School run perfunctory smile

Omg this drives me nuts. I live in a small village on a street where parents park their cars at school drop off and pickup times. The majority will do their utmost not to even catch your eye! I find it so rude. How hard is it to smile and say hello? Most older folk do but not the younger ones.
I feel for you OP not knowing what to do. Just be yourself, it is their loss.

I dont get it, this is a social world. You dont have to be friends with anyone who you meet but why do you approach this as a fake smile and acknowledge? Why not a sincere one?
You smile can say "hey, I see you and I know we're both busy loving our lives so here's a smile for you to know you have been aknowledged" and then move on with your life until the next day.
You are only responsible for your own actions and interactions and not other's.
You dont have to make friends with anyone, being sincere and polite is a different kettle of fish.
I was th e same when I used to do the school run, a short eye contact and a smile was almost always received the same way. I never made friends with any parents or neighbours, but I never looked grumpy or unhappy when I passed them.
Keep it positive. Be yourself. You're an adult. Make your choices.

I'm on my tenth year of the school run (damn you, four year age gap). Live in a small place where everyone knows everyone. My technique is to machine gun smiles and good mornings at absolutely everyone I e seen before, even if I seem like a nutter, and I get in first to get it over with. Very freeing to just always do it and not be too selective.

I always just used to say hello and walk on, unless of course we did have a chat. Luckily I don't have to do the school run anymore as my dc have left primary.

I work at my child's school so know loads of the kids and parents. When I'm heading round to the playground to pick him up, I get several hellos between the car and the classroom so I always say hello back, give them a smile and stop for a chat if they do. Makes my day! 😀

I’d always normally say morning or smile. However, sometimes I’m in a world of my own and have defo walked past people without doing anything accidentally (I have 2 under 2 and sometimes by 3pm I’m barely conscious)

Try stop stalking me, you weirdo

Like others have said: smile, probably say "Morning," carry on walking.

It doesn't matter whether they respond or not. Maybe they're busy or distracted. If they never respond at all, then I would drop the "Morning," but keep the smile. It costs nothing and makes people think you're friendly.

It's no more fake than any other social interaction.

Source: am autistic and have spent considerable time observing what is considered normal/friendly on the school run.

Crikey, your brain works overtime doesn’t it

Just a little 'morning' as you pass.

There's no requirement to stop and chat. I do a quick smile and say "alright?" without slowing down or maintaining eye contact for more than a few seconds and they do likewise. For the ones I actually like, we might stop for an actual chat maybe once a fortnight. The ones who are actively ignoring you are probably worried that you are going to try to engage them in conversation so a full-speed flyby with cheery greeting will reassure them.

I can sort of relate to this. I had lived in a major city for all my adult life until moving to a very friendly, family focussed area in the suburbs of a smaller city.

It took me a while to get used to what you’re describing. I’m not unfriendly or rude but I’d become used to the anonymity that a big city brings, especially when you don’t have kids.

Getting used to paying more attention to who I’m passing in the street rather than being in my own head while moving around felt like a draining intrusion at times.

But, I got used to it and really enjoy being part of a community again. I think it’s a much healthier and more grounded way to live.

If you can be bothered to search for it (I can't find it at the moment, sorry), there's a guy on Instagram who has a 'tutorial' on how to make what he calls the National Face for situations like this

You just sound rude. Smile, be polite and set a good example to your children of how to be courteous.

Sorry but if multiple people have started to ignore you I’d assume you are being too intense in how you are acknowledging them, they obviously feel some pressure like you are going to try and initiate a conversation as most people aren’t going to go out of their way to avoid having to smile and carry on. A smile to give brief acknowledgement is all that’s required even if you are seeing them every day, there is no need for it ever to become more than that with most people, certainly no need to try and engage in small talk.

That must make you feel so uncomfortable @SwayingPalm . I had no idea that a simple, friendly smile could have a negative reaction and what you’ve observed makes me feel sad.

The worst part is those who stare watch you walking but dont say hello or nod or smile, just stare. For 6 years, just stare. Weirdos

I don't think a smile is fake I think it's polite. I used to smile on the school run but school dads/male staff got the wrong end of the stick and some women seemed to hate me as in glare with disgust for years, never say hello back. I heard in Eastern Euro culture smiling as you go about your day is considered stupid and fake and in Tamil/Middle Eastern culture seems like you're easy or looking to be chatted up... my DC was in diverse school and some British white as well as those other cultural backgrounds seemed to be really taken back or offended that I smile and say Good morning. I know I sound like I must be crazy walking with a joker smile but I have normal teeth and smile. It's funny because I started smiling more as people used to say I looked angry or anxious.. and now people seemed to be pissed that I'm smiling or think I'm flirting ffs!
You can't win! Some people will just never like you, now I mirror others energy blanking those who blank me.

I say “Morning!” Or similar. If we’re them every day you might progress onto a comment about the weather or small talk. There are a couple of elderly ladies we pass every morning and they have seen my pregnancy bump, pram etc with second baby and love it when DS2 waves at them.

I'd just smile and say morning even if they had heads down, then walk on.

The option you haven’t mentioned is a real smile? No faking required. Just smile and say hello!

I seem to be in the minority but for me the school run is like a commute - there’s an unwritten rule that we don’t chat on the train/bus on the way to work right? The walk to school feels the same.

I would smile/say “morning” if we made eye contact, but I think it’s totally fine to also fine to be in your own world. I’m always happy to have a chat but also saying hi twice a day to someone I vaguely new once seems a bit daft.

A stranger is just a friend you havent met!!!!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Only joking...
Eye contact, hi and a quick smile does the job

If I know people or have chatted before, I say morning. Even if its someone who I've seen regularly nlbut not necessarily chatted to. My dd is in yr3 and I've honestly found one person I would call a friend from the school run, and I consider myself a friendly, easy to approach person. There are a few I would consider acquaintances. Force the issue by saying morning. If people regularly don't respond, just don't bother.

There are some people I've walked past every day for 3 years, said hi and they ignore, so I just don't bother with them.

I also live in a small village and a lot might not agree. But if I know them I will say good morning etc . Other wise I walk past I find it annoying saying a fake hello how are you 50 times a day