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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:
FuzzyPuffling · 17/06/2022 08:21

And then the teaching staff have to help the skivers catch up, thus wasting everyone's time.

KarrotKake · 17/06/2022 08:22

It's grey and breezy at my bit of the coast currently. Yesterday was better weather. Today is currently better for work!

Original poster
Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 08:22

AmberGer yes I'm well aware of that! I work on call every other weekend and my DH work Saturdays, we still struggle to cover the school holidays!

OP posts:
UpdateStoleMyProfile · 17/06/2022 08:24

Average child, average family, average life experiences; nope, you need to be in school. It’s nearly the longest day of the year; pick them up at 3 and go for an evening swim instead.

terminal illness or other significant events where there may not be another chance; go for it, enjoy it, treasure it.

ForestFae · 17/06/2022 08:26

One day won’t make a difference, do it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/06/2022 08:31

We did it once,DH won tickets to Goodwood and took ds out of school mid week, he was 9 and still talks about what a great day he had with his dad and he's an adult now.

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 17/06/2022 08:34

We did it a couple of times when they were in primary if it was a birthday day. But certainly wouldn't now they are older.

It's setting a bad example imo and showing them that school and work can be optional. Which it isn't!

JaninaDuszejko · 17/06/2022 08:34

For a young reception age child maybe, for a Y9 who has had two very disrupted years at school no fucking chance. The beach is not a one off situation. If there is something happening in schooltime that will literally not happen again then that is slightly different (I know several of the girls in DDs football team - all Y9 - are going to see England open the Euros this summer) but definitely not a beach trip

CherryReid · 17/06/2022 08:36

Yes, but how can it be once only - surely next time there is a birthday, sunny day, chance of a cheap holiday, snow the DCs will ask for it off.
I don't think I'd want the resulting pestering.

swifty1974 · 17/06/2022 08:37

Ridiculous to even ask the question IMO

Send them to school and tell them to stop whinging....

Maybe you'd like to take them and thats the real reason your wanting some sort of validation....just saying

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 17/06/2022 08:37

School isn’t optional- poor teachers have a hard enough job

swifty1974 · 17/06/2022 08:38

sooner they realise you cant always get what you want in this life the better off they'll be.....ffs

themusicmum · 17/06/2022 08:39

YABU. I wouldn't do it. The only exception is the last week of school for the year, where they don't do much anyway.

rainbowmilk · 17/06/2022 08:40

Dorsetdelight211 · 17/06/2022 08:10

SweetSakura but equally what about the kids whose parents work therefore can't take their kids out for a beach day, that's not fair either is it?

Are you saying parents who don’t work shouldn’t take their kids on trips on school days as that’s not fair to children of working parents? Bit weird to expect them to care about this, isn’t it?

ohidoliketobe · 17/06/2022 08:40

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?

Exactly this, and don't even get me started on thise who have suggested calling in sick because that's a great example to teach your 14 year old how to deal responsibilities when there's something more appealing to do. . .

LindaEllen · 17/06/2022 08:40

PetersRabbitt · 17/06/2022 08:07

Also I think people are voting wrong as their reading your title and selecting yanbu

I don't think they are. I think they just realise that it's a ridiculous message to give to young people if you take them out of school just to have some fun.

There's plenty of time for fun after school and at the weekends.

amberleaf · 17/06/2022 08:41

YABU

I would absolutely do this.

one hot day, even one hot day each year is not going to condemn your child to the educational scrapheap.

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 17/06/2022 08:41

swifty1974 · 17/06/2022 08:37

Ridiculous to even ask the question IMO

Send them to school and tell them to stop whinging....

Maybe you'd like to take them and thats the real reason your wanting some sort of validation....just saying

Read the OP properly.

She is saying her DDs friend is doing this but that she wouldn't.

Fairislefandango · 17/06/2022 08:42

It's an utterly ridiculous reason to skip school. She has weekends and the whole of the summer holidays to enjoy the weather.

balalake · 17/06/2022 08:42

I'd support the school fining the parent concerned for unauthorised absence, even though I would prefer other options to fining.

You are a good parent.

KneeQuestion · 17/06/2022 08:42

LindaEllen · 17/06/2022 08:40

I don't think they are. I think they just realise that it's a ridiculous message to give to young people if you take them out of school just to have some fun.

There's plenty of time for fun after school and at the weekends.

Show quote history

People are absolutely reading the AIBU wrong.

greenacrylicpaint · 17/06/2022 08:43

my same age dc school asked them to take water pistols with them to school today.
they also shorten the lessons by 5 min for opening windows and extra time on the playground.

BeautifulWar · 17/06/2022 08:43

Don't they finish school at 3:30ish? That's loads of time to still enjoy the sun at the park, in the garden etc.

BaaCake · 17/06/2022 08:43

Pre covid as a one off fine. But not this cohort, they've missed so much already every day counts. Hopefully some of their teachers will suggest a lesson on the field or something.

Soontobe60 · 17/06/2022 08:43

Ablackcat · 17/06/2022 08:02

I would be tempted but I’d say they were unwell rather than be honest about it!

Great parenting - encouraging kids to lie.