To let DS stay off school on his birthday?

[Niffler29]

DS has asked if he can have the day off school on his birthday. He’s 12 and in his first year of high school so no exams coming up or anything. No issues at school/life in general, he’s a good kid. My initial response is no but if I’m being honest, I’ve never worked on my birthday in my life and the company I work for these days gives a an automatic holiday on your birthday so I can kind of see his point.

AIBU to consider it? I think I am but would like other people to confirm so I feel less bad🤣.

Of course not. He can't just take days off like that.

I wouldn't do it and would send my DD to school.

Mine have had every birthday off that has fallen on a school day.

I would let mine. It's not willy nilly; it's a special occasion 🙃

I never had my birthday off until I retired. It’s a bad precedent to set.

YABU.

That’s ridiculous. He has to learn in real life it won’t happen. I bet none of the other kids will have birthdays off either

he goes into school

Nope. I have 2 DC, one an August birthday so never at school for his. The other is in March and I would never let her have the day off. I don't think it would occur to her to ask to be honest because they don't take days off for anything except illness.

I expect his teachers would like a day off on their birthdays too. Well let's make that a nationwide thing. None of us go to work or school on our birthdays. Your son is no different or more special than the rest of us.

He’s just a kid give him a day off and a fab birthday - adults could book a days holiday if they want why are kids not allowed the same rights.

Absolutely take it off. Most I know IRL would. But usually whatever the response is IRL for stuff like this mumsnet is the reverse opinion

I'd give him the day off if he wants it. It's 1 day it wont impact his education and they grow up so fast. Best to enjoy the time while they are still young

I don’t know anyone who does that.
we live in quite a wealthy, high achieving (through hard work) area. So maybe that’s the difference?

Do high achieving people not use their annual leave entitlement, then?
(is that just for work-shy plebs?)

No.

I can’t believe I need to explain this, but work is nothing like school so of course they’re not allowed the same rights!

Not for their own birthdays anyway.

Pupils, like teachers, take their holidays at pre-arranged times, because they are taught in whole class groups, so they all need to be in at the same time wherever possible.

I can't believe this needs explaining. There are some work situations where it's more convenient for everyone to take their holidays at different times and some where it's better for the workplace to shut down and everyone to take their holidays at the same time. Schools fall into category 2.

I always let mine have a day off for their birthday and I have a birthday treat day out with them just the two of us. If attendance is otherwise good I wouldn't worry about it

@Bluevelvetsofa

wow, I always take my birthday off and celebrate! Not sure how being off on your birthday is setting a bad precedent

I wouldn't do this.

Is he expecting you to take the day off work as well?

Really? It never fell on a weekend/non work day? That’s spectacular bad luck.

However, choosing to take it off is a bad idea.

I wouldn't. I think it would set a precedent. If every child did this it would be quite a lot of work to catch up on. It's not like he can't celebrate his birthday at the nearest weekend, and do something special after school

He is to his mum, though, and while he's a child she can decide to let him have a day off school if she wants to.

OP this thread was always going to attract the "your child isn't special, the sooner he learns what a cold, pitiless world it is the better" brigade. Some people are comfortable letting a child have an occasional special day off, others aren't. It's your decision, just do what you feel is right.

Mine have always gone in on their birthdays