Print Magazine
Brussels Morning Newspaper
Friday, May 20, 2022
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home Brussels

Mother’s Day evaporates: school in Sint-Gillis chooses Parents’ Day

Sarhan Basem by Sarhan Basem
10 May 2022
in Brussels
Mother’s Day evaporates: school in Sint-Gillis chooses Parents’ Day
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- Not every Brussels class is still making crafts for Mother’s Day this weekend. In Sint-Gillis, GO! primary school Balder has opted for a new public holiday on 1 June: Parents’ Day. Other schools are also considering such a day.

A key ring, a photo frame decorated with dry pasta or creativity with toilet rolls. Many Brussels moms will receive a gift from their child this weekend thanks to the crafts help of the teacher. Although the Mother’s Day tradition is no longer evident in all schools. This week, De Morgen newspaper reported a story about a Ghent school that now celebrates ‘Parent’s Day’, in between Mother’s and Father’s Day. A call round at schools in Brussels shows that most school boards are not yet planning to do so. The GO! primary school Balder in Sint-Gillis will do it for the first time.

“We strive to follow social trends. Families today are different from a few years ago,” says director Belgin Cekic. “June 1 is International Parents’ Day. We will honour all parents or guardians of our children that day.”

A barista food truck comes to the playground that Wednesday afternoon and the school rolls out a red carpet for all moms, dads, plus moms, plus dads, single parents and any other guardians.

“It will be a mini school party. We want to thank the parents for entrusting their child to us,” says Cekic, “but also make people aware that we are all older and that it is not just the classic family pattern that counts.”

Gradual

Five years ago, a French-speaking school in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert was still strongly criticised for the abolition of Mother’s Day. Her management declined to comment today. Director Cekic of Balder primary school has now let her team make the choice themselves. “There are still kindergarten teachers and teachers crafting gifts for Mother’s Day, but not everyone anymore,” she says. “Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day remain a beautiful value and I recognize that. You certainly can’t abolish it in one-two-three. I do want to give a clear signal and introduce parents’ day systematically, in a friendly and constructive manner.”

According to the GO! School group Brussels, there are other primary schools that are considering such a parent’s day, but the combination with a separate mother’s and father’s day usually remains.

In the municipal schools and Catholic education, there has been a lot of tinkering this week. “The schools do adapt to the family situation,” says spokesperson Jens Popelier of Brussels education alderman Ans Persoons (Vooruit). “If there are two moms or two dads, they each get a present. Sometimes there is no more mom or dad, but then the child makes a present for someone else, such as the grandmother or an uncle.”

Two presents

“Our schools look at this in a very practical way,” says director Bruno De Lille of School Group Sint-Goedele. “With divorced families, two presents are often made. It’s been a long time since mommies and daddies were really discussed rigorously. If I speak for myself: my son has not been in primary school for seven years, but he already made two presents on Father’s Day and one for his godmother on Mother’s Day, so that he could still participate.” De Lille sees such special holidays as an opportunity to discuss different types of family.

And the nature of the presents is also modernising: some schools nowadays opt for cupcakes, a sleepover or invite the parents for breakfast at school. “But since the resources of schools have not increased that much, it may still be a lot of drawings and crafts,” laughs De Lille. “It’s the attention that counts.”

Tags: Brussels LatestMothers day

Latest post

Ombudsman’s role strengthened to oversee maladministration in the EU

‘Revolving doors’ undermine EU’s integrity, EU Ombudsman says

7 hours ago
Berlin,Germany,Olympia,Stadium,27,Mai.2017,Fussball,Dfb-pokal,Finale,Eintracht

EP urges sanctions against former Chancellor Schröder

7 hours ago

Most Read

  • shutterstock_1821616664

    MEPs send Open Letter urging the Home Secretary Priti Patel to reject Assange’s extradition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • These are the 10 highest paying jobs in the Europe in 2022

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Why corruption matters

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sweden: Taking Syrian children away from parents for protection?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Government approves route for ‘Mediatram’ from Meiser

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Category

  • Ambassador’s Corner
  • Belgium News
  • Brussels
  • Commission
  • Council
  • Culture and Society
  • Diplomacy
  • Economy
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Features
  • In Depth
  • Member States
  • Middle East Eye
  • Opinion
  • Our pick
  • Parliament
  • Place de la Bourse
  • Southeast Europe
  • Sustainable Perspective
  • The American Angle
  • The Macro-Economist
  • Uncategorised
  • US Elections
  • World

More info

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Cookies Policy
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Jobs

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • EU Institutions
    • Parliament
    • Commission
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Member States
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • The American Angle
    • Southeast Europe
  • Print Magazine

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT