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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parents taking school aged kids to a supermarket opening during school hours

68 replies

Hdlll · 04/09/2025 19:46

My friend uploaded some photos onto FB attending a new supermarket opening where she lives. It’s a supermarket chain that they had before but moved to a bigger unit. She took her DS who only started school on Monday. There were other school aged children in the background.

Supermarket opened at 10am, not the normal time which is 7am or 8am from now on.

Isn’t it pathetic that parents made their kids skip school for attending opening a new supermarket? Especially at the start of the school year. It’s pathetic any time of the year. I don’t think they got anything such as free stuff, coupons etc.

My friend did not send her DS (6) back to school as later on a photo of him in McDs.

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 04/09/2025 19:49

Are you sure they didn't go there directly after school? I guess if they were doing giveaways, prizes, had some kids entertainment of sorts then it might be vaguely amusing. But not to bunk off school for!

I do know that my friends kids private school went back yesterday so I guess not all schools definitely started back Monday for a full day?

BendingSpoons · 04/09/2025 19:50

That's bizarre. I wouldn't take my children to the opening of a supermarket if it fell in the holidays, let alone take them out of school. Tbh I wouldn't go myself, but we're all different!

Soggyspaniel · 04/09/2025 19:50

My DS is only doing half days this week as it’s first year at school. Probably explains this scenario.

TY78910 · 04/09/2025 19:56

Are you sure that they skipped school though? Maybe it was like a settling in afternoon session or they had to collect them for whatever reason. Also, ‘school aged children’ or children in uniform? Because some kids look older than they are, and some are home schooled, or start school on a different day.

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 20:01

Oh stop judging.

There are so many awful things going on that whilst I wouldn't do this it just doesn't seem important enough to think about.

Evaka · 04/09/2025 20:03

I can't believe how much you care. Sounds like a strange decision if you're right but really why is it troubling you so much?

Original poster
Hdlll · 04/09/2025 20:04

Friend’s DS is 6 - so he started year 2 and was in full day this week.

I believe only reception pupils have half days at the beginning

OP posts:
Lmnop22 · 04/09/2025 20:04

The supermarket had an opening ceremony? How utterly bizarre, I did not know this was a thing. Taking my kids to the supermarket is a nightmare at the best of times so I certainly wouldn’t take them when I didn’t need food to attend an opening party 😱

HazelBeeZee · 04/09/2025 20:06

Why do you care? It will make zero difference to your children. What people want to take their kids out of school for or not isn’t anyone else’s business. They are answerable to the school and it’s up to them. Sorry, I don’t get it.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/09/2025 20:07

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 20:01

Oh stop judging.

There are so many awful things going on that whilst I wouldn't do this it just doesn't seem important enough to think about.

Kim Kardashian Diamond Earring GIF by E!

Agree tbh

ShesTheAlbatross · 04/09/2025 20:07

I find it hard to believe that anyone would think that a supermarket opening was something a child mustn’t miss.

Some schools start later (as in, the term starts later, not the school day), some children will be reception and might be on half days or less - at the school near me the reception children only do one half day in total in the first week.

Upsetbetty · 04/09/2025 20:07

Hdlll · 04/09/2025 20:04

Friend’s DS is 6 - so he started year 2 and was in full day this week.

I believe only reception pupils have half days at the beginning

Why do you care??! Has no effect on you whatsoever…

Iamthemoom · 04/09/2025 20:09

If you’re this invested why don’t yo ask your friend why her kid wasn’t in school but maybe the kids in the background either weren’t back at school yet or were homeschool kids.

Cuwins · 04/09/2025 20:11

Lots of schools in our area aren’t back till tomorrow and some even next week so quite possible the other children in the photo weren’t back yet. Or they may be children who are deferring entry, pre schoolers who look older or home educated children.
However when anyone would rush to a supermarket opening I don’t know!

Tiredofwhataboutery · 04/09/2025 20:15

Was it possibly part of a school thing? Co-op in our area has a community outreach and so they support the school and they invite children out to events. Parents take them, there’s a tour, some education ( we learnt about logistics) healthy snacks and a goody bag!

The kids go down as being educated off site got the day.

TheSummerof25 · 04/09/2025 20:16

It’s pretty common to invite local schools to the opening, kids cut the ribbon, have a little tour.

coxesorangepippin · 04/09/2025 20:17

I cannot believe people are putting this shit on SM

Attending the opening of a new supermarket #living the dream

TinyTeachr · 04/09/2025 20:18

Perhaps they are home educated? Plenty that you can learn in a supermarket. My sons had a school trip to one in reception when they were learning about food and healthy choices. Signs to read, numbers to add up, change to calculate. Tonnes of hands on education you can do.

Do you have a reason for believing they were bunking?

Pastaandoranges · 04/09/2025 20:23

Well skipping school for the opening of a new shpermarket is completely batshit crazy. Surely there is an explanation. Have you asked her outright? I would ask my friend out of intrigue.

FuzzyWolf · 04/09/2025 20:26

Rather than assuming they were deliberately attending the opening of a supermarket (because who does that?) I would assume he hasn’t started school yet, the school had taken them, it was outside of school hours, or pretty much any other reason than you have jumped to.

Mewling · 04/09/2025 20:27

Close friendship, is it?

TearsForFears25 · 04/09/2025 20:29

I mean, do you not have any other interests? Why do you care so much that you’d make this thread? Not much of a friend either tbh.

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 04/09/2025 20:31

Two of my children are school-aged. They're home-educated.

I had no idea I was meant to keep them away from public places during school hours, whoops 🤭

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 20:32

Well skipping school for the opening of a new shpermarket is completely batshit Is it?? It's just an unusual and unwise choice, but there's far weirder things happening every ten minutes.

biscuitsandabreak · 04/09/2025 20:33

My school isn’t back until Monday and some years not until Thursday.