For all those thinking of NOT going to Sports Day.......................

[Collision]

................please re-think as it is so important to little ones!

This morning 4 children were upset that their parents hadn't turned up and had no one to cheer for them!

In the end I took it in turns to cheer for each one and they looked so happy!

At the end I gave ds a hug to say goodbye and his friend George started crying as he had no one to give him a hug!! So I hugged him too and the others I had been cheering for as well as they formed an orderly queue!

so please take a half day off work and go and see your child in the races!

[MissingMyHeels]

Awwww! Yes parents, go, go, go!

I went to my DBro's (8) Sports Day yesterday and one boy started crying because his Dad missed his first race. They had Pimms for the parents too!

[Collision]

I asked George where his Mum was and he said she was tired!

I welled up with tears and cheered loudly.

I am such a wuss.

[Collision]

Riven - how does your dd get to school then?

[Saymyname]

My parents never came to sports day. Didn't do me any harm...

[Hulababy]

We had a simialr situation last year at one of DD's school assembly thngs. ne little girl was the only child in the class without a parent or grandparent there for her - he dad had forgotten. She was so upset, she sobbed. I vowed there and then that there is no way DD would ever be in that position - hat there would always be someone there for her no matter what.

It doesn't aways have to be mum, or dad - but someone - grandparent, aunty, uncle, or some other important adult in the child's life; even an eldery neighbour perhaps.

[fryalot]

it's not always quite so cut and dried as that.

Sometimes, people can't take time off for sports days.

Dp for instance, being a teacher at a school 35 miles away will not be able to leave his classes to fend for themselves so he can come and watch our kids run around a field.

Much as he would love to, he just can't

[Freddysteddy]

Collision, are you a SAHM? You do realise some people actually have to save those half-days up for frivolous things like covering school holidays and the like?

[Collision]

It isnt about harm SayMyName, it is about supporting your child at school and cheering them on and seeing how happy it makes them!

Obviously not everyone can be there. I am just saying that it would be nice to make the effort and take the half day off work.

I distinctly remember my Mum being there for all my sports days.

[Pinkjenny]

Poor George. I went to dd's nursery parents evening without dh and felt awful.

But she's only 13mo so I don't think it mattered too much.

[Hulababy]

squonk - it was also one of the reason's I got out of teaching. I wanted to be able to attend DD's school events; it's important to me to be there for DD at school events. Teaching doesn't often allow this. So I changed jobs - not just for that reason, but it was a factor that helped me make the final push.

[Collision]

No I am not a SAHM.

I took the day off. And I do understand that days off are precious. I just would not have wanted my ds to be the one without someone to cheer him on!

that is all.

[Saymyname]

Well I don't think it's your place to dictate this kind of thing to other parents collision, sorry.

[Hulababy]

And it doesn't have to be both persons, or the who,le family - jut one person there specifically for your child.

[Hulababy]

And it doesn't have to be both parents, or the whole family - jut one person there specifically for your child.

[Marina]

I agree with you in principle collision but frankly sometimes meetings and commitments over which people in salaried work have limited discretion, won't be put off
I made both the dcs' separate, consecutive sports' days this year but some working parents just could not

[ELR]

been to dd sports day today and i would say only about a third of parents were there
the school is across the road from us and my neighbour whose dd is in dd's class did not even go!!

[Collision]

who is dictating?

I am simply saying that sports day is an important event to young children and if you can take a day off then please try.

If it had rained today then SD would have been tomorrow and I would not have been able to go but arranged for DH to take a day off so he could go!

[TheFallenMadonna]

I was thinking at DS's sports day that I probably won't be there next year (which will be dd's first...)

Teachers aren't allowed to take half days.

[Saymyname]

Good for you collision, you sound like a wonderful mummy

[Freddysteddy]

We get it collision, you are the perfect parent and people who can't arrange their lives exactly as you do are shit.

[JeremyVile]

I don't think collision is dictataing.
Of course a parent should be there for this kind of thing.
I'm sure there would be , very occasionally, a reason why you could't attend but really a bit of effort is required.