a op said , I will be teaching as well as having fun, but I'm able to help my dd learn.
As for missing out on the fun - catching Covid isn't exactly fun!

twinkletoesimnot · 08/12/2021 22:03

As a PP said... ( sorry for typos!)

Largethighsbadeyes · 08/12/2021 22:03

The most memorable day of my school days was when I picked up my GCSE results and walked down the drive knowing I would never have to go back 🤷‍♀️

What I remember from primary school in the few days before Christmas...nothing really

I get that alot of people on mumsnet will not agree with OPS choice but it is her choice to make.

The whole "you are depriving your child of precious memories" stuff, falls a bit short for me

The bottom line is cases are going up and a whole bunch of children are going to end up isolating over Christmas because of that.

OP and myself will not be the only ones deciding to pull kids out early. Look at the poll. In the minority yes, but not the only ones

GrandDuchessRomanov · 08/12/2021 22:05

No I wouldn't do this either and I'm pretty relaxed about taking time out for very special occasions but not such a long time.

Also what if they do catch it after Christmas, more missed education.

2WeeksTillChristmas · 08/12/2021 22:07

I think a hell of alot of parents will do this,
But ofcourse not mumsnetters Grin

JustLyra · 08/12/2021 22:10

I think it depends if you actually know what they’ll be missing.

I’m keeping DD3 off the last week, but that’s because her HT gave me a heads up that they are planning a week of show rehearsal (she refuses to be in the show) and Christmas parties (which she hates). They think between numbers falling and people pulling them out doing work will just cause disruption after Christmas. So it’ll be some revision and then fun stuff.

The HT also knows that DD4 is extremely vulnerable so school for the bigger two has been a terrifying thing for us as it was balancing the needs of DD3 and DS2 with the risk to DD4.

DS will go to school until the middle of the last week as he is in the school panto, but doesn’t want to do the chill out days they are doing for the last few days.

anne2650 · 08/12/2021 22:11

YABU

Grumpyosaurus · 08/12/2021 22:14

@Lulu1919

Pity all the school staff can't do they same !!! I'm a TA ...so much covid in staff and children ...but I have to keep going in ...just hoping I don't get it so it spoils my Christmas..my children are adults so if I'm isolating I won't be seeing them !!!!
I also work in a school.

I am masking up and crossing my fingers. After not being able to see all my DC last Christmas, I'll be gutted if I end up having to isolate this time around. I'm also quite keen to be able to see a couple of elderly relatives and friends (aged 90+) this year.

We have families in the school who refuse to test their kids. It's just as well that I don't have to deal with them personally.

Flobbertybillop · 08/12/2021 22:18

They will miss a lot, they will miss their Christmas show, and all the other fun things kids do in the last week or so.
They’ve missed way too much education already.

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