Would you let your kids miss the first week of school for vacation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a big proponent of missing school in general, but the 1st week, no.

Me too. If your kids are elementary age, I think it's fine to miss school for vacation. But not the first week. They'll miss out on making friends, learning routines, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anything 1st grade and up absolutely not. Why? The first week of school is the most important when it comes to a fresh, new start, all the excitement of starting a new year and everything that comes with it. It's not even about the academics because honestly first week isn't going to set the tone for the rest of the year...but friends, teachers, subjects, rooms, seats and just missing the beginning of something new that is very defining in children's life...no I would not let my kids miss that for vacation.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't either. My parents had no problem taking us out of school for family vacations (we usually went to FL in November), but never the first week. I think I would have been pretty upset if they had since, like many PPs have said, that first week is important socially and in terms of figuring out your schedule and classes and the general rhythm of the year.

[Anonymous]

Your poor kid will be behind. Behind in making friends in their class, behind on class running, schedule, not to mention the actual classwork. No, you don't miss the first week of school. Tell MIL to check with you next time before she books if she wants the kids to come.

[Anonymous]

No way for the 6th grader. Plus August in Florida sounds dreadful. Do you realize how hot it will be in Florida? No thanks.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this should almost have been posted in "Family Relationships" since I think this is just the latest example of the bigger problem, i.e. the MIL. So crazy for her to just dictate vacations without any consultation, and so unfortunate that your DH has developed such a tepid way of responding.

[Anonymous]

Heck no. And your DH better not blame this on you. He needs to tell his mother he won't pull the kids out of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heck no. And your DH better not blame this on you. He needs to tell his mother he won't pull the kids out of school.

Unfortunately, I'll have to be the bad guy and tell her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, not the first week. Any other week.

This. I am happy to pull my kids out (and do every year) but not the first week.

Not coincidentally, Labor Day week is THE LOWEST crowd week Disney sees all year. So it's a great time to go if that's not your kid's first or second week of school!

Yeah, we went to Florida for a great-grandmother's 100th birthday AND went to Disneyworld on, I think it was the 2nd or 3rd week of September? Pretty sure it was the 2nd. IT WAS AMAZINGLY QUIET! Yeah, I would totally do that again.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure she is saving a ton of money by doing it after schools start. Let DH go by himself. MILs love to get their boys all to themselves! Maybe all that together time will cure him of insisting on vacations with Grandma without checking the family calendar first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heck no. And your DH better not blame this on you. He needs to tell his mother he won't pull the kids out of school.

Unfortunately, I'll have to be the bad guy and tell her.

No you don't. My husband taught me that the only way someone can make you do something is if you do something. He's a master at saying he won't do something and keeping his word. Because although I am a Master Manipulator... but he's a Grandmaster Homey-Don't-Play-That.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems mean to do to the kid. There's not much schoolwork, but that's when they figure out the logistics of their schedule and lockers and so forth.

This. Someone who came in a week after would be lost, literally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this should almost have been posted in "Family Relationships" since I think this is just the latest example of the bigger problem, i.e. the MIL. So crazy for her to just dictate vacations without any consultation, and so unfortunate that your DH has developed such a tepid way of responding.

This
Let MIL learn a lesson.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't let either kid go.

[Anonymous]

No, absolutely not.