to absolutely loathe the school run?

[lottielou39]

I know it's been done to death, but I'm really hating it right now. I've done it for 7 years so far and would rather do anything else in the world.
There are Mums not talking to each other, Mums gossiping about each others kids, a Mum I try hard to avoid because she gets involved in every tiny spat her angelic cherub gets involved in (and they are always best mates the next day after this woman has made a hugh drama over it), Mums who wave and smile one day, then walk past you to someone more interesting the next day. I've tried getting there early to chat to people, getting there at the very last second so I can just collect and run... and it never gets better. I fucking hate it.

[bytheMoonlight]

I hate it. Esp the 'mums who wave and smile one day, then walk past you to someone more interesting the next day.'

DD1 is only in pre-school though, so I have a looooooong way to go yet

[Sparklingbrook]

DS1 is at High School. Drive down to school, eject DS1 from car, drive off. It does get better I promise. I did 8 years of what you describe and it's soul destroying.

[SauvignonBlanche]

YANBU, I loathe it.
So much so, I get DH to do it.

[bytheMoonlight]

Am very of the mums I see pushing their kids out of the car and then making a quick getaway Sparkling. One day ....

[Sparklingbrook]

I just feel like I have earnt it Moonlight. All the boasting and comparing and blowing hot and cold, I am past it all.

How much longer have you got Lottielou?

[headfairy]

I get what you mean about the people who say hi one day and not the next, but are you really supposed to individually greet everyone at the school gate each morning?

I'm a newbie at this as ds is still only at preschool, however he starts YR in Sept. I can't risk getting it wrong if i've got the next 7 years with these people :o

Three days a week I have to go to work straight from school so I don't really have time to stand around and individually greet everyone and ask them out they are, their dcs are, their dogs are, what they got up to at the weekend etc etc.

Is it acceptible to smile at everyone I make eye contact with, maybe chuck in a cheery "morning!". I do chat if we're waiting for the gate to open, or we're queueing up to sign the kids in... but once ds is in, I have to get going.

Am I going to be vilified next year?

[sensuallettuce]

Drive to High School stop car eject DS1 and DD from the car drive round to Middle School eject DS2 from the car. Drive to work.

[sensuallettuce]

.....although a couple of times I have forgotten the stopping bit at Middle School and got half way to work and realised DS2 is still sat quietly in the back

[Snakeonaplane]

Would it make you feel any better if I told you I have to do 2 schools about 15 mins apart in traffic where the pick up time is the same with a nearly 3 month old baby in tow, I'm probably the mum that sometimes forgets to say hello

[BananasInBloomers]

I usually am a bit 'blah' about the school run but today we had some very tragic news about one of the mums who was also my friend. The show of support and just general 'there for each other' feeling kind of united everyone.

[Posey]

I'm now in my 12th year of doing the run to primary school (that's what happens when you have a big gap between your children) and have developed such thick skin they call me Mrs Rhino . But sometimes the thick skin is slightly thinner and it is crap, but I find myself just getting cross for being bothered by it, rather than upset or cross by what is actually going on.
A friend of mine left primary school when her youngest finished last July, after about 10 years, and misses it soooo much . I have 2 more years to go and will breathe a sigh of relief when that part of my life is over.

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh, I forgot about my DS2 (9) . He is at Middle School too so I eject him first.

I would not know who any of the other Mums were. It's great.

[HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer]

YANBU, I've been doing school runs for 9 years now and the same old things crop up again and again. I have learnt over the years not to rely on the social side of the school run and to focus on friends outside of school, I prefer to just grab DD and go home!

[BrownBoobBear]

I hate it with a passion. I could have written your post. I now arrive at the last minute, leave them at the gate and run. Can't be arsed with all the politics at all. So long as my kids are happy, I'm happy.

[Sparklingbrook]

When DS1 started in Reception I used to see the Year 4 Mums outside the gates looking well grumpy. Then last year I realised I had turned into one and was watching the Reception Mums all jolly and interested, just as I had been.

[Snakeonaplane]

Oh posey I have this to come, I'm going to be doing it forever eldest dd will be in final year of prep when dd starts, I'm already over the parties and the chat and the etiquette stuff compared to mums of pfbs with ds who has just started reception, I'm going to be a total bitch with dd2, I'll be the one slowing down outside play centres to boot 4yo dd out of the car to attend the party on her own

[Nesty]

YANBU Our school is at the other end of the scale just stand there awkwardly looking at each other no one talking bizarre :)

[BananasInBloomers]

I wonder what sort of school gate mum I am?
I'm definetly not a yummy mummy,or popular mummy,or PA mummy.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I'm a 'who the hell is that?' mummy.

[ladywithnomanors]

I like the school run! It's a small village school, everyone knows each other and most people are really friendly and chatty. We got round to each others houses afterwards and have coffee and cake. We also go out as a group at weekend to the pub and get pissed.

[Sparklingbrook]

That's what it should be like lady.

[mynameis]

I stupidly worked out that I will have done 21 years of school run at the primary school by the time Dc 4 leaves.
Damn these big age gaps

[BrownBoobBear]

21 years. You get less for murder

[Snakeonaplane]

21years is hardcore, mental note to self, crack on with dc 4!