Feeling terrible

[Lilacpearl]

Today I missed a school event and I feel terrible.

My DDs school does 3 events a month where we go in the classroom for an hour and do an activity with them. It's the first time I've ever missed a school event, DD was in tears when I picked her up, she didn't even want to go to the park. In my defense school usually sends an email and a message on the school app to remind us but this time they didn't.

DD is still very upset with me about it, I don't know how to make it up to her. I just feel so guilty, I'm mad with myself for not being there but I'm also mad with the school for not letting me know. DD struggles with her emotions and I feel this will set her off into a downward spiral for the next couple of weeks.

How does everyone else deal with missing events?

I would explain you weren't aware of the event and leave it at that. Surely a majority of working parents are unable to attend these events also?

Bright and breezy is how i would deal with it, It's a shame but stuff like this happens and it's not the end of the world. Being guilty and apologising (more than once) feeds into her sadness. I'm sure you weren't the only parent missing.
How old is she?

But to answer the last part of your post, I simply explain to my children that I'm unable to attend every school event that happens. I generally have a good sense of which ones are the most important to them and prioritise those ones. The understand that we have other demands on our time with work and other family caring responsibilities so it's never been an issue.

Stop feeling guilty. I don’t think for a second you were the only parent not attending. You can’t always go to everything.
On the face of it your child’s reaction sounds extreme and not something I’d be encouraging or pandering to.
Is she really going to sulk for 2 weeks about this?
With no further info on your child I’d be saying no more drama or sulks and she needs to move on, quickly. Or I’d be losing my patience very fast.

This!

She's 8, she does have some extreme emotions. Anger mostly but sometimes she has quite low moods. She is getting help on how to manage her emotions with a support worker in school. Although it doesn't seem to be helping much!