People older than 35; did your dad go to school parent’s evenings?

[Farrings]

I asked my parents to look after our daughters for an hour (they’re primary age) so DH and I could both go to parents evening.

Both kids are at the same school so it’s no bother, and we care equally about their education, so we both want to go.

My dad (born 1943) asked ‘What’s parents evening?!’ He denied any knowledge of the concept, and said he’d never been to one. He has 3 kids who were all in school in the 90’s/early 2000’s.

To be fair, I’m not sure my mum went to many either… they’re not great with supporting formal education…but I was still surprised to hear my Dad say he didn’t even know what one was!

Then I thought, was this normal for the time maybe?

if you’re over 35, please vote -

YANBU - ‘My dad didn’t go to parents evenings either, (or maybe like, one time)!’

YABU - My dad DID GO! Or a few times anyway!

(Obviously whether or not Mum’s went is a whole other question, I will have to save that for another vote)

P.S This is Just for fun! X

Dad always went and I'm a child of the 70s.

My dh doesnt go to any as they are always during the day and he leaves that sort of stuff to me as he feels weirdly out of his depth.

My dad went to all mine, my mum went to none.

Rarely, I think most of the time it was my mum, but my dad did work over in Manchester (we live in Huddersfield) so he often didn't get home in time.

My dad always went.

Yes, always through primary, and mostly at secondary except when he was away for work. My dad is odd, he makes misogynistic comments but his behaviour doesn’t match as he was a very hands on dad, very present and very engaged in my education. I’m 43.

My Dad went to every single one of mine and my sisters. I’m 60 so was at school in the 70s and 80s. DH came to most of our childrens unless the timing was bad with his work.

Dad born 1938 in very deprived circumstances. No way would he have simply not bothered to go. He went to show support for education. I’m not sure how much he took in. My mum knew a lot more about the teachers, who was who etc than he did but both were very disparaging about parents who didn’t bother. Might also have been as my Dad grew up in care having been removed from his home and he didn’t want to give anyone a reason to think he wasn’t an engaged parent and needed looking into.

I don't think my Dad went as he was usually working away or back home at 7/7.30. I'm sure he knew what they were though. Born 1947.

My dad was born in 1930. He definitely came to my secondary school ones. He would have needed to drive mum though as she didn't drive. We probably called at the chippy on the way home 🙂

My dad (1957) would go to mine in the 90s and 00s but they would most always be held on a Wednesday so he would be dressed up in his denim jeans and leather jacket ready to smash through the teacher chats before heading out to drink and do a quiz night!!

My dad never went to parents evening. He was usually working

I remember Dad forgetting to go to one once when Mum was working nights. Beyond that incident I don’t remember him going to any, but could have forgotten some of the earlier ones.

Dad was born in 1948 and never went to anything at my school. Once came to pick me up in a council minibus (that he drove for a living) and we had the police turn up asking if he'd stolen it so... My family may not have been typical 🤣

Absolutely. He was very progressive and did everything from parents evenings to baby bottles and bath times. (I had a brother 10 years younger). He also had a very successful career. (And a wife to fill the gaps - but of course...lol).

Dad went to all the secondary ones.He didn't go the primary ones because they took place during the school day - 'Open Days' - when he would have been at work. This was during the '60's and '70's.

No only my Mother went to parents evening, my Father was not interested. After a couple of years of going to the secondary school ones my DM decided there wasn’t much point in going to anymore.

I can’t remember either of them going but they must have as my mum was a lecturer and she was very pushy education wise.

My dad (born 1936) came to all of my parents evenings, apart from a period when he was working away. Both my parents left school at 15 and had parents who weren't supportive of education - they were very determined to be different with their children.

My dad was gone before I was born. My GF went to a few though.

My dad born in late 1940s went to all my parents evenings together with my mum.

I’m certain my father never went to a single parents event for me, whether he did for my brother I don’t know for certain. I imagine he probably went to a few of my brothers school events like fathers cricket matches etc but I doubt he went to that many of those even as he worked overseas and was often in far flung places for months at a time. My mother came to a few things at my school by herself but it wasn’t a high priority for her. We didn’t have parents evenings really though, I think the school just telephoned periodically to let my mum know how I was getting on.

For our children’s parents evenings, my husband and I will just decide who is going based on availability that day. For example I’m going this week to our eldests as it’s during the day and I can take time off work more easily. But DH has been to them before if needed, although I would be more likely to go generally - we don’t feel both of us need to go as the one who goes just reports back to the other one.

My dad (1949) did go. Not to all (my mum did though!) but to a lot. Also was far from the only dad there.

I don’t remember parents evening being a ‘thing’ in primary school. There were some in secondary school and my Dad attended, it was his old school and some of his old teachers were still there. They reminisced about the time he set the science lab on fire.

I was in school from 1984 to 1996.

I’m nearly 50 and my dad was in his 50s when we were born, he attended all parent teacher meetings.

When your dad was born my dad was already 15……..really don’t think this is an age thing.

No I don’t remember my dad going just my mum did. But he certainly knew what they were were and I was in school from 1984 to 1997. So i would say not unusual that your dad didn’t go but weird that he hadnt heard of them. Dads are generally a lot more involved in this stuff now.