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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I REALLY hate the school run

168 replies

Remembersweetvalleyhighbooks · 24/05/2023 22:11

For some reason, I looked forward to it Pre Dd and imagined it would be *Fun..wtf 🙈
I hate the rushed, stressy mornings, i’m organised but getting Dd ready can be hard at times. Drop off isn’t *As bad, quick kiss and hug at the outside door bit, it’s the pick up I don’t like. I wait in my car until the last minute when the door opens, then rush up, can’t stand the awkward standing waiting around everyone does. I hate if the teacher comes over to me and wondering what she wants to say to me. I just want to get my child and go home. Sometimes when I think how many years left I have to do this for, day in, day out, I feel panicked
Anyone else, or am I just a proper weirdo?

OP posts:

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:14

Dance monster, I'm referring to parents who can but don't

DanceMonster · 25/05/2023 22:14

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:08

I never knew there were so many people haters out there!

It’s an eye opener reading threads like this, isn’t it? I just drop my kids off, smile and wave at the people I know, occasionally stop for a quick chat with someone, then get on with my day. No drama.

Tinybrother · 25/05/2023 22:14

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:13

Tiny, great, sarcasm - top form of communication!

DanceMonster · 25/05/2023 22:12

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:11

I wish more people walked, cycled their kids to school

I’d love to. But I drop my children off at 8.40 and I have to be at work 8 miles away at 9. We live 1.5 miles from the school so no time to walk home and fetch my car.

Tinybrother · 25/05/2023 22:12

Do you? I don’t think that’s come across on this thread at all.

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:11

I wish more people walked, cycled their kids to school

Tinybrother · 25/05/2023 22:10

I never knew there were so many people who felt they knew the details others’ jobs/locations/schedules such that they could judge who should and shouldn’t be using their car to do school run! (I have no skin in this game, I live a three minute walk from school and driving would take longer)

Dacadactyl · 25/05/2023 22:09

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:08

I never knew there were so many people haters out there!

I know, it's bonkers! The friendly mums at our school have kids who seem to get on well socially too.

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:08

I never knew there were so many people haters out there!

Spiderboy · 25/05/2023 22:07

After school club pick up is a much nicer experience 😁

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:07

It's a bit sad to hate something so much that you've been doing half your life

strawberryurchin · 25/05/2023 22:07

just stand at the back and look at your phone or away from people....

shadowchancesassy · 25/05/2023 22:05

I hate the school run too although I do prefer the drop off to the pick up. I've just realised aswell that I've been doing it 18 years with no gaps 🤦🏻‍♀️that's almost half my life 🫠

ArabeIIaScott · 25/05/2023 22:05

TBH, OP, I did hate it for the first few years. Not even quite sure why, the awkwardness and the hanging about. It was awful.

It really did get better and it's fine now, it's just part of the rhythm of the day.

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:05

Or the best, depending on your attitude

ArabeIIaScott · 25/05/2023 22:04

The first ten years are the worst.

Tinybrother · 25/05/2023 22:02

What adult looks at another adult standing alone and thinks they are “billy no mates”?! Standing by yourself is absolutely fine, as is choosing not to chat to anyone

Sigmama · 25/05/2023 22:02

Flower - not everyone needs a car to get to work, there are other modes of transport

JMSA · 25/05/2023 21:59

I used to enjoy 'talking shit' 🙄 with the other mums.
With attitudes like that, it's little wonder some of you struggle.

Sarahtm35 · 25/05/2023 21:58

I wasn’t into small talk with other mums so I can relate, however now my situation is different with school run, my youngest goes to a special needs school 30 miles away so has taxi there and my 2 older ones are at secondary and college so I just drive them and they bugger off out the car door.

I do miss some elements of the school run now, I did it for over a decade at the same school and When covid hit my middle child was in year 5 so she never got another sports day, school play ever again and for ages we weren’t even allowed to approach the other parents cause of social distancing rules. I missed it once it was taken away and I’m pretty sure you will too when your child grows up.

Peterpiperpickedapeckof · 25/05/2023 21:57

It can be a chore but I really miss it now it’s not part of my days any more. Those incidental social moments can be lovely. And you get to know people for years sometimes.

So, I don’t feel the same as you but on occasion I did yes, when my baby was crying or toddler screaming or I just felt awful and tired and dowdy and sad.

FluffyDiplodocus · 25/05/2023 21:57

I actually like doing it! I only do it two days a week due to work, I think it's nice to have that contact in seeing their teachers, chatting with other parents and I like seeing my kids interacting with their friends too. This morning they were all playing some crazy game running around each other! Maybe I wouldn't enjoy it if I did it every single day though.

Legandawing · 25/05/2023 21:55

I do the exact same. Sit in the car & wait until one minute past the time school finishes. I cba with the jangling, I say hello & I am never rude. I just get the kids & off we go back to the car. My sister is the total opposite to me when my nephew was in the school. She would be that mum talking to everyone. She used to laugh at how antisocial I was & I used to laugh at how gossipy she was.

3AndStopping · 25/05/2023 21:52

YANBU. Not one bloody bit. Standing outside the gates waiting for them to open is painful, either you’re standing alone looking like Billy no mates or making awkward small talk with another mum you’re a bit friendly with (obliged even on days when you really cannot be arsed to socialise.)

Then the school gates open and I feel like I’m being rammed into a concert every bloody time. To many people.

DD’s class always seem to be the bloody last out, so queue more awkward small talk. ‘How’s verity’s rash now? So glad she’s better. We must get the girls together outside school x absolutely loves verity.’ 🤮

Turn and run out the gate, thanking every staff member you see on the way out.

Your kid see’s every single human they know on the walk home and wants to run up to them so you have to do more awkward parent talk. Some of the parents are bloody weird, sorry.

Back to the car & breathe

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