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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep DC off school in snowy/icy weather

34 replies

snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:22

I can walk to school but it is up hill, I'm heavily pregnant and it is too dangerous. I have a car but am scared to drive when the roads are bad. I have friends/other mums who will help but it is not always covienent with work, distance etc so don't always like to ask.

Would IBU to keep them at home? And what is a school's take on this, is it truanting?

OP posts:
ProfessorCalculus · 02/02/2009 23:24

You do have a good excuse but I was mighty surprised by how many of the children at DSs' school who didn't turn up today. I just assumed that unless I heard otherwise it was business as usual as almost everyone lives within short walking distance
If you keep them home, at least let the school know.

Tortington · 02/02/2009 23:26

if there is really really a danger of you weebling over on ice whilst pregnant, then fine

but really? Or is it that you can't be fucked?

mrsjammi · 02/02/2009 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MaryLoverOfSqueezes · 02/02/2009 23:29

Is the school open? Most seem to close.

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 02/02/2009 23:32

I personally can't be fucked - dd is in reception and a day off won't hurt her. I'm ill with a bad cold and have morning sickness and just can't face getting dressed up and going out. I have to drive and I'm not a confident driver anyway. I think, how often does in snow? (here in Bournemouth, once in a blue moon) and it really won't change the world if I keep dd off school. snowsnowsnow - it wouldn't be truanting if your children were ill of course

scrooged · 02/02/2009 23:35

I want to go, it's sub zero temperatures here though, the snow is going to freeze and ds is unstable on his feet at the best of times. I don't particularly want to take him to work with me. I'm a radiography student so will be x-raying knees, wrists and bums all day!

Original poster
snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:35

mrsjammi I have several people that I can ask. But one works some days, another 2 go in their cars (if anyone is going to drive I would rather it was me) and the other would have to walk about 25 minutes in this! So it is not always easy to ask.

custardo I walk to school everyday up the hill and yes I can be fucked, I just don't want to hurt my baby and yes there is a good chance we would slide backwards as the hill is steep.

OP posts:
RustyBear · 02/02/2009 23:38

I work in a junior school & was taking calls this morning from parents who weren't going to bring their children in. It will probably go down as unauthorised absence simply because every absence has to have a code in the register & there isn't one for 'It was snowing'. But tbh it doesn't really mean anything, no-one's going to chase it up.

It was interesting to see which children made it in & which didn't - one who lives a hundred yards away didn't come, another walked about a mile and a half.

Desiderata · 02/02/2009 23:39

Then don't go. Why are you asking, if you've already made your mind up?

Original poster
snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:40

I have'nt made up my mind that is why I'm posting.

OP posts:
Original poster
snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:41

Well RUSTYBEAR in that case if we can't make it I might have sick children. That is not really a fair system.

OP posts:
Desiderata · 02/02/2009 23:44

What's with all the faces, snow?

How can we possibly help? You won't take a lift, and you're frightened of falling over whilst pregnant.

Which leaves you what, exactly, in the way of options?

I'm sure the kids will enjoy a day off school, so don't sweat about it.

Original poster
snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:46

AIBU to keep my DC off was my question not advice or help on anything else.

OP posts:
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 02/02/2009 23:46

Snow, I've re-read your post and it does sound sniffy and I don't think it's meant to be at all. I see what you mean.

Original poster
snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:47

Marymother

It was'nt meant to be! It was a bit of a rant at the school systems way of marking children absent when they are off for good reason.

OP posts:
Desiderata · 02/02/2009 23:48

Then, no. You're not being unreasonable.

OK?

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 02/02/2009 23:48

I think if someone could give your kids a lift that might be the answer, even though you would prefer them not to.

If the roads are that dangerous where you are, surely the school will be closed anyway?

Where are you btw?

Desiderata · 02/02/2009 23:48

There's been a lot of snow-sniffiness around lately

Original poster
snowsnowsnow · 02/02/2009 23:48

Des - You are a sarcastic twat.

OP posts:
Desiderata · 02/02/2009 23:49

I know!

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 02/02/2009 23:51

I aint sniffing snow for no one.

psychomum5 · 02/02/2009 23:52

mine aren;t going in tomorrow if it is like this morning was.

we struggled in - and I do mean struggled..............snow, major traffic, trying to drive, giving up and walking the 3miles (all in), and for what??

9 or 10 per class, they refused to let the children out in case they fell over, and they still had t work while they knew that their friends were home playing in the snow, which had pretty much gone our end by the time they came home.

it has snowed lots again since, and we were out till 9pm building snowmen, and then having hot choc and marshmallows, but I think......tis so rare for us to have snow, and while it is fun for them, and a novelty, then why the hell not.

they are making memories that will last them a life time

thumbwitch · 02/02/2009 23:52

if it's any help, I think YANBU. I wouldn't let DH cycle to work today either because it was too damn dangerous, and we are waiting to see what tomorrow is like before we know if he will go in then. His work sent everyone who did show up home at lunchtime anyway!

Shame you don't live in Surrey - all schools are closed tomorrow as well.

RustyBear · 02/02/2009 23:56

Well, if they put it down as 'authorised' it's not really 'fair' on the parents who brought their children in, is it?

As I said, it really doesn't matter anyway, no-one's going to start making a fuss about one unauthorised absence, it's only if your children's attendance falls below a certain level that it gets followed up.

And you didn't only ask if you were being unreasonable, you asked what the school's take is, and I told you what our school does. I'm sorry if you didn't like the answer, but there's not a lot I can do about that.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 02/02/2009 23:59

Psycho, that sounds fab, and a very valuable part of any kids' education if you ask me.