I’m trolled for going on holiday without my daughter – but it’s her first week of school & I deserve a break
A MUM has hit back after being trolled for enjoying sunny getaway during her daughter’s first week of school.
The mum, who is a traveller, jetted off and left her daughter with a family member, since she already had the holiday booked.
Speaking on TikTok, Suzy, who goes by @therealcuzinsuzy on social media, explained that she needed a small break so she could “chill out” and urged other parents to do the same.
Previously, the mum explained that although it is traveller tradition not to go to secondary school, her daughter is attending one.
When she first showed off her sunny holiday many people thought she had taken her daughter with her, with one person even asking if she’d been fined for doing so.
But the mum cleared things up and said: “I just want to make it very clear really quick that my daughter is actually in school.”
She went on to explain that since she’s always in mum mode she deserves “a few days of chilling out.”
“Sometimes we do need time for ourselves,” she added.
Despite her explanation, some parents still thought it was wrong of Suzy to leave her kid behind.
“Could never go away without my son, that’s just wrong,” one person commented on the clip.
But Suzy saw the funny side of it, and joked that she felt “really guilty” about it, while showing off what a fun time she was actually having.
Lounging next to the pool with a cocktail in hand, she joked: “I’m trying to book a flight back because I feel so bad.”
Other parents agreed with Suzy that there’s nothing wrong with going on holiday without your kids.
“19 years of not leaving mine and I regret it 100%,” one commented.
“I’m going away without my kids in October and I cannot wait. We’ve had our family holiday, we need ours,” a second said.
“I’ve had plenty of childfree holidays, it’s needed,” another wrote.
Talking about her daughters schooling earlier this year, Suzy revealed that for the past couple of years, her young daughter has told her that in the future, she wants to be a vet and work with animals.
Suzy then explained that if her daughter wants to follow a career as a vet, she will “allow her too” and will “help her get to where she needs to be”.
However, Suzy shared that if her little darling changes her mind and doesn’t want to pursue a career, then Suzy doesn’t agree with her going to school.
Suzy explained: “I don’t see the point in her going to secondary school if she’s going to just go there and mess about and be stupid.
“It’s gonna sound ridiculous to most people, but we are brought up in a culture where we don’t need schooling. We just need the bare essentials, the bare minimum, counting, reading and writing. That is it.
“It would be completely pointless – unless you’re going to have a career, I don’t see the point in going to secondary school.”
What school fines can parents receive?
THE main issue that can lead to parents receiving a fine is missing school.
Currently, it’s the decision of the local council whether or not to issue a parent a fine for their child missing school.
However, from August this year, the fine for absences will up to the school to consider – when a child has missed 10 or more sessions for unauthorised reasons.
And the fine will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days – this is issued to EACH parent.
It’s the first time the fine has been increased since 2012, and is in line with inflation.
If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, this will automatically be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines will be capped at two fines within a three-year period.
After this limit has been reached, prosecution or a parenting order may be considered.
According to the official government website, there are only five reasons your child should be absent from school if the school is open.
These are as follows:
- Your child is too ill to attend that day
- You have asked in advance and been given permission by the school for your child to be absent on that day due to exceptional circumstances
- Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day you are taking part in religious observance
- Your local authority is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and it is not available on that day or has not been provided yet
- You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and you are required to travel for work that day meaning your child cannot attend their usual school