please dont judge just let me let off steam!

Lunar_Eclipse

Sorry you've had a bad day, we all have them, but that you also laughed about it.

I'm surprised at how much supervision you were required to do of your grandson. At our school, you would be given 2-3 children to supervise on the day (but not the coach part: adults sit with other adults or alone) which would not include your grandson.

Any helpers are not allowed to look after their own child/grandchild due to theoretical preferential treatment in the event of any genuine emergency.

Also, rides and ice creams on a school trip for 5 year olds sounds perfect but not anything like any of our trips.

Hope you have a much better day today.

jellyhead

I hope that the unaccompanied children also got to go on rides and have ice cream?

I love the school trips but your trips sounds a bit different to ours. We didn't go on the beach trip (some parent volunteers did, but not parents of the children who were on the trip) but it was well organised and they had activities, a nature walk etc. and I can't imagine any of our teachers just sitting chatting instead of doing promised activities.

As for chatting at the school gates, I find it hard - I hated school and am not good in social situations, but I get chatting to other parents at birthday parties and things outside of school like swimming lessons, or if we bump into them at the park. Times when you are just sat there doing nothing, just watching your child - it's easier to chat then. I probably would have chatted on the beach, but it sounds like your day was already going badly before you got on the coach.

megela

I've always refused to go on school trips with my girls as they are trips with the school not trips with mummy & daddy. That said I have helped at when they've been desparate or let down at the last minute as I'd hate to see the trip cancelled. I wanted them to have some independance not having me 'cramping their style'.

But your trip sounded more like everyone's parent was expected to go.

Hope you're having a better day today.

gingin_2

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Was that on THIS planet? :rotfl:

lol!

I met my match on a school trip a few weeks ago. I was the only parent there, roped in at the last minute and was given a group from another class, so had no idea who the kids were and what their behavior was like and a child who I can only call Lucifer looked me in the eye and said "I don't have to do what you say, you're not my teacher" and he was true to his word. The little s** would do nothing at all.

He had this inhaler but didn't appear to be having an asthmatic episode. I was given no briefing on him using it so thought I'd better let him go ahead but after about the 8th puff and him then trying to insert it in his ear and nose I tried to take it off him but he wouldn't give it to me. He was fighting, being rude, walking off. I've never not been unable to get a situation under control in my life, even if things go wrong eventually you can get things back to normal but with him I just couldn't so I had to get 2 girls to go off and find the teacher about 500m away, which really I shouldn't have done but had no choice short of manhandling Lucifer. The teacher had to come and fetch him and have him in his group, I told the teacher that I just couldn't cope with him, I felt completely defeated by an 8 year old.

I totally get what was said about it putting you off helping on school trips but at my daughter's school they are so understaffed that if parents can't help, the children, in my opinion are at risk and when that is the case I'd rather be there to keep an eye on my daughter.

Meri, sorry you had a bad day and it's good of you to go. It's sad when you say you feel it's cliquey, because no one likes to be left out but when I think of my own situation it's hard not to form bonds and friendships with people when you see them virtually every day over a number of years and I know I always gravitate towards the same mums, so outwardly it might look cliquey, but it's not like that at all - it's just a group of friends getting together for a natter and I really can't imagine that a whole class or school of people would deliberately be offhand with you. Did you try making conversation?

Savvy_Sue

megela wrote: »

But your trip sounded more like everyone's parent was expected to go.

Our 'nursery trip to the seaside because some of the little darlings may never have seen the sea so this is their chance' was definitely presented as 'you'd better have a good reason NOT to go, your child will enjoy it so much more if you are there', there were even raised eyebrows when I said DH would take DS3 because I'd done it twice and that was ENOUGH!

But having said that there always were some unaccompanied children, and yes, the staff and other helpers would make sure they got an ice cream and a chance to paddle etc.

*Louise*

That trip sounded really unorganised! :eek:

I always go on DS2 and DD's trips when I can, but then I know all the kids and even the ones who misbehave in class wouldn't dare do it on a school trip.

Mind you, I end up being a parent helper for classes that my kids aren't even in and have done loads of extra trips throughout this year


Edit: It took me ages to start chatting to people when my kids went to school. I found joining the PTA helped to get to know peoples names and going on the trips helps as well, so you can chat to the other parents there.

mummyoftwomonkeys

aww bless you sounds like the school trip me and my son went on last week, none of the mums talk to me either from either of my boys schools Ive lived here 2 and a half years and don't know one person to talk to. I bought him an ice cream and he dropped it all over the floor after one lick, It was boiling hot and he wouldn't sit still to eat his lunch wanted to go play, we were dropped off at his nursery and I had to carry his car seat to my other sons school and home, by the end of it I was shattered my husband was working til midnight kids wouldn't go to bed and I fell asleep in front of the tv

jellyhead

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Our 'nursery trip to the seaside because some of the little darlings may never have seen the sea so this is their chance' was definitely presented as 'you'd better have a good reason NOT to go, your child will enjoy it so much more if you are there', there were even raised eyebrows when I said DH would take DS3 because I'd done it twice and that was ENOUGH!

But having said that there always were some unaccompanied children, and yes, the staff and other helpers would make sure they got an ice cream and a chance to paddle etc.

Why on earth would there be raised eyebrows about your DH going? He's his son't parent! Dads can be just as 'good' as mums, as can grandparents, as long as somebody goes. Perhaps that's why the little boy was disappointed that his mum wasn't going, because some numpty might have implied that only 'mummy helpers' are worth having!

Beetlemama

Both DH and I have helped on school trips but I have to say, the smaller the kids are, the worse the trip is. My own child is a model citizen, I was blessed and I don't know or ask why, but if they say sit down he sits down, if they're not allowed to walk on the grass, he avoids even a stray blade on the pavement - he's pretty big on rules. BUT..... other people's children, Omg, once they learn that saying no means effectively no one but an actual parent can enforce the command (by man handling) they're a nightmare, and worse the ones that don't fight with you, they just totally ignore you and do what they want, AND it is a little known fact that naughty children are ALWAYS sticky when you have to hold their hands to prevent them running away. Nasty.

I'm glad you went though, even if it was crappy a bit, as the years go by you'll just remember the day you went on a school trip to the beach, he certainly will, he won't remember he was a bit of a grump. They never do.

pollypenny

Oh, meri! I hope you have had a better day today, anyway!

I am do surprised that no one speaks to you, we gobby South Walians are usually chatty.

The teachers on the trip need a rocket!