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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Thoughts on taking your DC out of school to enjoy the sunshine?

495 replies

Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 07:55

DD is 14, year 9. She's just had a message off her best friend to say she won't be in school today as her mum is taking her and her younger sister to the beach for the day. Que DD saying how cool the mum is and how unfair it is that I never let her miss school for fun stuff. I've got to work and even if I didn't I still wouldn't let her do it.

YABU-its a beautiful day, one day off school won't make a difference
YANBU-school is important and you can't skive off just because the weathers nice.

OP posts:
swifty1974 · 17/06/2022 14:13

ForestFae · 17/06/2022 13:23

Classic mumsnet, your kids future is ruined because you took one sneaky day trip to the beach 🤣

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or......is it just pointing out that without boundaries and rules kids tend to take the piss. You give and inch and they take a mile....yes I was taking it to the extreme to make the point but surely the point Im making is a valid one....

One day off school wont hurt them but a lifetime of being shown that the rules dont apply to them or they are somehow entitled to an easier ride makes for a horrible spoilt adult....

stuntbubbles · 17/06/2022 14:17

swifty1974 · 17/06/2022 14:13

or......is it just pointing out that without boundaries and rules kids tend to take the piss. You give and inch and they take a mile....yes I was taking it to the extreme to make the point but surely the point Im making is a valid one....

One day off school wont hurt them but a lifetime of being shown that the rules dont apply to them or they are somehow entitled to an easier ride makes for a horrible spoilt adult....

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But why is the assumption that one beach day = zero boundaries whatsoever. My parents once took me out of school on a Friday for a weekend in Paris. (Ooh la la.) They still enforced the strictest curfew/bedtime/TV rules of any of my friends. I think the reason I’d be perfectly OK with a one-off beach day and a one-off snow day is precisely because of enforced boundaries and rules; it’s a balance. Just as 100% laissez fair is no good for kids, neither is 100% boundaries and rigidity.

Sunnytwobridges · 17/06/2022 14:21

Nah, I wouldn't do it.

justasking111 · 17/06/2022 14:21

frydae · 17/06/2022 14:07

It sets a precedent and indicates to the children that their parent values a day at the beach as being more important than school,

Sometimes a day at the beach (or wherever) is more important then school.

After the hell of the lockdowns children missing birthday party for two years they're in need of downtime many don't get to go abroad, the summer this year hasn't been great so far. We live in a tourist hotspot so after school we have beaches parks etc to enjoy every day. I'd Go for a day off in the sunshine

swifty1974 · 17/06/2022 14:25

justasking111 · 17/06/2022 14:21

After the hell of the lockdowns children missing birthday party for two years they're in need of downtime many don't get to go abroad, the summer this year hasn't been great so far. We live in a tourist hotspot so after school we have beaches parks etc to enjoy every day. I'd Go for a day off in the sunshine

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Gees....in need of downtime....missing parties....poor little mites....they must be on their knees....

DOBARDAN · 17/06/2022 14:36

I'm not sure if there are still school 'inspectors' who roam around the likely places where school children bunk off to (some on their own, others with their parents).

xsquared · 17/06/2022 14:57

There are still plenty of hours of sunshine after school to enjoy the sun surely?

I must admit, I find it strange that parents would take their secondary school aged children out just because, and then lie about it. Does everything stop just because the sun comes out now?

EvilPea · 17/06/2022 15:02

xsquared · 17/06/2022 14:57

There are still plenty of hours of sunshine after school to enjoy the sun surely?

I must admit, I find it strange that parents would take their secondary school aged children out just because, and then lie about it. Does everything stop just because the sun comes out now?

Quite. You could have a lovely evening pick them straight up and go.
chips for dinner. It would be lovely

pissed off I didn’t think of thatGrin

Nothappyatwork · 17/06/2022 15:06

FanFanFanFee · 17/06/2022 08:13

Ridiculous - YANBU
Sets a really bad precedent
Workers can't just sack off work because it's hot can they?

erm yes and frequently do

dottypotter · 17/06/2022 15:16

Would never do it
School holidays are coming up.

You can't just take a day off cos of the weather
Everything would grind to a halt
The mum is wrong and irresponsible

coffeecupsandfairylights · 17/06/2022 15:21

xsquared · 17/06/2022 14:57

There are still plenty of hours of sunshine after school to enjoy the sun surely?

I must admit, I find it strange that parents would take their secondary school aged children out just because, and then lie about it. Does everything stop just because the sun comes out now?

But that depends on how far away you live from the beach, surely?

I currently live two minutes away, so the beach isn't really a big deal, but if you're inland and live a couple of hours' drive away, it's probably not practical to drive down after school.

tripletrouble · 17/06/2022 15:22

To those that would take their children out of school to enjoy the sun - would you expect that the teacher helps them catch up the work that they missed?

ForestFae · 17/06/2022 15:25

tripletrouble · 17/06/2022 15:22

To those that would take their children out of school to enjoy the sun - would you expect that the teacher helps them catch up the work that they missed?

It’s one day. If your students are left at a significant disadvantage over one day off, you’re teaching wrong.

Lovetogarden2022 · 17/06/2022 15:26

it's absolutely not something I'd do - I personally think it's disrespectful to the teachers etc (or more, teaches your children to not respect teachers/school and is a bad example when they're then entering the workplace)
I was a nanny YEARS ago and the mum was constantly taking the kids out of school for a 'day off' - not to do anything educational, but just laze about in front of the tv, or go to the shops. As a result, the kids had absolutely no respect for the teachers or importance of school/education. But that's just my opinion 😅

Norgie · 17/06/2022 15:30

They have the rest of their lives to enjoy sunshine.
I wouldn't have taken mine out if school for such a ridiculous reason.

Moonface123 · 17/06/2022 15:30

l would do it , mine is HE anyway.
life is too short, beaches are absolutely packed at weekends and in school holidays, plus traffic jams, l would take them out of school for the day if l had time off work and the chance to go to the beach.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 17/06/2022 15:49

tripletrouble · 17/06/2022 15:22

To those that would take their children out of school to enjoy the sun - would you expect that the teacher helps them catch up the work that they missed?

It's one day!

Why would they need help catching up after one day of lessons?

mizzo · 17/06/2022 15:58

A family I know took their DC out of school for a whole year in juniors to go travelling. The child doesn't seem to have been negatively affected.

ImAvingOops · 17/06/2022 15:59

They have the rest of their lives to enjoy sunshine.

No they don't - some miserable fucker will be in them to keep their nose to the grindstone and get to work, soon enough! A lot of them are on this thread 😉

Original poster
Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 16:01

dessertsun

All these people who talk about work ethic. Have you ever stopped to think that actually, the fact that managing your life and work so that occasionally, when you feel like there is something important to you do you can take the day off, is actually a good thing to have and to aspire to have? If you don't want to take advantage of it, then no- one is forcing you!

How ridiculous! Of course I know that I can take a day off if there's something important to do. I do use my annual leave entitlement each year! My children also do important things during their holidays and weekends. Lying to school by saying that you're ill so that you can go to the beach is not the same thing. We have commitments. If I have something important that I need to attend I book my annual leave, I ensure my work is covered. What I don't do is chuck a sickie!! No I don't aspire to be a lazy shirker. My children have ha

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Original poster
Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 16:02

..have had lots of lovely family time. You can do school, work and leisure time. They're not mutually exclusive.

OP posts:
Turnthatoff · 17/06/2022 16:03

tripletrouble · 17/06/2022 15:22

To those that would take their children out of school to enjoy the sun - would you expect that the teacher helps them catch up the work that they missed?

I’d say on average my kids get about a day off ‘because’ about once a year. Meh..

Turnthatoff · 17/06/2022 16:05

I didn’t mean to quote you there, tripketrouble..

Original poster
Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 16:06

DD has gone straight to the beach from school with some friends, I'm going down to drop off her swimming costume and food and they'll be there until late I expect. So 6 hours of school followed by 6 hours of leisure time to enjoy the sun.

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Original poster
Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 16:09

ImAvingOops

They have the rest of their lives to enjoy sunshine.

No they don't - some miserable fucker will be in them to keep their nose to the grindstone and get to work, soon enough! A lot of them are on this thread

Another silly comment, you can work and still enjoy the bloody sunshine on your days off or holidays.

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