What would you do?

[divegirl]

Hi, my 12 year old daughter has asked for the day off of school to go to a CD signing!
I have said no....reasons being....
She's just had a month of school....Christmas and 'snow days'
It would mean her travelling into London.

She says...it's not her fault she's missed so much school
I said...It's not my fault that this 'pop star' chooses a school day for an event like this!

Absent father says I am a bad parent and should let her go!

What would you do.

Will be back later....off now to my full time job....to support ungrateful child as absent father doesn't.

Lisa x

[sara3]

my daughter asked the same thing when she was 15. I said no. in theory, it's okay but in reality there would probably be hours of waiting around in a crush of a boisterous crowd and she may not get to see whoever it is anyway. when I looked into the one my daughter wanted to go to they were only letting in the first 200 people at 9am, so she would have had to be queueing from about 4am!

[Bbbananas]

Mmm, it would be tempting to give in to her, but I'm with sara - she's only 12 and there's no guarantee she'll get to meet, or even see this pop star.
You won't be popular, but then at 12 - mothers never are!!

[sara3]

as a compromise, you could try ringing the store and begging them to reserve a signed copy. or emailing the band's management, or something like. I wouldn't tell your daughter that until you've confirmed it will be done!

[waterboatman]

I would say 'not a chance' there too much school time to make up and that is more improtant than the unlikely chance of seeing someone who will soon be forgotten anyway.
It is somewhat thoughtless of the company to arrange this sort of thing on a school day. That's what weekends are for.

[ChuckFickens]

I think you last sentence says it all.

"off now to my full time job....to support ungrateful child as absent father doesn't."

I'm sure there are things you'd rather be doing than going to work, unfortunately people have commitments and can't always pick to choose the things we would like to do, seems your daughter is going to start learning this lesson at 12.

[B00]

I'm gonna disagree with the above answers (sorry!)

I'd let her go, as she says it is only one day, however I'd make sure she's got a responsible adult with her.

[ummmm]

I'd also let her go.

My kids rarely miss school so I don't mind the odd day for things like this.

[waterboatman]

NK is right. apart from that, as I said earlier, her education is far more important than a trip to see someone who will be forgoten next week in school time. The school headteacher could have something to say about it too!

[bensmum]

I would say no too, you couldn't suddenly decide to take a day off and she needs to learn that she can't do it either.

[B00]

Who is she wanting to see by the way?

[Bbbananas]

Yeah - who - coz that could make all the difference!!!!

[B00]

lol, zakly ;-)

[another-view]

No. Today it is a CD signing. Tomorrow could be something else happening in town.
If you give in now, she will have you round her little finger and bring it up every time you refuse to let her do something.

As you say, she's already had a month off school and it's nearly half term. More time off.

[divegirl]

Just managed to sneak on here at work....

Thank you so very much for your answers...this situation is completely killing me as of course it goes a lot deeper than the opening Q.
Waster of a dad is now saying he will fight for custody of her [my 18 yr old son says good luck to him....let him deal with the 'devil spawn'....his words not mine]
give me strength!!!!!

[daffy654]

I would also say no, apart from the education issue it is actually illegal for you to allow your child to take time off school without permission from the school head or education authority unless it is for medical reasons. In reality there would be no comeback (probably) but that isn't the point.

[waterboatman]

Your ex wants to get his head in gear. He obviously has no concept of reality!

[ummmm]

Well I let my kids have the odd day off and I am still in charge. My daughter is nearly 18 now and still wouldn't talk back to me.

[4getmenot]

no matter what age, if she's at school thats where she should be. What prats hold cds signing on school days.
Its no different than playing truant, scrpa that it is playing truant because no doubt you'd have to lie to school and say she's ill.
School should also be a preperation for when she gets a job and that would only make her think its ok to take time out to do what she wants.