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

[Dorsetdelight211]

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.

Good post, choice mummy.

It's always the children from poorer homes who suffer.

I will never forget our dreadful head saying " we all face the same holiday costs" whilst simulatenos moaning about teaches pay.

We worked out DH was on a far lower wage than the teaches and especially lower than her. Face the same costs,on vastly different salaries.

One year we could afford one night aways.

And people don't call out a day of work for "being sick" or coming in late because of a "flat tire". People really love to mom shame don't they. I guess these are the same people that work 60+ hours and barely see their kids. Or SAHM that can't wait to be away from their kids. Yes education is extremely important but these public schools are not teaching kids anything valuable for them to actually use in the world, it's also letting you kid know it's ok to just take a day for yourself. It's not like it's once a month or once a week.

Yes education is extremely important but these public schools are not teaching kids anything valuable for them to actually use in the world,

It was sunny and that’s nice but I would have thought keeping children out of the sun when it’s that hot would be more sensible. People in this country go nuts when the sun comes out. I wonder how many will be suffering with sunburn as a result.

It pissed with rain all day yesterday here, so the parents waiting for the weekend would have missed it!
My dd's school are going to waste a whole day soon on sports day, they'll waste another one on doing a whole school walk. Quite often the SMT member who is scheduled to take a class, doesn't turn up due to clashing commitments and that lesson time is lost. They waste valuable school days on ski trips etc. Im not inclined to listen to lectures from school on how important daily attendance is. I think experiences with family are just as important and if a family has the occasional opportunity to do something that is a bit different to the norm, it should be valued.

Its fine to allow kids off school - as long as you are willing to pay money back into the school system for the hours. Taxpayers footing the bill for your child to miss education? No, nonsense. It shows a complete lack of respect for education and total contempt for taxpayers who have to foot the bill for your child.

Funnily enough, the majority of those parents are the ones who are also footing the bill. The same as they're fitting the bill for the nhs, social services and every other social institution!

And tbh if we're going down this road, then I'd like some refunds on what I have to fund due to the failings of the school system where they're not meeting the needs of my child. Perhaps you'll be the first to refund me?

YANBU....No I wouldn't, and never did let my daughter have a day off to enjoy the sun she can enjoy it in school. I know it's a rare sight in good old UK but they'll be other times. Maybe just me but I'd be more concerned that I'd be telling a lie, does this not teach kids it's ok to do so?

I work in a school so can't take days off, but if I could I would 100% have spent the day off with my 1 DC in the sun

I think this depends on the kid really. If my 14 YO was studying hard and needed a break - I’d have gone. It’s not really anyone else’s business.

You only live once. Building memories with your kids is way more important than a day at school. I cannot believe people are saying this is a bad idea. My kids don't even go to school. We can do whatever we want whenever we want. I know not everyone can do that, so I think it's great that you share these fun times with them now. It all goes bye too fast!!

First that is a wonderful thing to do. I'm a mother of four but I have 3 now. Something's in life can change one's perspective. I took my kids out of school for a day. My children two eldest and my youngest. Why did I do it because I CAN my choice. I love my kids. I wanted them to have a great surprise absolute Joy on their faces. They're great children, they're kind to others, they're considerate to others. They do wonderful in school and they're my children my choice. They don't front fall behind on their education. That's nobody's business.

I think it is up to the parents. I myself let my child stay home sometimes just for a day off. I don't think it teaches anything wrong. Adults do take off from time to time just because. However, his dad is not like that. He would not do let him stay home unless he is sick. So again it's up to the parent/guardian.

She let her child have a fun day. These days with your kids will be over then what will you have? Why is everyone treating it like the end of the world? If you don't want your kids to skip then don't but could you all stop acting as if it's the end of the world?

It's not about the weather, it's about what you are teaching your child. If you say it's OK to take a day off school because it's nice then why not take the week off? Then what happens at exam time? This attitude will continue, why go to work at all when it's nice? Actions have consequences.

YANBU

School is important. Your DD needs to understand that she can’t skip school for the day in the same way that you can’t skip work to go to the beach. There are plenty of days in the year when the weather is warm and the beach can be enjoyed including plenty of weekends and school holidays.

Reading some of the responses on here I’m not surprised that some kids grow up to be irresponsible adults - if they think they can just sack off school when they feel like it what sort of lesson does that set?! 🤷‍♀️

A lot of these parents live to work and it shows. They're also ensuring to instill these same "values" into the next generation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with calling in "well". If it's a beautiful day out, taking a single day off work and/or school to enjoy your life is not the end of the world. Call in and say you don't feel well, and say the same for your kid(s) and play hooky. If your child's education in severely or irreparably damaged, or your work/department falls into shambles from one day off, there are much bigger issues at play. All this to say YABU. If you have no hobbies or will to enjoy your life outside the few waking hours a day that you aren't at work, that's a YOU problem. DD's friend's mom probably has (and is teaching her daughter) a healthy work-life balance. More people need this.

A fun day is always good - at weekends and during school holidays. Teaching a child to lie for a day off school (and the same at work) is always wrong.

theshadyplantlady no you're missing the point entirely. I dont live to work, far from it! I work to give my DC a great childhood and start in life. I'm saving for uni and house deposits, a trip to florida this year and Australia when they turn 18. I have goals. I value my job, I want to be reliable, I want a good reputation, I have patients who need me, I love what I do and the contribution I make to society. I want the same for my DC. A healthy work life balance can be achieved without lying.

It’s up to the individual parent, I’m all for parents taking their kids out of school if it’s the only time they have off to spend with their child. You don’t know peoples circumstances.