I’m going to have to talk to the school aren't I?

[ScaringMajor]

Over Christmas I was discussing booking a holiday this year with my children. They’re both desperate to go to Disney, but I’m a single parent and it’s so crazy expensive! So I spoke to them and explained that I would look into it, but that it’s a very expensive holiday so it would be our only holiday this year, and we would be cutting down on treats like expensive trips out, treats at the supermarket and take out. To be honest, it’s all stuff we waste money on anyway and should be cutting back on it so it seemed like a good idea. all sorted, holiday booked.

Last month, son comes home from school with a loaf of bread. Not completely unusual, the school get end of date donations from the local supermarket and have them to take from reception. When food is past it’s sell by date, the school tend to send the gone off food home with random children to get rid of it.
It happened again the week after. Last week, he came home with a bag of fruit. Again, the school gets these donated but they usually use them and don’t send them home with students. Today, he’s come home with some second hand school branded jumpers. I asked him why and he explained that he had put a hole in the arm of his school jumper so the teacher had taken him to the clothes donation station and given him some spares to bring home. I asked him why she’d given him several and he shrugged and then causally mentioned that he’d told the teacher that we have no money so can’t get things from the supermarket anymore 🤦🏼‍♀️ I asked if that’s why we got the fruit and the bread and he shrugged

Im going to have to contact the teacher and explain aren’t I? We aren’t broke and I feel terrible at the thought we are taking food from people who might actually need it. I’ve put the uniforms back in the bag to return tomorrow but I have no idea what to say to the teacher? Can I just email in or should I ask to speak to her directly? I’ve overthought this to a point I don’t even know what I’m going to say to her now

I'd just drop an email in, I think.

I'm sure they'll find it amusing.

I don't think cutting down in takeaways and other treats to afford a holiday they want to go on is a lot of stress tbh. You can afford luxury holidays, but choose to go cheap, great, good for you. But the op and her dc want to go to Disney, so are cutting down in things the OP feels they are wasting money on. I can't see what's wrong with that. A lot of people do it. They cut back and save to afford things they want.

Aw that's what your daughter imagined while she was on the ride. Very effective obviously.

This is hilarious - teacher will love it!

Those who don’t understand why you’d go to Disney clearly disagree with the thousands of families who do go each year. I’ve been 3 times to Paris (once pre dc and twice with dc including with dd4 and 6 month old twins - we figured it wouldn’t be any more stressful than twins at home and we were right). Also been to Disney in Florida.

Alongside those holidays we’ve done road trips across Canada and USA, French caravan parks, all inclusive in canaries and lake Garda. We love variety. However it’s okay for those families who don’t - enjoy what you like, but why can’t you do that without criticising others? It’s just a weird reaction.

Have a fab time op!

We give our pupils left over food but I’m sorry to say it’s the ones who we worry won’t eat that day.

We know the kids very well (SS involvement) and the parents get a decent amount of money, but it’s unfortunately just not spent on the kids and their only meal is their school dinner.

Definitely speak to the school and say how thankful you are to them for thinking of you but you’re financially more than ok and you think other children may benefit from this much more.

I don't think you should have booked a holiday to an overpriced theme park but what is done is done.

I'm sure the school will be understanding when you speak to them. Though it is a sad state of affairs and indicative of the current government that the school will no doubtless be donating food and other items to children whose families could not afford any holiday or even the basics of life.

@LlynTegid why shouldn’t the op book a holiday her family will enjoy and make sensible financial decisions to ensure they can afford it? Is it because you don’t like Disney? Just to clarify - it’s not your money and I’m fairly sure you’re not invited.

Don't schools have a more robust system for the distribution of food and clothes to their pupils? Surely they're not going on the world of mouth of young children?

I used to work for a large supermarket and often bought items from the staff shop, think cornflakes with a slightly bashed box. My dd told all her friends we were poor because all of our food was broken 😂

Oh OP! I'm sure that school will be amused!

To the naysayers, why shouldn't the OP go to Disney? I say things like this to my DC all the time, because we spend a ridiculous amount on things we don't need, like Robux, and sweets, and yet another lip balm etc. Doesn't mean we're on the breadline or living beyond our means, it's just good to have a re-evaluate of that sometimes!

Yep several do it that I’m aware of (over 3 different London boroughs so don’t think it’s an unusual thing). You either sign up at the start of term and you get various bits or they lay it out in boxes at pick up time and let people pick through it. Great initiative

Thanks everyone. Spoke to the teacher today who thought it was hilarious and took the clothes back. I’m going to go through our uniforms this weekend and send some donations in next week

Made me laugh.

I had similar with dd when in year R. We were just making sure we weren't getting expensive treats like ice cream from the van, instead we'd have one from the supermarket packet. I'd explained it once, I think as "it saves money".
Dd told people that we were so poor we were soon going to be sleeping in a tent. She'd had a friend who'd been evicted and in B&B accommodation, which I think is where it came from.
Someone put £30 through my door "to go towards food". I was so embarrassed and didn't even know who it was to explain. I bought food for the foodbank with it.

Ah, it is hilarious! However, what a lovely school!

My eldest decided to tell the school we didn’t have much food as i busy saving for my wedding ! All unknown to me , there was no wedding and plenty of food

turns out he was after the extra snacks / lunch and thought that was a good story to tell to get it …. I had a welfare check of social services and everything , thankfully they finally saw it for what it was .

The school didn't talk to you first? Kids talk rubbish all the time.

This is brilliant

I called up to find out why he was coming back with snacks to get fobbed of couple days later social services rock up

N.B. I think the UK school holiday is 12th to 16th Feb. which is also the holiday for 1/3 of France (zone C) including the Paris and Versailles areas.

It made me laugh as well.

Reminds me of a tale I was told about me, I have no memory of this myself. Apparently I was in reception class and teacher was explaining that some children had free meals as their daddies didn't work. No idea why she was telling us this but I piped up and said could I have free meals as my daddy didn't work, he just stood in the pub all day. Fortunately the teacher knew he was the licensee of a local pub but as he worked hard he was a bit miffed to learn that I thought he didn't work.

That's so funny!

Make sure you thank the teacher for her care when you explain what has happened here. Teachers don't get enough credit for the comprehensive nature of their observations in schools, imo.

Disney wouldn't be my cup of tea, but I hope you'll have a blast when you go.

There are forums where you can learn ways to maximize the experience, waste less time in line, eat at the best places, etc.

🤣 my 7 year daughter started bringing home plain paper, pens, printed off colouring in sheets… She’d told her teacher we don’t have any paper or pens at home and we can’t afford to buy any. What I’d actually said was if they stop leaving the lids off the pens I’m not buying anymore as I don’t have money to waste.

Just tell them it’s a misunderstanding.

Bloody typos!

if they don’t stop leaving the lids off the pens I meant.

Felix Project in London does this. By distributing to schools and other charities. Check it out. It's a great charity and helps so many families.

Bless him, bless them. I snorted my wine.