Gatwick ordeals, Taking my children out of school. This one is for the parents that work so hard.

I thought I could get exactly what I wanted. Nine months ago I prepared a letter and sent it to my children's head teacher pulling on the heart strings that I needed to pull my children out of school on the last day of Christmas term. It was only a half day of school and its purpose was to visit my Father for Christmas in Florida. Not only were flights cheaper, but I wanted to maximise the time that we could all see him. I sold it on the basis that the last day of term in school was a jovial day and from my personal experience as a child  - a fab day - no one did any work and one gets to play all day. I received a slightly convoluted stern letter in reply from the school that permission was denied and pushing in on the legalities, rules and regulations. A warning was made that if any such requests were made in the future a penalty notice might be issued.

What did I do? I replied to this letter saying how sorry I was and for being so naive in my hopes and desires to take my children from school. I said I would never request such again and I understood the rules.

Later after having conversations with other friends/parents with other schools in the area and other parts of the country, was that I had played it badly and that the advice was largely "just do it, take the children out and figure it out".

I want to personally teach my kids to fight for what they believe in and stand up for their principles. I came away thinking to myself, I have been an absolute wimp. I have totally succumbed and parked all of my principles in a bid to keep my kids in the good books at school.

Aghh, so enter the topic of Gatwick. Yes, that was us at the airport yesterday caught up in all of the angst that was the 11,000 travelers stuck with no where to go. Bless our BA Airplane captain Jeremy Morgan. He had us on the run way and kept saying "it will be any minute now" before take off. We waited and waited on the stationary plane for 3 hours before it was decided that the flight was cancelled. Anyone that is reading this will know from the countless news cycles on Gatwick Airport that it was due to drones being flown over the run way. We re-entered the airport to a hot mess of stress and anger. I had never seen so many arguments.

We are still going to visit my Father in Florida (we have sorted a new flight) but it will be for a reduced time and that's frankly disappointing. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but had I pulled my children out on their last day of school, we would have avoided this Gatwick mess and would have enjoyed the full time with our family.

The point is that us modern parents with young children know that the amount of homework that we receive (plus modern children's extra curricular schedules) Vs. the demands of working life are incredibly tough. Its a fine juggling act. If we are not careful, we can easily neglect the importance of family time. I also turn and point to our schools. Be careful I say. Schools are of course educating our children and preparing them for eventual life in the working world. However, what transpired here by the school had been an example of the concept of work first over family. Since my children's school is prided on certain values that reflect kindness, compassion, family, community etc - I felt that the school's position towards us contradicted these values.

I will be teaching my children on a next occasion that you have to stand up for your convictions and beliefs. What's really important?

I love my business and we all work hard at Jeremy Jacob Letting Specialists. However, I always say family first always. Work life balance in this rapid world (for our sanity) has never become more and more important. 

Have a wonderful Christmas (or if you choose holiday period) and happy New Year.