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?

nah. Chilled AF mum but seriously? Cards in school?! Teachers haven’t got time to scratch their arses let alone come off timetable for an hour to make a card. YABU. HTH.

But you’re totally “not bothered” though. Right? 😂

I’m a teacher of 7 year olds and decided not to do cards this year because a little boy in my class lost his mum 3 years ago and is so sad still. Also in KS2 the curriculum is just so packed I would probably be told off for spending an afternoon on cards…. And no I don’t think it’s right! My own kids did make me cards at brownies. Squirrels and Sunday school!

I thought you weren't that bothered?
A lot of people have pointed out very good reasons for why the school has not done cards but you seem to still be adamant that people are in the wrong about this and that they should have made cards.
You also say about catering to the minority, not the majority but go on about single mothers. Depending on your school you will find a lot of families do still have two parents and some children may even have two mums. So actually the single parents might be the minority.

Did they do Christmas cards? Again a lot of schools don't do that either so prepare yourself for next year if your child did it this year as they might not again.

I agree that it makes sense not to make Mother’s\Father’s Day cards at school when so many children have single parents, blended families, same sex parents or may be in care or living with kinship careers. However, I am pretty sure that even when I was at school and my adult DC were little and schools did make cards for Mother’s Dau etc, it stopped around age 7 when school became more focused on maths and literacy rather than learning through play.

It’s lovely if the teachers can manage it, but they are so overworked and under resourced, I think it’s just one thing too many. Given the state of the country at the moment, the lack of Mother’s Day cards is the least of a single mum’s problems right now.

Thank you for thinking of single mums. I have had very few cards in 13 years. He can make them now but I never had anything apart from what he made at school for most of those years.

I treasured the things he did make. He did once get me a gift when the PTA ran a shop for a pound. That was lovely. I still have my keyring.

I haven't had a decent ex husband or any family who could help him with these things.

I never worried about it especially but it was so lovely when he had help at school or after school club to make something.

My child is in year 2 and has come home with a card. There are also two (that I know of) in the class who don’t live with their mothers. I think because of this the children are asked to make a card for a special person, not specifically their mother.

I can see why a teacher would forgo the whole thing due to politics and potential hurt feelings.

My Y1 child hasn't and I'm glad. There are children in the class who have lost their mums in tragic circumstances, one just after Christmas. Even without taking that into account, it's all a bit much for a made up day.

I'd rather it caters for the child who is sitting there thinking (or saying) 'She's dead, what's the point in making a card?' than the usual MN poster complaining about not getting a bit of paper folded in half.

That's a horrible thing to say in reference to children who don't have mums.

The school's responsibility is to teach children. Why not set your child up with craft supplies and let them make one in their own time? Or make matching parent and child cards together or something?

My kids primary do it all the way up to year 6, a Mother’s Day afternoon tea and card made in class. There are 2 children in ds’s class who don’t have mums and I do wonder how this is managed. I certainly don’t expect school to do card/event.

This is awful to read, surely it's not the teachers responsibility that you get a card from your child over thinking about children that have lost their mum's.

I’m a single mum. It’s your husband’s job to make sure you get a lovely handmade card. Why are you expecting more of your child’s teacher than your own husband?

It’s my ex’s job to sort something for me. If he doesn’t bother, it doesn’t make it anyone else’s responsibility.

When I was a kid who didn't have a mam I had to still make a card at school which really devastated me. Get a grip of yourself.

My school has done cards again this year but I always feel bad in case there's kids in the school without a mum. I think it shouldn't be a class activity tbh for that reason

And people say men are narcissistic no there is no reason to do this

Where I am, they make this stuff at nursery with a handprint and sweet message/pun or what have you for all occasions (mothers & fathers day, Easter, halloween, Xmas, etc). I also now have a child in year 1 who doesn't make anything there, didn't in reception either. Lots of family types, languages and religions in each class. I'm just happy he's excelling in school tbh, that's what they're there for.

Well, that escalated quickly.

As a TA in reception, it makes me kind of sad that we aren't making Mothers day cards, but in the past couple of years we have had two of our children lose their mothers (not from the same family, and one funeral was held just today). Instead we planted a flower seed and sent them home with a message saying 'Thank you for helping me grow', that way Mum still gets something and the children have the option to give it to their 'Special person'.
Personally I treasure my child's Mothers day cards etc, I waited many years to be a Mum and receiving those things was just so special.
I can see both sides but I still have my daughter and she still has her mum, and that's what's important x

I actually think this is vulgar! We’re talking about children, their circumstances are not in their control.

Just to clarify you would be perfectly happy to have a child upset they haven’t got a mum just so you can have a card?

Don't you get a discount at Costa?

I know DS has made something because he ran upstairs with his bookbag yesterday. I also got an Eid card recently. Many faiths does not mean no time for handmade cards, it seems to be a reason for more of them!

Absolutely not the responsibility of the school/teachers to make sure you get a Mothers Day card. They have enough to do. They are there to educate.