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.

orwellwasright wow, you are absolutely spot on. That's the exact attitude this mum has and it'll be all over insta later. Her DD will no doubt be boasting about it to mine too.

Alright then. Wanted not needed. I just don't see the problem with the a random and unusual day off if its not a crucial period like exam time. I maybe did this once a year with my son when he was at school (not for hot weather or to go to the beach, living in Oz that would be stupid 😁) but his education turned out just fine and he is one of the hardest workers I know, studying engineering at uni and a part time job. He sees me and his dad working hard full time, maybe that's why.

The number of 18 year olds I've had to sack because of absence in their probationary period at work, for exactly this reason. They come into the workplace and can't believe it when they can't just take days off. I've even had mums call me to explain/berate me for this.

Send them to school, it's a life lesson that will do them so much more good. (And it's never "just one day "

Routine dental appts can be easily booked after the school day finishes.

Lol, where do you live where that's the case? Around here you just take what you're given 🤣

I'm a TA currently on my lunchbreak in a stuffy staffroom about to go back to a hot classroom. I have to go to work in these conditions and accept it as part of life because my parents didn't teach me I could get out of school for something more fun just because it was too hot / cold outside.

Ridiculous, of course you don't skive off school because it's sunny. Or snowing or raining or a bit grey...

You baby take a day off work bro it's sunny. What message does that give her.

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!
Just because unfortunately it isn't open to a lot of people, and the way bringing up a family in the Uk has become for many means that most time off is used for childcare, it doesn't mean that it isn't necessarily a good thing or that those who do have flexibility shouldn't use it.
I'm a teacher abroad and we can even book a certain number of days off a year for whatever reason, the school will sort out arrangements, same as the children can be off without all this drama.
I believe and recognise that we are all different, that some people value flexibility and spontaneity more than others and will live their life accordingly. It annoys me how some people feel they are on the moral high ground by stating school attendance, it's a non issue in a lot of the world.

If a person lives to 80.
Less than 1/4 of that time is in education.
1 day out of that 1/4 is meaningless.

Education is very very important... School, less so.

And what about the number of them who haven't had that expectation despite having the same experience as a child? Or those who have that expectation but never missed a day of school and are merely taking more control of themselves?

You have no idea of the schooling of the majority.

I could understand a holiday due to the cost of it, but we're a few weeks away from the 6 week summer break where there will be ample opportunity to go on a day out.

Families were pouring into nwales last night and early this morning looking at webcams I don't blame them.

Nope. Off to school you go. The same as when your working, off to work you have to go.

I wouldn't do it for one day no. However a 2 week holiday I would absolutely do it.

I'm currently on holiday now. Do you know why the mum doesn't work? I don't think it's your business.

If you work on call and weekends you and your DH are probably on a very modest hourly rate to enable you to go away at Xmas,Easter or summer...

Oops I should’ve been much clearer for those who are so easily confused.
“Allocated number of yet time days”

it would mean people could afford to take their children on holiday. They could visit places without the hours of miserable queuing as there are in holidays and weekends.

They could get appointments with dentists etc. in places where it’s not so easy to get them after school.

@frydae Then it'll be a rude awakening for them too. However it's those kids who's parents don't set expectations I'm talking about. Your post doesn't relate to what I've said.

Term time*

Fantastic post.

God no. School can have my tired, cross, grumpy, overheated children 😁

On a more serious note, I wouldn't take them for a beach day in this heat. We're in London so every nearish beach will be rammed as will every splash park etc. The only thing worse than grumpy kids in this heat is grumpy kids and zillions of other people, in this heat.

I can't get het up about what others do though.

I did let me eldest have a day off (he was in KS1 then) to go to a VE day fly past with his granddad some years ago so I'm not against days off per se. But taking a day off to go and sit on a rammed beach and listen to 3 kids moan about being hot, tired, too sandy, don't want more sunscreen on etc is my idea of Hell.

what a load of shite.....what lesson are you teaching them by caving in and letting them go to the beach.....moron

I don't think the lesson is as important as you think. They will always better people than those who call others a 'moron'

It does relate. You don't know the parenting of every single 18 year old you come across in work.

People don't tend to base their lives and what they do for their kids around what's fair on some other random kid they probably don't even know.

I get you can't do it because you're working, that's understandable. But equally I don't think the other mother has done anything wrong either.

I'd do it if I could. I'd just tell school they were ill.

I think the lesson is that work isn't always the best, most important thing you should be doing, that there is room for balance and flexibility and that these little, unexpected, extra days have meaning and are worth something.

Did none of you watch Ferris Bueller? 😉

@frydae I didn't say I did. I am saying that parents who do allow this, also need to make sure their kids don't grow up to be surprised when it's not allowed in the workplace. Many of those I've mentioned have spoken of their surprise when it's been an issue at work.