No way! First week is meet teachers, learn rules, where are classrooms, where are my seats, what table at lunch will I sit at, etc!! That would've stressed me put so much as a kid

No, of course not. I am not even going to read the other responses. The first week of school is KEY to an upper elementary school child. And it is sending a message that school does not count.

Your MIL and DH sound like real charmers. MIL wants "him and the kids" (i.e. not you?) to come on the trip? And DH is going to make YOU tell MIL?

Not okay. You need to stand up and make him do it. And your MIL needs to respect you and your kids' needs.

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, no, no. You discuss with DH how this trip isn't going to work as MIL planned (whole family going), because older DC can't miss school, and that the only options are 1) he goes alone, or 2) he goes with your youngest. And then he gets to communicate to his mother the option the two of you agree on. If he's unable to do that, you've got larger problems.

Hell no.

Oh my god no. Just no. No no no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the 6th grader starting in a new school?

Yes, she'll be starting middle school.

So No way. 1) no school or teacher is going to like this. Of course for some kind of emergency you could finesse situation, but to see grandma? You are seriously jeopardizing your relationship with teacher and school.

2) friendships and social stuff. MS is a different thing socially. No kid wants to be the kid who doesn't know stuff, who stands out by asking the questions that were answered the first few days. She will be behind for a completely unnecessary reason.

3) not sure about your child, but mine (boy) is really trouble with academic stuff. He falls behind easily on homework, etc. This would be a big consideration for me, but I get that not all school districts are as homework - heavy as ours and a lot of kids seem to manage that end of things better than mine, too.

Yes, not a big deal.

Anonymous wrote:Pre K yes. 6th grade no.

+1

Anonymous wrote:My husband told me my MIL booked a Flordia trip for the the last week in August and she wants him and the kids to go. I told him that's the first week of school and he said its only the first week, it doesn't matter. But I don't think they should miss a week (even the first week) of school for vacation. Would you let your kids miss the first week to go on vacation? My kids will be in 6th grade and Pre-k if that matters at all.

No. I absolutely would not.

I'm a public school teacher. Please don't do this. The first week is about learning routines and relationship building. By week two, it's all business and your child will feel rushed.

I'm fine with kids missing school and catching up, but no way during the first week. I wouldn't miss a week at all in September.

Absolutely not. That's your kid's opportunity to get used a completely different school routine. After that week, the teachers will expect everyone to have it down and won't make allowance for your child, especially since the absence was due to vacation.

The first week of jr high? No way on Earth.

Your incentive, OP, is the very unpleasant position you will be putting your 6th grader in if you say yes. Stick up for her and say no.

Anonymous wrote:My husband told me my MIL booked a Flordia trip for the the last week in August and she wants him and the kids to go. I told him that's the first week of school and he said its only the first week, it doesn't matter. But I don't think they should miss a week (even the first week) of school for vacation. Would you let your kids miss the first week to go on vacation? My kids will be in 6th grade and Pre-k if that matters at all.

6Th grade matters a great deal. No, I would not let him miss the first week of school.