Mother's Day - should school do more?

[inquisitiveinga]

Disclaimer: I am absolutely not going to complain regarding this matter, I understand that teachers may have completely valid reasons for the below. My child's teacher is also FANTASTIC, she doesn't have children, and I can't help but think that due to this she perhaps doesn't understand the value of a handmade card?

My child has come home from school today and it's very clear that nothing has been prepared for Mother's Day, at least where their class is concerned. Usually a "beautiful" card comes home and it really makes my day.

Personally, I'm not bothered. I'm fortunate enough to have a husband who will not doubt ensure I have something from my 7 year old, and 1 year old (although I'm not really sure anything from her is warranted!). However, I can't help but think about single mothers in the class who may not receive anything (and who absolutely should).

AIBU to even be having this thought process?

It's the same in the office where I work. No recognition of Dianetics Day, no card, no 'piping aboard' in fact I wonder what the benefits of being an Operating Thetan actually are - other than the Luncheon Vouchers, of course.

Yeah sorry, I forget we live in a society that carers to the minority, not the majority. Silly me!!!!

It caters to the child, not their parents.

No, with mine their Dad usually supervised them doing that at the kitchen table. I think their primary school had children in the care system and being raised by grandparents.

Mine are 11 and 15 and I can't remember. Some teachers organised, sometimes my dc drew cards at home. You seem way too invested in this.

I only received anything for Mother’s Day from school when the kids were at nursery.

My child has never brought home a Mother’s Day card from school.

I’ve never really given it much thought but it makes sense that children who without mothers are considered in whether or not it is a “school” task.

Weird thing to be so wound up about, op.

My DD is year 1, last year they made cards, this year they haven’t. Maybe it’s because there’s more focus on learning now or maybe it’s because a child has recently joined the class who’s mum passed away and they’ve come here to live with other relatives.

Either way it’s no biggie to me, it’s about how you’re treated every day not just a day we’re told is ‘special’.

Oh! You're an idiot!

It was very thoughtful of you to reveal this early on, sometimes these threads go on for ages before the OP reveals themselves.

Ok. Just maybe think about the "minority" in this instance.

I’ve received Mother’s Day cards and presents from the DT’s every year of their lives. When they were young DH did crafts with them to make me a card. They never made one at school.

Of course we have, but school has nothing to do with it. If your child is over the age of 6 and can’t grasp the concept of Mother’s Day and is incapable of producing a card without assistance you have much bigger fish to fry than complaining about the lack of arts & crafts at school.

You were the one talking about "the poor single mums". But ofcourse that was just for show. Your mad as hell the teacher didn't organise something. Your dc has felt pens and paper at home I take it? So sorted that for you.

As nice as it is to get a message there may well be a very good reason school have decided not to. Our year 2 class has a child who has lost his mother, he is new to school so doubt other parents know the history. We have very much downplayed Mother’s Day this year not because we don’t value mothers but because we know we have a young person who any mention ar the moment is a massive trigger

I would normally do Mother's day cards with my class. But with 2 children who have lost their Mothers in tragic and sudden circumstances in the last year it is too raw for them to focus on.

We'll do cards for Easter instead.

Sadly the minority in this case are bereaved children or children without mothers for other reasons. A boy in my son’s class lost his Mum to suicide, his little sister was in year 2. I doubt they made Mother’s Day cards.

I shall try to remember!

Tbh though gb is usually finished before June and I think school swerve fathers day as there are a lot there without fathers.

If you can’t incorporate making a card into a primary age curriculum you are a terrible teacher. Also it’s always a make a card for mum or someone special to you.

I noticed that now my DC are year 3 they don’t do it; however I keep an eye on whether my single parent friends have anything - most do as either other family or their ex does something, and if not I help the child do something. I don’t think it’s schools role

If that minority is those who have been through an unimaginable trauma at a young age too right they get the first thought.

There are the alcoholic mums, the violent mums, the dead mums, the dying mums, the mums children are carers for, the mums who just don't care about you. Then there are those in foster care who can't cope with all the pain around this. So many reasons why thinking of mum causes distress to children. For so many children school is a short respite from thinking about that.

We sometimes do in something in brownies so same age as yr2 but usually not. We are very mindful that not everyone has a mum or some have two mums etc.

As a Reception teacher, we always ensured each child made something. I had a single Mum thank me, she said it meant the world to her as neither her ex-partner nor her own parents ever helped her children make or prepare anything for her.

We always discussed different families, the children chose who to make a card for, and could make more than one (for a Step-Mum, Nana, one girl had 2 Mummies). My own Dad died when I was 4, so I always explained that I would be making my card for my Step-Dad or Grandad, it never upset me as a child seeing friends make things for their Dads, I was pleased they still had them.

We never had any issues from with the children or their parents with making cards- I think it’s one of those where the senior teachers worry they are offending somebody instead of trusting their teachers to handle it in an inclusive and sensitive manner.

I work in a school, and we are always cautious if a child in that class has had a bereavement/separation/or is in care or other things going on, it'd be a discussion about wether we do cards for mother's/father's day.
It might be the case, or it might be the case that the teacher forgot or didn't realise parents would like this. I'd just ask the teacher in a friendly manner and then you'll know xx

Showed your hand a bit early there, OP.