Told off on school run

[J1xxx]

I am a single dad with a full time job as a solicitor in the cc, and therefore don't have much time to waste in the mornings. Today I was dropping my two dd's off at primary school and was running late for work so I pulled up outside school and let them get out and go to the playground together (they are in years 4+5 so responsible enough to cross a road). Anyway later on when picking them up I was confronted by one of the teaching assistants who waits at the gates who said I had been driving dangerously! I was quite embarrassed and told her I was very busy and it was none of her business. Am I in the wrong?

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

Yes

[tonsiltennis]

Massively. Dropping tiny children off without going in, settling them, taking off coats, kiss goodbye etc is baaaad. Also it's half term so where are you?

[dementedpixie]

In what way was the driving dangerous or had you parked in a place you shouldn't have?

[AndShesGone]

I think if they're 9 and 10 they can likely cope with being dropped off at the gate

[treaclesoda]

If you were driving dangerously, especially near a school, of course you were in the wrong. Doesn't matter how important your job is, or how big a hurry you were in.

If she's just an interfering busybody then you're not in the wrong.

Problem is that since no one reading this was there, and people who drive dangerously always insist they are perfectly safe, there is no way to tell which it is.

[dementedpixie]

Years 4 and 5 are not babies!! We are not allowed in the playground never mind in the building. Scotland is in school this week

[SpeakNoWords]

Did you park on the yellow hatched area outside the school, and were you going faster than 20 mph?

[tonsiltennis]

Ah year 4&5! Apologies, that puts a slightly different complexion on things!

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

Also it's half term so where are you?

Scotland isn't on half term.

Pulling up outside the school and letting a 4 and 5yo cross the road and take themselves in isn't good at all.

Is there a breakfast club or something they could go to?

[AndShesGone]

Sounds like you might have been going too fast though? In my experience people don't comment really unless you actually are doing something wrong, you should be driving slowly where there are schools

[sugarmonster64]

tonsil we're not allowed to take the kids in let alone settle them so I often stand at edge of playground (which is next to where cars park) whilst they go off and queue or play if we're early

I assume Scotland as half term was last week

[treaclesoda]

It's not half term where I am (N Ireland), most schools I know of are off next week.

[bottleofredplease]

Sounds like you may have parked on zig zags? I can't stand those people who think it's okay to park there and everyone else should walk. I don't care what your job is. Leave 5 mins earlier.
Apologies if that is not the case though.

[J1xxx]

Tonsiltennis, the school has clubs during the holidays that my kids go to (I still have to work during the holidays)
Dementedpixie, I don't think my driving was dangerous. Could it be because I didn't actually park and just stopped? There were no cars around

[MaisieDotes]

They're hardly tiny children.

I would say just take it as a fair warning- no harm done this time but make sure you're on time in future.

[GeorgeTheThird]

Yes. You needed to park safely. Everyone is busy in the morning, even women.

[PinkSquash]

If you parked on the yellow lines then YABU. Being busy isn't an excuse for shit driving.

[AppleMagic]

Did you pull up somewhere that blocked the visibility of people (especially children) crossing the road. Parents do this all the time at dd's school. If so YABU, don't put other people's kids at risk so you can drop yours right outside the school.

[dementedpixie]

The children are not age 4 and 5, they are year 4 and 5

[NicknameUsed]

"Pulling up outside the school and letting a 4 and 5yo cross the road and take themselves in isn't good at all."

They are in years 4 and 5 Elsa so could be anything between 8 and 10 years old.

[GeorgeTheThird]

You sound self important. And you were rude to say it was none of her business. You need to apologise to her.

[SpeakNoWords]

Did you stop in the road rather than park at the side of the road? Were you going faster than 20mph?

I wouldn't stop in the road and let the children get out there, as it doesn't strike me as particularly safe.

[claraschu]

It sounds like you were fine and she was being officious, unless you were actually driving too fast or something. If there were no cars around, I don't see how you pulling over and letting them out was dangerous.

[Wolfiefan]

It wasn't about dropping the kids off. She said you were driving dangerously. Being busy is no excuse. And if you drive dangerously it is her business and that of everyone who may be involved in an accident with you.

[PoldarksBreeches]

Nobody gives a crap what job you do, you are not more important than anyone else even if you do work in the city.
Children shouldn't cross the road without an adult.