WWYD? Vacation w/dad, unexcused abesces
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| Sat, 06-21-2008 - 3:47pm |
I have a question for you fine ladies!
My ex wants to take our son for a week-long vacation during the month of October...and wants him to miss a week of school! Let me explain...
1. Our son is going to be in 8th grade next year. While he is very bright and is a good student, he also has a hard time catching up when he misses school for excused absenses (illnesses). He gets very stressed-out about the work he misses. Right now, he's seeing a counselor because of school stress related issues.
2. The school administration frowns on unexcused absences for vacations. They also have a very strict attendance policy.
3. This may not be a popular opinion, but unless the circumstances are extreme, I do not believe in missing school for vacations. In our district, they have ten weeks off

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No way.... unless somebody died... or the kid is throwing up or has a fever... we don't miss school.
Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~
Ah, great minds think alike ;)
Thanks for the support. I agree with everything you said!
Wow, it's great to see all these thoughts about kids NOT missing school! My girls go to a charter school and we're re-working the policies over the next couple years. One of the sticking points is this absence thing. There's a large vocal faction of parents who think that taking their children (multiple) out of school for a week's vacation to Florida should be considered educational if they go to the Kennedy Space Center one day, even if the other 4 school days are spent at Disney or Sea World. They whine about only being able to take vacation in the summer or spring break.
The way I see it is this.... Going to school is my kids' JOB. They go to school 180 weekdays out of a year and have 80 weekdays off. MY job is to go to work for 234 weekdays a year. (numbers based on 5 days for 52 weeks.... I get 11 holidays and 15 vacation days.) It's not hard. It's life. School attendance in non-negotiable.
And for you teachers..... I think it's grossly unfair for a parent to PLAN more work for you by forcing you to backtrack and grade papers/tests/assignments of a single kid.
~calla~ mom to rosie and gracie
"My ex does not ever check homework that DS has completed. That's mean mom's job! Fortunately, DS is generally good about doing these things on his own."
Were you married to my XH?????? This sounds like him.... He NEVER checks regular homework. The only thing he'll encourage/help with is a big project like science fair or book report. The girls have to get homework diaries signed every night and when they're with him, it's never signed. Fortunately, all their teachers are aware of his neglect and don't get upset on the weeks he doesn't sign since they ARE doing homework (which they finish afterschool with my poor parents!!!)
~calla~ mom to rosie and gracie
Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~
I am not a lady, but I will chime on anyway.
My ex-wife does this all the time with my son.
She usually discusses vacation plans with him first, and in depth.
Let me guess..... XW's parents are still alive today?????
My XH does this "talk to the kids first" thing, too! He planned on taking them skiing with his then-girlfriend over Christmas. Sounds fine, but the caveat was that they'd rented a 2 bedroom condo for SEVEN people AND our decree says no overnights with a member of the opposite sex unless married.
After a long session with my older daughter's counselor, XH understood that the ONLY reason I wasn't pulling the plug was because I'd be the bad guy, but we laid out rules as to who slept where and clued the girls in on it just in case they tried to sneak in a skronk!
The only way I can see NOT consulting my XH on travel is if it doesn't interfere with school or his parenting time!
~calla~ mom to rosie and gracie
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