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

My parents were divorced and my dad lived out of town, but he came to every parents night and concert (he was relived when I told him he didn't need to come to concerts when I was a teen, but came to everything else,)

I'm 70 and my dad (and mum) certainly went to all parents evenings. Also DH and I both went to all our children's parent's evenings. This was not an exception at the time either in my experience as most kids seemed to have both parents there, so I would say this is not a generational thing, it's an individual thing.

Yes, if it didn't fall when he was working nights. Makes sense for the parents to take half the teachers each, doesn't it?

Thing is, though, that was the ONLY contact either of my parents would have with the school, from one year to the next (apart from being sent a report at the end of each term). Parents these days seem to be fielding electronic communications from the school almost daily these days, and requesting meetings if their kid has a spat with another one and baking things for charity events and making costumes for things and on and on. With the mothers complaining that the husbands don't do any of it, usually. Neither of my parents did any of it (private school, 80s and 90s). I went to and from school on a bus and if I was in trouble at school I'd keep quiet as that would have meant being in trouble at home. I don't think it ever crossed my mind or theirs that they would glance at my homework or even know what it was, let alone "help". My relationship with the school and everyone in it was mine to manage. So I guess that's why parents' evening was important - apart from that, they never set eyes on the place or had any communication with it at all. My mother never missed it. And she'd come back pleased that they all said I was doing very well and that was it for another year.

My kids are aged 35, 32, 30 and 26 and my ex hubby never went to a parents evening 🙄

I’m early 50’s and no he didn’t. My kids are 26, 19 and 18 and I don’t think my husband came to any either ,.

Yes or my dad went to my sisters and mum went to mine or visa versa so went to the same school most of the time (sister is a couple years older) or depending on the appointment time they both did one teacher then the next.
My dad was very involved.

Male born 1950, of course I went to parents evenings. Also went to loads sat on the other side of the desk!

My dad (born 1943) never came, it was always mum to parents evenings and concerts etc.
Thinking about it he was always great at making costumes for the concerts and any fancy dress stuff but always stayed at home.
Wish they were here to ask now!

my parents took it in turns to go as one of them would need to be with me at the stables of an evening

I’m 33 and my dad never went to a parents evening! He was very uninvolved in my education, but loved to boast and brag about my grades and school behaviour as if it was some great reflection on his ‘parenting’.

I’m 69, Dad born in 1928.
He was a swivel-eyed zealot where education was concerned, and though parents’ evenings were not a thing at my Comprehensive (1971-75), at my boarding school prior to that, he drove quite a distance to attend them, though most of the boarders’ parents lived in exotic outposts of the dwindling colonial service.
Ma never came, maybe as bring a teacher herself she didn't fancy an evening dedicated to it as well.
Dad need never have come, as a ‘boarder parent’, but he was ardently keen 😕
(Im sure at least one of the younger nuns developed a crush on him).

My DF did, but my DM didn't.

My DB is 10 years younger than me, and they never had childcare. Neither of them drove, and my school was two buses away.

My DF commuted into London every day and would get the bus straight to my school, out in the 'burbs, from the station, then get the two buses home.