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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pull a sickie to take my kids to Glastonbury

122 replies

TheColourofspring · 03/05/2023 07:42

Me & DH have glasto tickets. My mum was going to look after the kids but now can’t come down. I am not so concerned about the year 6 child as they will have done SATS & the head won’t mind. The older child more tricky as secondary won’t give any days off and certainly not for a festival. But it’s the last year we can get them in for free! Older child doing well in school so am not so worried about them missing school for a few days.

It’s more how to do it? Formally & it’s likely I will get fined! I feel really bad pulling a sickie but I feel like it’s a great experience for them & one that they will remember.

Glasto tickets are like Rocking horse poo too so for DH & I, it might be our last chance!! There’s great kids stuff on site, family camping & so good all round really. And post covid, feels like an enriching thing to do.

Irresponsible parents or life experience?! I really don’t want to have to give up my tickets with 6 weeks to go!

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 03/05/2023 11:10

Do it!

User5438790 · 03/05/2023 11:12

Just take them out of school, it's only a few days, enjoy yourselves

CraftyIrishMamma · 03/05/2023 11:13

Regardless of the missing school dilemma, are you sure both kids would enjoy the experience?

I’d absolutely hate it and so would teen DS as noise and crowds are really not our thing, but my DH and the older two would definitely enjoy it.

Missingpate · 03/05/2023 11:13

Do it for sure - with the caveat to make sure all is OK mocks-wise. Our son is y6 and we will do what we always do: tell the school and chat about it afterwards with interested teachers. It’s the best weekend of the year, no way we’d miss taking him and he’d never forgive us either 😂 But he’s been going all his life and loves it.

Original poster
TheColourofspring · 03/05/2023 11:42

Oh and yes to clarify, I am not taking a sickie! Me & my DH have annual leave booked!

OP posts:
WoolyMammoth55 · 03/05/2023 12:18

We live close by and my DH is going (for the 2nd time in a row!) - he's got a nice gig doing a light fun technical job for a couple of hours a day and has the option to take me as his 'assistant'... But our kids are younger, 5 and 2, and I think both of them would be overwhelmed after a day! Clearly if we've got the same cushy situation in a decade it's going to be great though :)

Swellinyewing · 03/05/2023 12:24

Do it, life is too short.

JamSandle · 03/05/2023 12:40

I would!

GozerTheGozerian · 03/05/2023 12:45

I’m in exactly this situation except they’re both primary. I’ve done it before. I just told the school they were going and that I didn’t expect to get official permission but thought it was a great opportunity - and described some of the fantastic experiences in the Greenfields, Theatre/Circus, activism and environmentalism etc.

my kids would never keep it quiet and I don’t want to tell them to lie - they’re excited and want to talk about it!!

school were fine. No official permission but they wished them a fabulous time and wanted to hear all about it the following week.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 03/05/2023 12:50

MN is so funny about things like this.

When teachers strike to try and improve conditions in schools it’s the end of the known universe and those handful of days are the difference between their kid getting Oxbridge and failing all their exams.

When a parent wants to take the kids out for a “culturally enriching” experience at Glasto it’s all “ur kidz ur rulez, go #makememories!”.

GoodChat · 03/05/2023 13:03

SchoolTripDrama · 03/05/2023 10:40

I wouldn’t take children (of any age) to Glastonbury 🤔All the drugs etc. Why on earth would you expose children to that? Disgusting

Why would you not teach children how to stay safe in those situations?

Ndhdiwntbsivnwg · 03/05/2023 15:26

Pull a sickie just make sure DC won’t get in trouble when telling the stories!

I honestly don’t get why can’t a parent take the kid off of school for a few days per year. This certainly wasn’t an issue when I was in school.

careerthink · 03/05/2023 16:52

Are you sure you don't need to book a ticket for your daughter? Might be worth checking, most events I've gone to require you to book a ticket for the child despite it being free because they need to know for H&S/capacity reasons.

Changingplace · 03/05/2023 17:26

careerthink · 03/05/2023 16:52

Are you sure you don't need to book a ticket for your daughter? Might be worth checking, most events I've gone to require you to book a ticket for the child despite it being free because they need to know for H&S/capacity reasons.

Not for kids 12 or under at Glastonbury :)

Ramunea · 03/05/2023 17:27

I’d be gone!

GLASTONBURY - here I come!! 😎

celticprincess · 03/05/2023 17:31

Just be honest - unless their attendance is already an issue then it should be fine. We took my eldest out as she was going to see the voice kids filmed. It was on a Sunday but too far to travel home the same day. So she stayed over and had a lovely day out in Manchester before coming back. School were fine with it. But she was on 100% attendance. They also had a day off for my graduation once as well. No issues. Always up front. They’ll find out anyway as kids can’t keep a secret. I’m not sure our LA give out many fines though. Never heard anyone mention them and know loads who have gone on holiday etc.

careerthink · 03/05/2023 17:41

Not for kids 12 or under at Glastonbury

That seems crazy, what if everyone brought a kid with them?! (Or maybe that's the answer...who actually would WinkGrin)

sevenbyseven · 03/05/2023 17:44

Don't lie, be honest. It will be recorded as unauthorised absence but it's unlikely you will be fined unelss you've taken other termtime holiday.

But.... How on earth would you get hold of tickets for them?! Confused

sevenbyseven · 03/05/2023 17:48

sevenbyseven · 03/05/2023 17:44

Don't lie, be honest. It will be recorded as unauthorised absence but it's unlikely you will be fined unelss you've taken other termtime holiday.

But.... How on earth would you get hold of tickets for them?! Confused

I take it back, as others have said, they don't need tickets. I knew it was free up to 12 but didn't realise they don't even need tickets!

Scarymary02101979 · 03/05/2023 17:50

We do this every year the festival lands always the first day on there like last week of school normally last day or penultimate day. I just phone them in sick have never been fined. One year it landed that theyissed 2 days of school then was back for the last day. My daughter still had green hair we had tried to scrub it out 🤣🤣. Not a word was said except they loved her hair 🤷🤣

LlynTegid · 03/05/2023 17:54

Don't lie, and be prepared for your children learning a few words that should not be uttered in school! Especially if you see Slowthai.

Tinytigertail · 03/05/2023 18:01

I did this and told the school. The HT called me in and basically said that its much easier for them if we just phone them in sick in future! I didn't want my kids to feel pressured to lie.

NomiMacaroni · 03/05/2023 18:04

They are your kids, you have every right to take them out of school if you seem it to be in their best interest.

AlbertaAnnie · 03/05/2023 18:21

Do it! Amazing family memories! I take my kids out of school for a week every year for a holiday!!

ModestMoon · 03/05/2023 18:27

This country fucking sucks, ridiculous that you can get fined for taking your own children to a festival. Just take them.