To leave my 7 yr old home alone for 30mins ?

[confusedwithschool]

My 7 yr old DD has the dreaded chicken pox ( she’s on day 5) but still absolutely covered. Half of his class are out cos of this

Tomorrow is my DS’s year 6 graduation and there is no one I can call to babysit ( that’s even if they would want to )

I can’t take her there as I would be exposing other kids but at the same time how can I miss my sons grad?

im torn . I plan to be on video call with her while there and the school is just down the road , a 2 min walk

not sure what I can do ?

This. I’m actually disgusted in the school for this.

I said up there half the class is out so they are aware cos it’s a breakout in the school. and the scars are all crusty, so no new ones . She just feels miserable and tired so didn’t want to take her out of her comfort zone at all.

@SleepingStandingUp yes of course at 13 he is left occasionally for a short time and goes out with friends etc. I was referring to when he was younger. Obviously I wasn’t clear. From aged 12 nspcc states that children of suitable cognitive maturity can be occasionally left although legal responsibilities for their safety remains with the parents.

Do not do this. In this heat it could be extremely dangerous to leave someone in the car. Also anyone approach the car and ask to her step out etc. Absolutely ridiculous suggestion.

Just don’t go the the graduation. If something bad was to happen to your 7 year old because you left them alone you’d feel a lot worse than you feel missing a graduation!

I was responding to the PP who said she might consider leaving her DC for a short period once they were 11.

Seriously, is primary school graduation actually a thing? Cap and gown? Shouldn't all that be saved for real achievements like uni? Anyway, I digress. You clearly can't leave your seven year old as she's far too young. So, sadly, you'll have to miss the event, unless you can coopt a family member, friend, DP, or neighbour to babysit.

It is a thing, leaving primary school is a big event for the children and it’s right it should be celebrated.

Also if you got off your high horse long enough to actually read the thread you’d see op had it sorted.

"it is a very huge milestone for my child and for we as parents."

That's great, but it really isn't that big a deal for a lot of people, hence the criticism of the over-the-top misuse of the term "graduation" 🙄

I find that quite sad tbh

In the car. By herself on a hot day?

What is it you find "quite sad"?

@ReadingSoManyThreads that there's parents who think leaving primary school isn't a big deal and would happily not go.

Why? Not all of us are bothered by transitions. There's loads of things my children do that are significant and I'm hugely proud of. The moving from one school to another isn't particularly one of them.

I have no memory particularly of leaving school. Not primary, the one that ran only to 16 or the other one I joined for 6th form. It wasn't a big deal. I do remember lots of performances and other events and my parents being there for those.

When it comes to DC1 leaving Primary I'll be led by him. If it's a big deal to him we will celebrate it as much as he wants to. But meanwhile he has his first ever cricket tournament on Saturday and that's a far bigger deal to me.

Is there really absolutely no one? What if you asked on Facebook (to your friends list obviously, not publicly) if you have it? If an acquaintance of mine even a loose acquaintance asked on Facebook if someone could watch their kid under these circumstances I would offer. Obviously being sensible and only agreeing to women etc watching them but you might get another mum willing to watch your sick kid while you go.

I'd have left my child in those circumstances. Assuming she can use a mobile phone and you could be home in two minutes. I left mine from age 8. Or do you have a close neighbour that you can trust to be in and there if she needs them?

"happily not go", but that's on the assumption there's something to go to. Never in the years I was at school were parents ever invited to the last day of school for the P7's, 5th year, and Upper Sixth. There was no such thing as a "Leavers assembly", that included parents attending. I find it a bit bizarre to be honest.

I remember my last day of primary, I walked home as usual, whilst my parents were at work, as did every other child there. Seriously, no big deal.

The only time in my primary years when I was disappointed, was when my Mum couldn't attend our Christmas Concert, I was the lead in the play, my Dad was there, but my Mum's school had their concert on the same night, so couldn't come watch ours. That was sad, as the concert was always a big thing every year but the whole leaving school thing never was.

Maybe it's a village thing, even after you leave primary, you still see all your former pupils, and teachers regularly anyway in the community.

Personally I think transitioning IS a big deal for children, so should be a big deal for us parents too. I don't think these 'graduations' are necessary and it puts unnecessary pressure on parents (it's usually money motivated) we just had one at nursery, paid for the photos, paid for the gown rental, had to contribute to tbe party..nothing more than a money spinner - these are 4 year old children!

In relation to 'happily not go' - I've missed nativity plays, achievement assemblies etc, not happily but because of other priorities. As working parents we juggle a lot - and have to make tough decisions.

In this circumstance, the sick child takes priority and the older child just needs to know that openly. There'll be times the older child needs mummy more and the younger child is sat watching cartoons. It's how parenting more than one child works.

In relation to 'happily not go' - I've missed nativity plays, achievement assemblies etc, not happily but because of other priorities. As working parents we juggle a lot - and have to make tough decisions.

I didn't mean it in terms of if you have to work and can't go.

I cant believe you're even considering it.

Can you not take your 7 year old with you and ask them to wait in the playground? School grounds should be secure and ask them to not get close to anyone?

I was at the Y4 celebration assembly today and so many children cried because their parents couldn't make it.

Is this at a school where the end of year 4 is a significant one? One of the pockets where there are still middle schools?

Can you not get a babysitter, try the Bubble app, you’d prob have to pay a two hour minimum or something. Otherwise a teenager who’s mature and looking for extra money might do it?

This is the problem, schools are turning these things into big deals, so some children will get upset over their parents not being able to attend. Yet, as a child, there was no such event, so nothing to get upset over.

No, not a middle school pocket here, they will be going onto Y5 next year. This school in particular have these celebrations for each year but today I felt guilty for not attending the Y3 one due to work commitments.

Totally agree, these events are too frequent as well. Stay and plays, stay and reads, mass attendance, show and tells, come and sees, charity events and so on.

My DC knows we can't attend them all but we will prioritise the 'more important' ones.