School Father’s Day sale

[Nimbus1999]

My kids school does a Father’s Day sale every year. I am separated from my ex and we 50/50 parent although our relationship is terrible and we only have the bare minimum communication.

I knew about the sale and asked him to give the 3 kids some cash. He hasn’t. I’m broke so begrudge having to spend cash I’ve put aside for other things for his Father’s Day present. Also have no cash in the house so would have to try to get to a bank before school. But on the other hand, all the kids will be buying their Dad’s a present and my kids enjoy it.

Incidentally, FD has never been a big deal to him. Although court said he can see kids every FD, he said he doesn’t want to.

YABU - Just give the kids some money so they can buy him presents.

YANBU - He should have given them some cash so it’s ok not to pay for his presents.

If it makes a difference, Mother’s Day was always a non event in our house and since splitting, I’ve always given the kids money for my own school gifts.

There's absolutely no need for schools to have anything themed around Mother's or Father's Day.
It's tactless and not inclusive. The fact that it singles out children who might already be struggling for some reason, or who don't have that parent in their lives is potentially quite cruel.
The world won't stop if schools gave this one a swerve.
My DD's school kept very neutral on things like this and I am thankful for that.

I’m very sorry for your loss. As it happens I lost my ddad just before Christmas at age 12. And yes, Christmas still happened.

My dm was bereft but did her best to ensure we had a good Christmas. It was very different that year as we had so many ‘jolly’ visits from lovely relatives bearing lots of gifts, far more than usual. Now that I’m older I know that they didn’t really know what to do but the fact that they did something to show that they were thinking of us and dm meant the world. That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about. You can’t stop the world from turning but it costs nothing to support and accommodate people who are already suffering where you can.

I’ll never forget how upset my school friend was when he had just lost his mum and the teacher brought out blank cards and glitter pens to do our mums Mother’s Day cards

awful

@SchoolQuestionnaire

I do get your point but I disagree. There is a fine balance between supporting and skewing. I'd rather have the approach that we have Father's Day (or whatever) and for some this may be difficult and that's acknowledged but the celebration remains.

But I respect your view is different.

@SchoolQuestionnaire

Sorry, just seen your update. Yes, that's what I'm meaning. Acknowledge but don't stop.

I agree you can’t and shouldn’t stop occasions such as Father’s or Mother’s Day. But there’s no requirement for it to be celebrated in school.

Top tip go to your bank and draw out £10 bag of 50ps and £20 bag of £1. Keeps us going for ages for emergency school money!

My kids' primary school have a mothers day and fathers day secret shop. Everything's £1 and kids wander round and pick some tat or other, it's not that uncommon.

There is a sale at my child's school. It used to be donated tat, now it is bought in stuff. The children love it. It was emailed out as a "special person sale" which made me wince. A gift sale where you can buy something for a special person because it is father's day this weekend should suffice. Just because some people don't have one or the other parent in their lives doesn't mean we should wipe out every single mention. Buy or don't buy. It's a ten minute interval in the day.for each class.

well they do, I never knew it was a thing till i seen it on single parent groups im in, our school doesnt do it but doesnt mean others dont ive seen it mentioned loads

It's very common for them too.

Lots of schools around here do.

Mine does but we ask for donations of unwanted gifts and all the kids choose something for no cost due to being a school with high proportion of families in poverty.

Why not ? My grandson's school has one tomorrow. Why would OP lie ?

We had our sale today I bought three bags of fudge one for me one for ds1 and one for ds2 there is no father around so we enjoyed our fudge 😀