To miss my baby’s parents’ evening?

[hwg11]

My dc is 20 months. I’ve been invited to a ten minute slot between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Dc finishes nursery at 5pm and it’s a 25 minute drive home and dc goes to be at 7pm. Is it normal for parents to attend these when dc is so little? I’m working to the bone at the moment and dh is away in the week. Will it look terrible if I don’t attend?

Oh my parents evenings for babies. Is this a thing now? Are they one of those that does graduations for social media too.

If they had any issues they should be telling you at pick ups

@Cath082 the reasons explained in my OP.

Also, they’re not even 2!

@Spirallingdownwards yes they do graduations 😭

Never known them at this age.

My daughter started school in the pandemic year - we never even had parents evenings, sports days, starter sessions. I wouldn’t worry.

It's a tick box operation they have to prove they communicate with parents for inspectors. If you have no issues with your wee one please don't feel bad for not going but let staff know so they don't wait on you.

I loved my DS’s parents evening appointments because I got to have a discussion with profesionals about his well being. Thanks to those discussions my child, who is not neurodivergent, received speech and language in nursery and thanks to that he is now working at greater depth across the curriculum in primary.

I work in a nursery and would say don't go! They aren't going to tell you anything you don't already know, if they had anything they needed to discuss they would do it on handover.

Would you really drive a 50 minute round trip with a baby at their bedtime to attend a ten minute appointment? I'd ask for a phone appointment instead.

Why didn't you read the opening post, in which this was explained ?

When I worked in nursery we had to stay and do these unpaid.
Particularly annoying when your shift finished at 4, you had to wait around until 6.30 for the evening to start, didn’t get home until around 9pm, then were back in at 7am the next day.
The fewer parents attend the better!

If you’d like to go but struggling with the juggle ask for a call as others have suggested. If you’re not bothered don’t feel guilted into going, no-one reasonable will think badly of you and trying to live up to societal views on parenting never ends well anyway!! This is a tough time. You’re doing great ❤

It's definitely optional! We tend to go because our nursery is down the road, but I wouldn't drive 25 min there and back for a 10 min slot!

Our nursery does this twice a year. The meeting itself is not that interesting unless there are some specific development points you or them want to discuss in more detail. But our nursery use the early learning program and track the progress of each child in an app. They print off the report for the meeting and it's used as a base for the discussion, with some specific comments on what they are currently working on with the child and how we can support at home. That's the interesting bit IMO, if they have comments like this I would ask if they could email them to you and give them at the next handover.

I never went! If you've any concerns, or questions ask for a call. My dd loved nursery and got on well and we never had any cause to attend a parents evening. To be honest we sometimes skip school ones even now when we are busy - ì always think, if you see teachers or key workers regularly, have a good dialogue and talk to your children then nothing that gets said at these things should be new news anyway!
Don't beat yourself up, don't go!

Just explain what you have said here, sure they will understand. I booked an appointment at mine and then completely forgot to turn up so you'll look better than me 😂

I'd just tell them the time doesn't work for me and ask to rearrange a date either at drop off or just before pick up.