DDs nursery asking for donations to Mermaids

[AnonGCMum]

(Regular reader and occasional poster, have name changed for this)

Next week the nursery my two DDs attend (age 2 and 4) are going to be making cakes to sell in aid of Mermaids. As well as bringing in money to buy the cakes we’re
being asked to donate the ingredients.

I don’t want any of my money going to Mermaids. If it was just my 2yo I’d pretend to forget about it, but my 4yo has already reminded me twice. I’m not sure ‘forgetting’ will work with her.

I’ll also a bit concerned about what they might be teaching the children. They put a few photos up on an app each day so we can see what they’re doing and yesterday the update for my 2year old’s class included a picture of a handwritten display about the pride flag including the words “pink=trans joy”. I’m trying not to be pearl-clutchy about it and I’m fine with them learning things like ‘some people have two mummies’ but trans joy and Mermaids? At 2 and 4?!

Would you say something? Should I? I’m not brave about speaking up on these things. I’ll probably just leave my purse at home next week and ignore the rest, but what would you do?

I assumed the FB poster was possibly being faux innocent to stir shit.

I'd be taking a day off work and not be taking them to nursery that day. I'd also be looking at changing nursery although that might be harder to do in reality. Mermaids support has no place in a pre-school environment.

May have missed it but you're on Twitter too.

I'd raise it with the nursery, say in your view this is inappropriate for the age group, you refuse to contribute to mermaid day and will keep your DDs home that day in protest.

I’d missed that, just found it now. Thanks for the heads up.

You could play partially dumb if you'd feel more comfortable and ask to have a chat with the manager, or send an email, saying you're all for supporting worthy causes but you've read things recently in the news about gender affirming medical interventions and you think it's quite complex and controversial, eg the interim cass review (attach a link or offer to send a link after the chat). Ask if they could consider other charities instead. I mean, sure, pull your kids out and find a new nursery too, but sometimes more can be accomplished "from within".