I booked a 'sun holiday' for Sept. But ds starts primary in Sept. And that minor fact slipped my mind !

[Oblomov]

Ds(4) starts school in Sept. He will be going p/t 9-1pm for the first 6 weeks.
Last week We found out about his school. And dh and I were really excited becasue he got into our first choice which is a fab school.

But not only that , I had to fight really hard to get our sun holiday. I lost my priority booking number. So sent off an application, that was lost. Then I had over 30 e-mails and the kept denying receipt of my requests. Then I sent 2 chqs registered post, that got lost. Then another 2 got lost. Then another 2 sent, all of them registered post and finally I get 2 holidays. One for may and one for w/c 15th Sept.
We always used to go on holiday in sept - cheaper because out of school.
But why, during this whole time of fighting with the sun, did it not occur to me that ds starts school ?
How could I compartmentalise such an important fact - whilst talking to dh about the holiday and also talking to dh about the imminent arrival of the letter telling us of ds's school choice.

Anyway I can't change it - I have asked them. I could give it to one of you guys for free.
What a waste

How could I have been so stupid ?
AIBU to think that I am a twat ???

Oh dear. Ya goofed.

And it might not even be possible to give the holiday away - these things are often not transferable.

Bummer.

Just go! one week out of reception really isn't the end of the world... IMO

Sounds like the sort of thing I'd do!

Go on, take him on holiday...

Be honest with the school. Tell them you forgot when you booked the holiday. I betcha you won't be the first

what is a sun holiday?

And there goes Oblomovs relationship with the teacher KABOOOMMM! Even before little miss oblomov starts....

Your not a TWAT - goodness me anyone can forget something, especially when it's school dates and it's not something you've ever had to think about before.

Can you afford to write it off? My sister goes on one of these every year and says its really cheap but they have a great time.

I wouldn't take her out of school this time - the first month in reception is absolutely essential for bonding and making friends IMO although others will think differently.

I would not keep him off. As QS mentioned, you are going to be very unpopular with the teacher right from the start.

The first couple of weeks are also the time when the children get to know each other, start to form friendships. Would be a shame for him to miss that.

I agree with nametaken, I had the chance togo away in September but didn't want Ds to miss those first few weeks.

I am not bothered by the cost. It is minimal. I just feel silly.

Although I'm not against taking them out of school for holidays in general, just think that those first weeks are quite important

Do they all start school on the first day? Or do they stagger the Reception starters? If staggered, then he won't miss out by starting with the second lot. In which case it's worth discussing with the school and explaining that you had booked the holiday before you were aware of the academic calendar.

Otherwise, if they all start at the same time, then I think he would miss out on the settling-in period, and that could make things tougher for him.

You don't want to come home from holiday and find the children have all formed MN-style cliques and noone wants to scuttlebuttle with him.

I would skip the holiday tbh.Not that he wouldn't beable to catch up but he may be quite unsettled when he goes back.

A holiday in the sun at mininmal cost? Where? WHERE?

I think my minimal and other peoples minimal may differ...

How long are you away for? If he was ill it wouldn't be something that really bothered you so I'd put it down to experience and go.
I bet if you explained to the teacher they'd be fine.
It's going to be a few half days, not even proper full school term.

Also meant to add, when school is split to mornings and afternoons, half the class arent there anyway.

It's a holiday booked through the Sun Newspaper, by collecting vouchers. Hence not too expensive (I think).

I agree that the very beginning of a year, esepcially the start of reception isn't a great time to be away, whether through illness or holiday.

We delayed the start of school by a week for one of our dc it was when they staggered the intaked for the first couple of weeks so not too many kids at once iykwim, I would go and enjoy the holiday.

Oooooh, big sympathies Oblomov! It's the culture shock - you haven't fully assimilated to being a parent of a school-aged child!

very pleased you got your first choice school , you twat

You could give it to a HE MN-er - they are not tied to school terms!!

HE Mners are rich enough to buy their own surely!! Or they'd be compelled to go to work instead!

I feel your pain.

I've booked to go in October....the week before half-term

Where's the holiday - I forgot to get tokens so could be interested in buyng it off you if you decide not to go. Have become unemployed so now can only afford a cheap holiday.

I think taking time off for holiday is OK but never ever in September, when it is a new school or class, it simply isn't fair on the DC.

does he absolutely have to start then? We were given the choice between starting on half days or waiting until the full days started. Might be worth asking.