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Original poster

Do you send your kids to school on their birthdays?

523 replies

charliecat · 12/11/2005 10:24

My dds have the same birthday and this year I am planning on keeping them off so they can enjoy their birthday.
The alternative is sending them, them not having 5 mins to open their pressies let alone play with them and then with a heavy heart sending them off crying. Not for me.
If they got up at 5am and had chance to play I wouldnt mind but we barely have time for anything in the morning as it is so it would be chaotic...anyway...how much trouble am I going to get in for this? Do I lie and say they both had tummy bugs or what? What do you do?

OP posts:
Skyler · 12/11/2005 11:23

Good grief! Of course you should send them in. Quite shocked that you wouldn't actually. If you lie you will get rumbled for sure (and that is hardly a good lesson for them either). The dd's will surely talk about their birthday to their friends apart from anything else. Like someone else said celebrate it at the weekend too and then they get two birthdays.

zippitippitoes · 12/11/2005 11:27

I think we sometimes believe that we have to do much bigger things to give children pleasure than we have to..they are often overjoyed by quite small treats and changes in routine, a lot less is required to put a smile on their faces than for cynical been there and done that adults

Blandmum · 12/11/2005 11:27

Blimey , it would never occur to me to keep my kids off school for their birthday.

And as a teacher I think it sends a dreadful message about the importanve of school. Kids where I work wear badges, get cards, and presents from their mates (secondary school btw)

Would you suggest that the staff could take the day off when it is their kids birthday? Thought not

SenoraPostrophe · 12/11/2005 11:37

at the risk of making this look like a mumsnet lynching...you really should send them in. apart from anything else, keeping them off school as a "treat" is not going to be very helpful in the long run.there's plenty of time after school.

Christie · 12/11/2005 11:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tamum · 12/11/2005 11:50

Have to agree- it's not the right thing to do at all. I don't really understand, either- I can see that there's no time in the morning but there must be a good few hours after they come home, surely? We usually do one present in the morning and then they come home from school all excited to open the rest. If you are going to do it I would definitely not lie about tummy bugs- the teachers won't have a moment's doubt, and might well ask your dds about their illness, even if it's just "are you better now", and then the girls will have to lie too.

Original poster
charliecat · 12/11/2005 12:07

Oh well, just me then I will see how its goes but im thinking I still wont send them! ( If I had of asked if I should take a day off to go on holiday to pack them off in a kids club im sure the replys would have been oh yes go ahead or am I being cynical lol)
And if the teacher had a day off for her kids birthday that would be ok with me too.
My birthday was always in the holidays and I used to be appalled at my mates going in on theirs maybe its stemmed from that.

OP posts:
Miaou · 12/11/2005 12:08

Sorry charliecat, yet another dissenter - it would never occur to me to keep my kids off school on their birthday, even if they hated school.

Twiglett · 12/11/2005 12:11

I'd say exactly the same about taking time off for holiday tbh

Charliecat I'd think really really carefully about this .. do you really want to instill in your children the concept that school is optional and just not fun enough.

I had birthday's in school and it was great being with my friends and having a family thing at home too .. it really could be great

Skyler · 12/11/2005 12:12

I don't think you should take children out of school for holidays either though so my would have been the same. I think it is totally unnecessary. What will you do that you couldn't do with them at the weekend?

Skyler · 12/11/2005 12:13

(I mean totally unnecessary to take the birthdays off BTW).

Original poster
charliecat · 12/11/2005 12:13

They know school isnt optional, they go 5 days out of 7 every week except for all the normal holidays. This is ONE DAY.

OP posts:
LIZS · 12/11/2005 12:14

dd's will probably always fall in the holidays but ds is sometimes during school term and I've always sent him so far. Usually they have a cake and make a fuss of the b'day child. You could always do main pressies the night before (I did as a child 'cos my dad left so early in the morning for work) and plan a special tea with more pressies later.

QueenEagle · 12/11/2005 12:19

Thing is, where does it then stop, charliecat? When it's yours or your dh's birthday will they have those off too? Public hildays are a totally different thing imo to having birthdays off.

Out of interest, what are you planning to do with them all day? I know I couldn't sustain a high level of excitement for the entire day and evening without feeling totally shagged out by the end of it, and tbh it's probably too much for the kids as well.

Sorry you are getting it from all quarters on this, don't think one person has agreed with you yet. I was wondering will they expect their birthdays off every year from now on - what about exam times when they are older etc?

Skyler · 12/11/2005 12:20

If you do it this year won't you do it next year and the year after that etc, so it is not really just one day....

Original poster
charliecat · 12/11/2005 12:23

I am planning on letting them play with thier toys for the day. Yep am planning on doing it every year and as its November I dont think it will bash with any exams but if it did then I would send either one in if it was that important.
We cant agree all the time can we. Dont mind being on my own here.
This is the line being drawn. Its one day. The rest of the school year they go. They know that.

OP posts:
winnie · 12/11/2005 12:24

They go to school and it is made a special day anyway.

weesaidie · 12/11/2005 12:26

I must admit it never occurred to me, I would automatically send dd to school on her birthday.

If you don't want to CC I don't think it is a big deal however. But I agree on the time thing, surely you will have plenty of time when they get home??

lockets · 12/11/2005 12:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
charliecat · 12/11/2005 12:29

Dont know lockets, thats what i was originally asking.

OP posts:
Skyler · 12/11/2005 12:29

How old are they? My dd would be bored stiff playing with her toys all day. I don't see how that makes it that special really. I still find it an odd decision but if you are going to do it I would do it above board and book it in advance.

Twiglett · 12/11/2005 12:30

Well its your decision but IMHO its a bad one .. you'll have to teach them to lie to cover up your deception

Original poster
charliecat · 12/11/2005 12:30

They will be 5 and 8. Anything other than playing is a waste of their time apparently

OP posts:
noddyholder · 12/11/2005 12:31

Having a day off school should not be seen as a treat IMO They should only stay home if unwell.

zippitippitoes · 12/11/2005 12:31

in that case send a letter in saying x day is the children's birthday and may they be excused

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