Sports day

[MLLM]

I'm soooooo disappointed. Our first sports day! I was excited! Details announced. It's morning only. On a Friday. DH cannot afford whole day off work so I'll have go alone. DS was so excited now he's deflated. Why oh why have it in the morning??? Only those who don't work or those who can afford time off (not many with summer hols approaching) can go. I really don't like this school they make everything awkward for parents and are rubbish at communicating and listening to us. Sometimes I feel like pulling DS out of this circus altogether!

I might add that the kids are still doing sports day in the afternoon but parents aren't permitted to attend that part 🤷

Your DS is probably picking up on your attitude about it, you're being a bit of a drama queen. He will have someone there to watch him and cheer him on, more than my DC had for their last few sports days due to having two working parents. Your DS will get over it pretty quickly if you don't make a big deal of it.

I can't see what a difference the morning or afternoon is for most people.
You've either got a flexible job or you haven't.
It is shit but at least he's got one parent there

You do realise loads of parents won't be able to go due to work and most children will only have one parent there anyway.
You are going to be in for 12 years of 'disappointment ' if you think school will arrange things to suit you.

Well it’s either going to be the morning or the afternoon and afternoon is just as difficult for people who work so I’m not sure why you’re surprised.

When are they supposed to have it? It was always going to be the case that the only parents that can go are the ones who don't have to work at that exact time or don't work at all!

"He can't afford a whole day off" - surely he can work in the afternoon?

For some working parents, mornings are better. For others, afternoons are better.

DD’s was in the morning when in reception because it was combined with the nursery and many of them do half days. It was always going to be during the work day. Some parents have flexi jobs, some don’t. Whenever they do it it’ll be an issue for someone. Maybe try not to make a big deal of it, guaranteed he won’t be the only one without 2 parents attending. Also, if he doesn’t win you don’t want to be a crushing disappointment because it’s been so built up.

The children will have the most energy in the morning, and taking a morning off or a Friday off for sports day weeks in advance is doable for many working parents.

You need to remember that schools will do what they feel works best for the children and the school because that’s their job. They are not there to prioritise providing a worthwhile day off for working parents.

I don't get the issue. He could take the morning off and go in at lunchtime instead.

Seriously, if you think this is making things awkward for parents you are in for many years of frustration! When did you want them to run sports day?

Ours are always mornings - think you're being over dramatic :)

So afternoons are better for you. Mornings are better for me 🤷‍♂️

When do you suggest they hold it?
Maybe they shouldn't invite parents at all. I know a school that did this & they had a backlash too.
You can't please all of the people all of the time.....

Oh my god do you actually realise how much work and effort goes in to organising sports day? There will be reasons why it's on a morning and why parents aren't invited to the afternoon session; if they're not telling you those reasons then it's most likely due to the needs of some of the children. Go and enjoy it and stop complaining.

I can't think of anything worse than a sports day on a Friday afternoon when all the kids are knackered and overwhelmed with loads of people watching them.

Anything planned during the school day won't suit most working people, if you and your dh don't have flexible jobs then you are likely going to miss a lot of school things. He's lucky he's got one parent who can attend, not many at my kids school have both there. Hope you enjoy it.

Why is it harder for him to have the morning off than the afternoon?

I'm not sure what difference it makes? We have had events in the morning and afternoon and both are a nightmare if you work. At least one of you can go.

Neither my husband nor I could attend our son’s sports day. At least one of you could make it. Schools just can’t win. Whatever they do, someone will be moaning about it.

You’re going to be in for a rough ride as a parent of a school aged child if you don’t calm down. School is very annoying for working parents, that’s just how it is.

What's the school meant to do?! They're damned if they do, and damned if they don't. Your ds is lucky to have just you there...some kids (including my own) had no parents there.

@MLLM you're being very dramatic. You're in for many years of frustration of this is how you feel about the first sports day!

Many teachers (just as for many other professions of course) won't ever see their children compete in sports day. It's just the way it is.

Why in earth did you suggest to dc that your husband would be able to attend if he doesn't have a flexible job/ want to take leave? Seems you have set him up for disappointment unnecessarily.

And this is before it's cancelled 3 times due to rain or too hot....