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Pulling 2nd grader out of school for a week at Disney

Hi Everyone! My name is Amber and this is my first post on TN (I used the TK for planning my wedding last year and it brought me here!). My question is, do you think it's ok to pull my stepson out of school for a week in October to go to Disney World? A little background, my DH has joint custody so we have him half the week and every other weekend. DH works nights though so he only really gets to see him when he drives him to school and every other weekend. When we found out he is able to take off a week in October we jumped at the chance to go somewhere that we would all enjoy and be able to spend time together. (We already talked to his mom about it, she is fine with it. She has 3 other boys from her current marriage and will probably take them when youngest is old enough). But, now I'm starting to think. Are we being bad parents for taking him out for a whole week? He does very well in school, and never has any behavorial issues. We would take whatever work he has to do with us. Has anyone else ever taken their children out for a week for vacation?

Re: Pulling 2nd grader out of school for a week at Disney

  • Normally I don't agree with pulling kids out of school to go on vacation because I was raised in a family where we didn't miss school unless we were puking.......but if he has good attendance otherwise and does ok in school I guess one week wouldn't be the hill I'd be willing to die on.

     

    My SD's mom is constantly letting her miss school; pulling her out to go on vacation, letting her stay home if she sleeps past the alarm, letting her stay home if her friend whose dad drives her home misses school.....among a ton of other reasons. And she has received threatening letters from the district over it. I guess over all this is a parent's judgment call. Most people will probably think differently on this one.

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  • Would you be able to plan it around a fall break so that maybe he wasn't missing as many days?
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  • That's how we usually are, he doesn't stay home unless he is very sick. Same at his mom's house. That's why I'm kind of having second thoughts but he is only in 2nd grade. We would go during the summer but DH can't get off work at that time. We've never really taken him on a big vacation and it will probably be the last one for a while (besides weekends camping and water parks).
  • The only week we can go is the last week of October because DH's job is having a week shutdown, which doesn't ever happen so that's why we are trying to take advantage of it. He works afternoon/nights so this is a good opportunity for them to be able to spend time together.
  • I'm not a parent right now, but I say go for it.  I think it would be a good "bonding" time for your DH and his son.  I would definitely speak to his teacher(s) before hand and get any homework they could give you before hand.
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  • Disclaimer: I have no kids or intentions to have kids.

    I think perfect attendance is overrated as long as you learn the material and social skills you're in school to obtain.  I would absolutely pull my theoretical kid out of school for a week, but I don't think I'd do it for Disney.  A National Park, a historic location, a cultural trip, etc? Yes.  But if he's missing school, I want him to be learning something else instead.  And while Epcot is pretty great in that regard, I don't feel like it's enough to justify skipping school.

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  • Lots of people do it, so it's not the end of the world obviously.  But it's not something we will do with our kids.  We've resolved ourselves to taking vacations around the school calendar and we're ok with that.  Not to achieve perfect attendance or anything, but just because we don't think kids should miss school unless they are sick. 
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  • As a parent with now adult kids, we always stressed with our kids that missing school only happened when you were REALLY sick. But, given the circumstances you've described, I'd have no problem with it.

    In today's world, with the job market, many people are limited in their ability to take time off work. Vacation time, or the ability to take it, can be restrictive.

    In hindsight, when I was in 2nd grade I had the "hard measles", something most people today are unfamiliar with. This was before vaccines, and I think I missed at least 7-10 days of school. My Mom went to the school to pick up my assignments, and I stayed on top of what was happening in the classroom. I didn't fail, still made the honor roll.

    I think most people are afraid of the precedent they are setting for their kids, thinking it's OK to miss school for fun things. I've taken my daughter out of class for an afternoon at a Tiger baseball game as a surprise. My kids have missed school for a Red Wing parade downtown when they won the Stanley Cup. I think as long as you explain to this 2nd grader the circumstances, the reasons behind it, that it is something sacred to appreciate and remember, and that it is NOT the norm, there's no harm in missing a week of 2nd grade. Life it too short to miss out on the fun stuff.

    Just my opinion.

  • who cares about the logistics? my answer for ANY question like this is if the kid can easily make up the work and it wont put him behind iwth learning then fine. if it will be detrimental to his learning or will be very difficult for him to catch up then dont do it. am i the only one who thinks that this isn't a question that you can get the correct answer to on the internet from strangers?
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  • I try my hardest not to pull my kids out for vacation, or at least to minimize the days they miss.  But it sounds like it would be a great experience for your family and you are prepared to work before and after to keep him on track with his school work... so I would do it.  I actually used to be a teacher and am now a Disney travel agent, so I see both sides of it!!!
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  • imagealithebride:
    who cares about the logistics? my answer for ANY question like this is if the kid can easily make up the work and it wont put him behind iwth learning then fine. if it will be detrimental to his learning or will be very difficult for him to catch up then dont do it. am i the only one who thinks that this isn't a question that you can get the correct answer to on the internet from strangers?

    Ditto. This completely depends on the kid. If he can handle it and make up all of the work (my kids' school requires it to be made up BEFORE you leave if possible) without consequences to his learning, then go have a great time, and don't forget to get Mickey's autograph!

    If your child will struggle with the remainder of the year because of the missing lessons, then please consider a long weekend instead of an entire week.

  • We took SS out of school to go to Universal in Florida when he was about that age.  We got his work from the teacher and made him sit each morning for 30 minutes and work on it.  ( yep, he complained but we told him it HAD to be done before we did anything else!)

    He graduated HS with honors. 

  • imagealithebride:
    who cares about the logistics? my answer for ANY question like this is if the kid can easily make up the work and it wont put him behind iwth learning then fine. if it will be detrimental to his learning or will be very difficult for him to catch up then dont do it. am i the only one who thinks that this isn't a question that you can get the correct answer to on the internet from strangers?

    I agree.  We have no choice in when my husband takes vacation.  My kids make excellent grades and have no issues in school.   I have no problems with them missing a few days for a family trip.  We talk to their teachers first and make sure they have all the assignments they will need to make up.  


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  • Agree with PP. I would totally do it. He can catch up later.
  • I am not a parent, but am a teacher.  I would go for it.  It happens all of the time, I have a student out this week for the exact same trip! One of my coworkers took a week off of school this past fall and pulled her kids out to go.  I would try and make arrangements with the school to have any work ahead of time that you could.  I would NOT take the homework on vacation with you, just go & enjoy.  Get done what he can ahead of time & make up the rest as soon as you get back.
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  • I am a teacher not a parent.  I say take your stepson to Disney and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it.  In the grand scheme of life 1 week of second grade could never compare to a 1 week vacation with his dad.  He will probably remember the trip the rest of his life.  
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  • I always was of the "Don't take kids out of school for vacation" camp. But at 2nd grade I don't think it's a big deal. If he does well and can make up any work easily then I say take him out. Especially given that your DH doesn't get to spend much time with him. 
  • Personally, I'd only pull my child out of school for a week's vacation if we were going someplace that could be a unique learning or lifetime experience, but the truth of the matter is, yes, I think some things are okay to miss school for, provided the work is made-up.

    When I was a kid, my parents took my brother and me out of school for 2 weeks for a 3 week trip to Egypt (also included Christmas break). Last year, I took my son out of school for 3 weeks so we could travel to Peru and adopt his brother.  Would I, personally do it for a Disney trip?  No, but that's only because I think that's something that doesn't add educational value and can be done another time, and that's my hang-up.  In truth, I believe kids can make-up the work and stay on track without any ill-effects, provided this doesn't become a recurring thing.

    Do what's right for your family. 

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