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?

But I’m not sure you were JUST thinking of them because why did you check for a card? It didn’t even occur to me to look …

The only advice I can give you is to stop talking. Really.

For some children making a Mother’s Day card would be pointless and rather sensitively so

My reception aged child came home with a cute card. It was nice but not expected and I don’t expect it for years to come from school. What about the children who don’t have stable homes and mums?

I have school made cards from my y3 child. Think it was done in their art lesson - quite easy to find a way to make it intersect with the curriculum.

Tbh by year 2 I'd expect quite a lot of children will attempt to make their own card for mum off their own back. Eg you'll find a few will choose at after school club to use art supplies.
A friends kid was over a my house recently playing with my kids and when they were doing crafts (their choice) I noticed she was carefully making a mother's day offering.
I don't think school need to scaffold them at this age.

Ours all made one today, from Nursery up to year 6. And they will do for Fathers Day, Easter and Christmas. All without ruining their education.

Edit: oh, and a wall Calendar at the end of the year.

I don’t think it’s the school’s responsibility, it is a nice tradition that many schools do. Maybe it just slipped through the cracks this year?

I also lost a parent when I was a child, and I would have been upset if my classmates were making cards for their parent when I no longer had one.

Luckily this wasn't a thing when I was a child.

I am a teacher. I don't make cards as a class activity - I've taught young kids who have lost their mothers, live with their father or other family members. It's not worth the upset so your child can have a homemade card

This is what my children did when faced with the prospect of having to make a Father’s Day card. They found it really upsetting and made something for the grave, it then had to be laminated. I can assure you this was not something that was joyous for my children and yes, it did remind them that most of the class had their fathers and they would be taking their card to a grave. Sorry but I find it really unnecessary for a school to be doing this when it’s upsetting children who have already had a lot of upset in their lives.

My dc made mother's and Father's day cards all through nursery and primary school and I absolutely treasure them.
I don't think schools should have to do more but it's nice when they do.

I understand about not wanting to upset children with difficult family circumstances, my kids have a shit dad and my friend's dd has never met her dad, they made cards for whoever they wanted to, but I'm surprised how many posters are saying that schools don't have time to be making cards or have more important things to teach.
My dc brought home all sorts of creations and paintings and Christmas, Easter, Mother and Father's day cards. I worked there as a TA for a while and the kids had periods where they could be creative with paint, glue, glitter, recycled materials.
Is art and being creative also not an important thing to learn in primary schools now?

Reception teacher and mother here. Didn't do cards. Have a thousand other things to do. Also have one child who lives with grandparents, one who doesn't see his mum and another who lost her mum last year. It is not my job to make you feel good. It is my job to make sure my class feel safe, secure, happy and listened to. I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I isolated those children.

Sorry for your loss. This is exactly why I don't do Mother's Day and Father's day at school. It isn't fair on those children.

I'm a single mother - I'm not angry but I do disagree with you. Schools have more than enough to do. DS was perfectly capable of making me a card, drawing me a picture or whatever, at home. Also although he didn't have a father to help him to surprise me, he does have other family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother, godparents) who were capable / and did make sure that I received a gift - not just on mother's day but Christmas and birthdays too.

I’m nearly 50. My dad abandoned me years ago when I was a young adult. I find it very distressing. Christ knows how a young child copes with losing a parent- either through death or abandonment. Making Mother’s Day cards in schools is going to be a really hurtful activity for some children.

I am so sorry for your loss and that you were made to feel like this ❤️.

I mean, I’m not really sure if schools should or shouldn’t be making cards, but this seems an unreasonable reason not to?

In my daughter’s reception class, they spend the whole day rotating different stations - it would be easy enough to set up a station to make Mother’s Day cards (there’s always a craft one). If a child didn’t want to they wouldn’t have to, or if a child without a mum wanted to make one in her memory, or for another person who acts as that figure then that’s great to.

seems like a great opportunity for a conversation about how all families are different and that Mother’s Day just celebrates those who take care of and love us!

Naff al to do with school.

teachers teach... parents, erm... parent. you have a husband, why can't he sort out mothers day?

yes, sadly single mothers may miss out (i was a single mother for a while, and i can't recal feeling like i had missed out). what do we do about the women out there who have no children to buy or make them a mothers day card?

what about the single dads out there? the grandparents who have taken over the parental responsibility?

what about the children in foster care who have no current mother to speak off?

what about the cat!

Not to mention how much of the narrow budget a schools has for consumables should they spend on making the OP feel better?

Card, glue, tissue, glitter, sequins, it all adds up when you cost it out for say years R to 3 in a two or three form entry school.

My son made me cards at primary school - don’t think it was every year though.

I don’t remember doing this at school though. My mum died when I was four and the teachers would’ve known that as she taught at the same school, so maybe that is why. I do remember making cards at Brownies though, and later in guides we had church parade on Mothering Sunday and we were given daffodils to give to our mothers.

My mum died when I was three…it bothered me when we were making Mother’s Day stuff

One of my children has no contact with her father. So on Father’s Day, when she was at primary school she would make a card for her grandad instead.

Where I live, this is just a regular thing that happens in most of the schools.

Single mother here! I don’t feel bad for not getting a card! One of my kids would go to the garden and get a few flowers (buttercups) and wrap them with a bit of toilet paper as a bow, or they would get me a cuppa (they havent figure out how to plug the kettle so, locely tinted cold water). Or if they want to make a card (which they have done) they xan get pen and paper.

Every year gets free time during the week, one of my kids would draw me something (the other ones do ocassionally). Does it bother me that the school is not getting the children to do cards? Not at all! If my kids want to get me something for Mothers Day (or my birthday or so on) I take them to the shop and let them choose the present, and either guve them the money to pay or with the younger ones I pay.

it’s not a big deal AT ALL!