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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider keeping dd home Friday due to weather?

144 replies

Lovemusic33 · 16/02/2022 13:18

I know I'm probably being over anxious. Dd travels to school by taxi a hour away from home, we live rural so it involves country lanes as well as driving through villages and towns (taxi collects 2 other children on route). We are forecast 80-90mph winds and are on a amber warning. Its the last day of half term so they won't be doing much, dd has sn's so if the taxi route is delayed or has to reroute due to falling trees she will get very distressed. So AIBU to consider keeping her home?

OP posts:
SmellyOldOwls · 16/02/2022 22:43

@1forAll74

Well I went to school in the war, when bombs were dropping on schools and houses, and in 1947, had to walk through 6 ft snow drifts, in sub zero temperatures, school was about half an hours walk away. There was a farm up the road, and the farmer took his three children to school on the back of his tractor when it was seriously bad weather days.

Ok? And our kids have been going to school through a pandemic for the last 2 years, still doesn't mean the OP shouldn't keep her child off on Friday.

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/02/2022 22:50

If it’s that bad in your area, would school not be closed anyway?

lisaandalan · 16/02/2022 22:55

I'd keep mine home. X

OliviaBond · 16/02/2022 22:57

I've been stressing about this too as I also have a Sen child with a 45 min ride to school. I'm hoping school decide not to open as a fair few teachers travel quite a way. then it will be out of my hands.

GreenDressRedWine · 16/02/2022 23:00

I would keep her home, if the forecast stays the same then I won’t be making any unnecessary journeys and wouldn’t let DC either. It sounds like it’s in her best interest and that’s all you can really go on.

TheUsualChaos · 16/02/2022 23:01

In your situation, completely reasonable to take Friday off. Sounds like she might find the day very stressful and doesn't seem worth putting her through that. You know what's best for her OP.

HoldenCaulfieldismyhomeboy · 16/02/2022 23:01

Hi OP, I'd definitely keep her off. I have a sen child too. Asd she learning difficulties. He really struggles with bad weather. Sensory issues, huge anxieties so I completely understand. Keep her home. Flowers

HoldenCaulfieldismyhomeboy · 16/02/2022 23:02

*asd and learning difficulties

RitaFires · 16/02/2022 23:16

I would definitely keep her home in the circumstances, she might have to leave before they make the call to close the school and have to turn around. I also would worry about her getting to school and then being stuck there because it's not safe to travel home.

Buttercup54321 · 16/02/2022 23:35

I would keep her home.

RedToothBrush · 16/02/2022 23:37

The warning is from early morning to early evening of Friday.

The issue being even if she gets there, she may have problems getting back. If there are multiple road closures during to trees coming down during the day that might cause problems for her return even if conditions have improved.

There is talk that a red warning may yet be issued for some places (most likely Cornwall). It really isn't a 'normal' weather warning.

The last I heard was the advice was to consider whether your journey was necessary:

National Highways Head of Road Safety Jeremy Phillips said: “We’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve. If you do intend to travel, then plan your journey and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey.

Under the circumstances, given the advice and her additional needs, I think you'd be wise to keep her home because it is an exceptional situation. I suspect that some schools will announce tomorrow they are to be closed on Friday due to the warnings, particularly if a red warning is issued, which is sounding very possible.

I would see how things sound tomorrow but I think I'd probably not send her as things stand.

AuntyBumBum · 17/02/2022 00:11

@Lovemusic33

I know I'm probably being over anxious. Dd travels to school by taxi a hour away from home, we live rural so it involves country lanes as well as driving through villages and towns (taxi collects 2 other children on route). We are forecast 80-90mph winds and are on a amber warning. Its the last day of half term so they won't be doing much, dd has sn's so if the taxi route is delayed or has to reroute due to falling trees she will get very distressed. So AIBU to consider keeping her home?
To be fair, anything could happen.
Arghhconfused · 17/02/2022 00:15

SEN DD and I would keep her off, there's an bet warning, risk to life. We shall be kept snug at home

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 17/02/2022 07:12

@OliviaBond

I've been stressing about this too as I also have a Sen child with a 45 min ride to school. I'm hoping school decide not to open as a fair few teachers travel quite a way. then it will be out of my hands.
I am hoping this too, I am waiting until lunch time to see if they close school, if not I will call them to say dd won’t be in and I will cancel taxi.
OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 17/02/2022 07:54

The suggestion that the warning will yet be upgraded to red in some places sounds even stronger this morning. Apparently they are waiting to assess the path of the storm more accurately first.

Got to be honest, im a just get on with it in any weather type of person. This one strikes me as the exception.

kookievee · 17/02/2022 07:58

I'm thinking the same for my DS even though it's only 12min drive it's all rural - drive back same way from a meal in a pub with some friends and was dodging fallen branches even then and the wind is not as bad.

Toanewstart23 · 17/02/2022 08:10

Se here
Absolutely glorious
Clear sky
Light wind
Very mild
So happy to live here

RedToothBrush · 17/02/2022 08:11

Well I went to school in the war, when bombs were dropping on schools and houses, and in 1947, had to walk through 6 ft snow drifts, in sub zero temperatures, school was about half an hours walk away. There was a farm up the road, and the farmer took his three children to school on the back of his tractor when it was seriously bad weather days

Thats nice.

I'm not convinced you were being taught in the classroom during airraids though.

Nor am i convinced that if you were walking to school in 6ft snow drifts thst you lived in a highly populated area likely to get bombed.

Nor do i think that solution of using a tractor to get through the worst of the weather is going to protect you from flying branches. I don't think those fallen down trees are going to help you get to school on time.

And im not quite sure that encouraging a sen kid to jump on the back of said tractor in windy storm with trees delaying your journey is perhaps the best solution.

Maybe ive missed something here.

TokyoDreaming · 17/02/2022 08:12

@Toanewstart23

Se here Absolutely glorious Clear sky Light wind Very mild So happy to live here
You won't be saying that tomorrow.
Darbs76 · 17/02/2022 08:12

Grateful we are on half term this week so I don’t need to leave the house. It’s one day; I’d keep her at homen

Darbs76 · 17/02/2022 08:12

Home rather

Toanewstart23 · 17/02/2022 08:20

@1forAll74

Well I went to school in the war, when bombs were dropping on schools and houses, and in 1947, had to walk through 6 ft snow drifts, in sub zero temperatures, school was about half an hours walk away. There was a farm up the road, and the farmer took his three children to school on the back of his tractor when it was seriously bad weather days.
You know there’s a gransnet where you can reminisce about such times?
lollipoprainbow · 17/02/2022 08:27

I am too her school has loads of Trees in the playground, obviously they won't go out to play but I'm still very anxious. I read about a little girl who was whacked over the head by a falling branch in her school playground years ago and it's stuck with me ever since. I wonder if the schools will shut anyway ?

Toanewstart23 · 17/02/2022 08:28

@TokyoDreaming

Maximum winds of 42mph
Hardly hurricane weather!

Toanewstart23 · 17/02/2022 08:29

Oh and 10 degrees
And light rain

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