He’s Five, People.
Peach was absent yesterday.
Image: Microsoft Office
Don’t worry; he’s fine. He just didn’t feel like going to school. So I let him stay home.
Yep. I just let him stay home.
With nearly twelve years of parenting experience under my belt, I only hesitated for a split-second. Just enough time for the following to run through my head:
He really needs to get used to the idea that he needs to go to school every day.
But guess what? Assuming that he only does a two-year Master’s program, Peach has the next nineteen years to get used to that idea. And then he’ll carry that ethic with him into the work place. On the other hand, as my friend Tevye is fond of saying, Peach only has a few more weeks of preschool. A few more weeks where his time at home may, in fact, be just as educational as the time spent in the classroom.
Yesterday, Peach demonstrated mastery of the following skills:
- sustained solitary activity (during my nap)
- fine-motor coordination (on my iPad)
- creative play (involving superheroes
- meal prep (either fruit snacks or a chewy bar — and chocolate milk)
Time well spent.
***
Today, upon arrival at school, Peach announced to his teacher that he took a personal day. Sure, I could have told the teacher that I wasn’t feeling well and that’s why we stayed home yesterday. But I surely don’t want the take-away to be that it’s OK to lie. I want my kids to know the difference between a sick day, a vacation day, and a personal day. And I want them to understand why it’s important to use those terms accurately and honestly.
She smiled…and told me I’d made a great choice. Affirmation from the pre-school teacher, one’s own OR one’s child’s, holds a lot of weight.
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
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Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
That sounds like an all-around wonderful day for both of you!
It always cracks me up when parents of kids in the lower grades can’t take a family vacation, or go to that out-of-town wedding because it means taking their kids out of school for a few days. Really? Time with family is important too and sometimes trumps the math workbook.
I love this! People can be so judge-ishy. And for what? I’d like to take a personal day from this bar mitzvah planning. You are kind of that for me.
No judgment from me. He’s 5, not 15 and skipping his calc final. Kids need personal days just as much as adults do.
Personal days? Is that what we call them here in the US. I just would call it a family day. Sometimes we just have to remember that we are glad to be connected. Sometimes it can be part of the family or the whole family but those days are important too. I feel our kids do better apart from us when we enjoy be together for the sake of family