Dont Parents Care Any More About School Plays?

[silliemillie]

Its that time of school nativity plays and all the kids are excited.
Went with DIL to collect my eldest grandson and he was keen to make sure I was coming to the play on Friday, I said 'of course' .
DIL has taken the day off work to be there too.

Speaking to some other parents on the walk home and quite a few of them said 'No, cant be bothered to go, he's only in the choir/got a small part' or something similar.

How sad for their children that none of their parents can be bothered unless they have a leading role.

My grandson is shy so is usually in the choir/in the back row but he still wants us to come.

Both my son & DIL work but one of them will take a day off to see him,
quite a few of the other Mums don't work so its not as though they need to take a day off, it wouldn't really hurt them to spare an hour to come & smile & clap, it means the world to the kids.

[sherrardk]

I feel really sorry for working parents who want to go to things but can't. I am really lucky in that I don't work. I go to everything they are in, today was the nativity and my friend came with me (even though none of her children were in it, she asked to come), next week it's up the church for the girl's thing. I go to the east bonnet parade, assemblies, sports days, etc - it's my job. Some parents need a good slap (not those who can't get the time off), they will never get these days back again. And don't get me started on the ones who are late every bloody day, by about the same amount of time, grrr.

[zebo]

I can understand a parent not being able to get time off work, but I used to loathe the arrogant, inconsiderate ones who left half way through, once their child had been on, often to have a cigarette outside.

[silliemillie]

It means so much to them doesn't it Sherr? As you say it is your job as a parent. I know its difficult sometimes but if every parent just made a little effort (as you obviously do) more kids would be happy.

My son & DIL try to make sure at least 1 of them goes as do I but when you hear them (the other Mums) wanting to get home for Jeremy Kyle or something on the TV it does make my blood boil.

[bednobs]

oh dear, mine's not in a play (she's too young) however, a combination of circumstances means that neither of us are going to the nursery's little party with santa with her, and her grandparents are going instead. Doesn't mean i don't care, just means i want to keep my job :(

[silliemillie]

Oh Zebo that's awful, our plays are not usually longer than a hour, surely they can wait that long?!

[silliemillie]

Bednobs - You are both working so that's difficult, I don't mean people like yourselves, I mean Mums who are going home to watch the TV & put her feet up instead of going.

[sherrardk]

Bednobs, they like having anyone there. You and Mr B can't go so you have gone to the trouble to arrange for someone else to go, lots of people don't bother. We have no one else to go instead of us, another reason why we changed our lifestyles so dramatically. When little Bednobs starts school you will be amazed at how little some people seem to care for their children - more interested in gossiping, or their horses, or anything. Some (who I know don't work) dump their children outside the school gates (before they are open) and bugger off or turn up late frequently.

[Nini74]

When I first started reading this I thought you were going to say that people were going to work instead of watching the play. Reading the rest of your post makes me really sad to be honest. I'm a full time worker and have every intention of making it to every event my son is involved in in the future - no matter whether I have to take unpaid leave or not. To think that these parents are not going on the basis that their child is "only"doing this, that or the other is awful! what a terrible attitude to have and I bet the children are devastated that they didn't get a bigger role to make their parents want to watch them. I remember being the fairy amongst 20 other fairies at the back of the stage - the highlight of the day? spotting my mum in the audience!

[Tilly2]

When I was at school, my parents never came to any school production that I was in. They only ever went to one Parents evening. I don't think it had an adverse effect on my life. That was how it was. It's not that they didn't care. It was that they were working hard to give me my life chances. I appreciate that.

[Nini74]

Bednobs - you've made an effort to arrange an alternative in your place and, like you say, circumstances dictate that you both can't go. This does not mean you don't care! don't feel bad or take the OP the wrong way -this is a dig at the parents who could attend if they wanted to, but choose not to go - you do not fall into that category..

[sherrardk]

Tilly, I don't think this is about working parents, it's about parents saying they are not going to bother because their child only has a small part. I went to see the things in their nativity this afternoon, thing 1 was enthusiastic (to say the least) and thing 2 was so confident, but they both smiled wider and thing 1 bounced higher (she's the bouncy type) when they caught my eye (tricky watching two at the same time, even trickier last year when I was watching three in the same play).

[silliemillie]

Nini - you have summed that up perfectly. All I meant was if you CANT goes that's fine but if you can why wouldn't you?

[anneasquith]

one of the joys of having children is to attend these. :)

[sherrardk]

... If you can

[anneasquith]

obviously !

[Maydup]

I went to a kids play the other night. There were 28 of them in it and 24 of us in the audience. 4 of those 24 were staff and a group of 6 were their mates from a different group. That left 14 proper audience.

Where we the friends and families of all of these young people?

[B00]

Bloody boring having to sit through all of it though innit? Especially when your child doesn't have a part (like mine)

[daffy654]

I can't think of anything worse than having to sit through a nativity play, the sound of children singing makes me want to stab myself repeatedly in the eardrums.

[sherrardk]

Boring as hell! I have seen today's play four times with different children in different combinations of roles. I could direct the damn thing I have seen it so much. Next week I have to walk up the hill to the bloody freezing cold church, at stupid o'clock (go up school, go home, have coffee and ciggie, go up church) endure some religion (whilst not making it obvious that I am not saying amen at the end of the prayers). Yet my kids think you am having a fab time and that is what it is all about.

[sherrardk]

I am ^ not yam!