School run mum

We live approx 7 mins walk from school but I still drive on the days I drop my daughter off as I then have to get to work for 9am which is pretty much impossible as it is

So many posters on here spend so much time assuming way too much about what other mums (particularly on the school run) think of them.. there's a very good chance they're not thinking about you at all.

Unless they've given you reason to think otherwise, maybe don't go around assuming that the mum just walking her kid to school is blanking you, or giving you the side-eye, or smirking at you.. or talking about you (as another PP said, her comment may not have been directed at you at all). It's exhausting. They are mostly just ordinary women trying to get through the day as best they can, not thinking about ways they can offend you.

Sensible answer.

I believe you, OP.

Just ignore her or stare right back at her until she looks away.

She's trying to make you feel intimidated.

Do you have a really nice car? Do you have something else she could be jealous of?

I had a school mum.stare blankly at me when I said hello ti her every school run, when I bumped into her at the shops. She would stare at me. Never once replied.

I just filed her in the oddball pile and after 6 months of trying, returned the favour and pretended she was invisible. She didn't talk to anyone that I could see in 9 years of that school run.

Possibly this. We walk because we only live a mile away and I have sorted my work hours around the walk. Kids still mean a lot and I've told them to stop being lazy before. I may have looked at someone else unintentionally whilst saying it.

Or she could be a knob, there are plenty out there and plenty of people like to feel superior about their life choices.

Either way just ignore it, if it's the former she won't have even paid any attention to you and if its the latter then ignoring her won't give her the reaction she's looking for.

This.
Get on with your life, op. I doubt she’s giving you a fraction of the headspace you’re giving her.

Grey rock. Pretend you don't even notice her.

Sunglasses help but either way, just don't look in her direction or react. Grey rock always works on this sort of bully because they feed on your reaction.

She sounds like an idiot.

Gosh OP that is an awful lot of assumptions to make about someone you don't know based on facial expressions and one overhead comment.

Tbh I say something similar to my sons cause they're lazy and regularly moan that we walk (literally 100m) when their friends get driven.

I'd just stop making eye contact w her if you think she's being a dick.

She said WE walk to school and looked over at OP, pretty straightforward to me - she is being a ***y mean girl (probably out of internalised stuff) so laugh at her or even pity her in your heart and ignore her in real life? She's only showing herself up, and if you learn to see it as her problem and not yours then that's somehow freeing. No need to explain yourself to someone like that. Walk tall. x

You could maybe try looking if your driving is inconsiderate ? There was a woman who parked outside school and realised because of the railings her child wouldn't get out . So to solve this problem she would just reverse into a mother and child who were crossing the road . I did have to bang on her car to get
her to stop and she realised what she had done and just drove straight off.
Some people should never be allowed to drive near a school , with children in a car .

I wouldn't say anything to her. What if like a pp said she really has resting birch face (I do) or is a bit awkward and was telling her child not to be lazy and complain about walking?? Just give her the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe she isn't sure who you are but attempts a half smile in case she is meant to know you to see if you will react.

Either you've misinterpreted the 'smirk' and comment as being about you when they aren't.

Or

She's a cow.

Either way, ignore! Why are you letting her get on your head OP? Do you need her to like you?

Id loudly say to my DC...wow I thought we were going to be late stuck behind the (insert vehicle)....it's a pain isn't it living fifteen mins away

Sounds like something a mum listening to “but whhhhhy can’t we just take the bus?” x46273 would reply tbh. It could have been me and my reception kid! She can easily make it and when I say we’re going to the shop on the way home, she has run most of it. I would have meant “lazy” for our circumstances not anyone else. Most drive because the school is awkward to get to.

I'd be so tempted to catch her gaze and slowly mouth "f off."
But in reality. Ignore and avoid.
Whatever it is, it's her problem.
Some people are strange... unpleasant... nasty

Jealous if driving kids to school? surely it would be the other way round?

Maybe she wishes fewer parents would drive their kids to school

Afternoon all,

I am planning to move to the Watford (maybe Bushey) area. My girl is due to start secondary school in September. She dosnt have a school place yet but is on the waiting list for some. The schools that she has potential of going to have around 32 to 38 percent of A to C grades. I would love her to go to a great school but equally would love her to go to a school with kids from a similar background (multicultural but asian/muslim community too). Equally, has anyone had any luck with in year applications in that area.

some tips of how to increase chances for in year application (aside from
bring in catchment) would be appreciated.

sadi

FYI Ive had two people confront me over the years that they think I'm blanking them/don't like them.
The one who thought I was blanking her was a school mum (I think) and I genuinely didn't know who she was, I don't think her kid was in my kids class.
The second was a friend of a friend. Seemed quite nice, I never gave her any thought, but she'd seen a photo where it looked like I was looking at her funny and invented a whole narrative around it.
Both things have perplexed me ever since. Why would this woman be thinking about you?

Tbh, it's highly unlikely I'd notice or think about this so I'd do nothing!

I would ask to speak to her outside school when the children aren’t there. Straight up ask her if she has a problem with you. Explain she is making you feel uncomfortable.

If it is me, please know that

1. I havea grumpy resting face but because I am a bit socially awkward, any attempts at a passive and bland smile normally end up looking like a tight lipped smug smile. Sorry.

2. my child would love me to drive the school run instead of me forcing him to walk the 15 minutes. The last time we asked was also the 8 millionth time he asked and I said "we aren't lazy, we walk, it isn't far and its good for us" or similar because he really was just being a lazy toad and couldn't be bothered walking.

In short, it's most likely not about you.

I don't think this in your mind - she does sound judgmental. I wouldn't want to open up any acquaintance with her by trying some conversational gambit. Don't pander to these types. Think of yourself as Princess Anne spotting an unruly corgi and ignore her completely. Resist the temptation to look to see if you she is staring at you. It is absolutely nothing to do with her if you drive even if you live round the corner. Princess Anne wouldn't explain why she was driving the Range Rover and neither should you.