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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Grandparents day at school as flu season kicks off

92 replies

Pleidiolwyfimgwlad73 · 08/10/2023 08:00

It was grandparents day at primary school last week and all the grandparents that could come were invited into school for a celebration.

Right at the start of flu season & just as covid cases were rising.

Aibu to think it’s a teensy bit irresponsible to invite elderly and vulnerable people into the germ pit that is a school in autumn?! 🫣🤦‍♀️

Both my kids have been off with terrible colds this last 2 week’

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/10/2023 08:17

Lots of people in their later 60s and up will just have had their flu and covid jabs, so should be less vulnerable to infection than people of working age. Besides, I think this is a lovely idea. Loneliness is a huge problem amongst older people who live alone. Being welcomed into a school and spending time with little ones sounds like a tonic for any single older person, or an older grandparent who's a carer and manages to get a break this way.

Lovethatforyouhun · 08/10/2023 08:18

Anyone over retirement age should stay in Oct to March for their own good imho

AvengedQuince · 08/10/2023 08:18

There are grandparents and great grandparents living with school aged children.

Maxus · 08/10/2023 08:18

If all the grandparents where 80+ I would agree with you. But the huge majority will be between the ages of 45-60, so you are definitely being unreasonable. You do know lots of primary school teachers are between those ages and older.

ThoughtEvokingReflectiveFemale · 08/10/2023 08:19

Many teachers are older or vulnerable. They manage. I’m sure some grandparents can sit in the hall for a bit.

Photio · 08/10/2023 08:20

Most grandparents of primary school age children are not in an age group that's elderly. Yes in days gone by 62 year olds were considered elderly but not nowadays
And those who are vulnerable will make their own decisions.

endofthelinefinally · 08/10/2023 08:20

Free flu and covid jabs have been available for weeks.
Life goes on and older people want to join in.

drinkuptheezider · 08/10/2023 08:20

I was a GM at 46, hardly elderly. Grandparents will range from 30s -70+, pretty much a full range of society.

00100001 · 08/10/2023 08:21

Ehhhh those same grandparents going to the theatre, cinema, supermarkets, gyms, libraries, hospitals etc where the public are spreading all sorts in confined spaces.... not really why a school is much different.

Aposterhasnoname · 08/10/2023 08:21

Grandparents of primary aged kids are far more likely to be in their 50s or early 60s, which for most people is neither elderly nor vulnerable. Any that are will be perfectly capable of making the decision to stay away.

ilovesooty · 08/10/2023 08:21

Smartiepants79 · 08/10/2023 08:10

God these kinds of threads depress me.
School has gone out of it’s way to have this kind of lovely event. Having a school full of visiting adults requires time and planning and can be quite stressful.
Grandparents of primary age children are mostly just people in their 50s or 60s. No particular reason why most of them are any more vulnerable. Lots od them still work themselves. They can also make their own choices. Just let them go in and enjoys seeing their precious grandchildren.

I bet quite a lot of them also provide childcare to the children who spend all day in these germ factories too.

Vgbeat · 08/10/2023 08:21

Grandparents day itself is the 1st October which is why I presume they have done it. Would you have thought it as much as a problem had it been a harvest festival? Children will slways have coughs and colds,

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/10/2023 08:21

sparklefresh · 08/10/2023 08:17

How old do you think these grandparents are?! Primary school age kids' grandparents are hardly likely to be octogenarians, are they?

Fully accept that lots of grandparents are a lot younger than 80, but not all. The average of first-time mothers has been going up for a long time. Many women now only start having children in their very late 30s or in their 40s. Their own parents are likely to be at least 25 years older than that, which takes them into their 70s at a minimum when the children start primary school. My parents were over 80 when their last grandchild left primary school.

TheHouseonHauntedHill · 08/10/2023 08:22

The whole idea of grandparents day makes me feel uncomfortable.

So many children don't have grandparents or they don't see them.

I don't understand why it's a thing or happening at all. Grandparents who are alive and have normal conversation relationship with their children and gc will have been in the school anyway.

Normandy144 · 08/10/2023 08:22

I would let the school know your thoughts so that then they can do something about it next year. The fact the weather has been so nice is not something they would have been factoring in. In fairness to them this was probably planned in the summer term when let's face it flu is the furthest thing from your mind. I'm sure they'd appreciate your constructive criticism and help organising for next year.

Hibernatalie · 08/10/2023 08:22

YABU this is a lovely idea - schools are criticised whatever they do.

Fizbosshoes · 08/10/2023 08:22

sparklefresh · 08/10/2023 08:17

How old do you think these grandparents are?! Primary school age kids' grandparents are hardly likely to be octogenarians, are they?

3 of 4 of my DC gps were 70 by the time they were born, so would have been late 70s when invited to GP events

Taylorswiftserastour · 08/10/2023 08:22

New plan: all older folk to hibernate from October to April. They're allowed to fatten up over the summer and then we can run "Fat Grandad week" where we all vote for the tubbiest grandpa.

No hold on, I've got confused with bears again.

PuttingDownRoots · 08/10/2023 08:23

I have a friend in his 70s who spends his days looking after a succession of grandchildren and just started on the Great children. He also runs Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. He would find in frankly bizarre if someone suggested not going near a school... especially since his wife is a teacher. He even goes on residential trips with his wife's school (and has the correct clearance to do so)

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/10/2023 08:23

Taylorswiftserastour · 08/10/2023 08:22

New plan: all older folk to hibernate from October to April. They're allowed to fatten up over the summer and then we can run "Fat Grandad week" where we all vote for the tubbiest grandpa.

No hold on, I've got confused with bears again.

Grin
Original poster
Pleidiolwyfimgwlad73 · 08/10/2023 08:23

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g yes I hear what you are saying re loneliness.

However the school bangs on about attendance every day - it’s a massive issue- so I still think it was daft. Do it in the summer when everyone is well & it Dan be outside. Not when half the school is off sick!!!

OP posts:
00100001 · 08/10/2023 08:23

TheHouseonHauntedHill · 08/10/2023 08:22

The whole idea of grandparents day makes me feel uncomfortable.

So many children don't have grandparents or they don't see them.

I don't understand why it's a thing or happening at all. Grandparents who are alive and have normal conversation relationship with their children and gc will have been in the school anyway.

So what? many children Don't have dad's or mums or celebrate Christmas or whatever...

Most GPs will have only been in the school to attend some sort of show.

ilovesooty · 08/10/2023 08:23

Lovethatforyouhun · 08/10/2023 08:18

Anyone over retirement age should stay in Oct to March for their own good imho

I assume that is a joke.

piintheski · 08/10/2023 08:24

The more elderly of the grandparents have presumably been offered immunisations to flu and covid? Probably far safer than many of the teaching staff

Rubyupbeat · 08/10/2023 08:24

My friends husband was a grandparent at 36, so they are not all elderly and vunerable adults. Plus, the majority will have had their jabs by now.
Life is for living!

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