What does this school mum actually think the rest of us are queuing for??

[aperolspritzbasicbitch]

In general I arrive at my child’s school for pick up about 5 minutes before the playground gate is opened. Not on purpose, it just happens that sometimes the walk is quicker than others. Sometimes I’m the first one there, sometimes there are a few people in front, and others join the queue behind me.

One particular mum will turn up bang on collection time (fine) and just walk past the queue of people patiently waiting and stand right in front of the gate.
As if we aren’t all there for the same reason.

It actually baffles me that she seems to think that her need to collect her child is any greater than the rest of us, but so far haven’t said anything because I can’t be arsed with any playground drama, although yesterday I was tempted to side step in front of her just as the gate was open.

is this not just straight up rude behaviour?

Never known a queue for this before.

Was she brought up in the UK do you think?

A former colleague is eastern European and used to do things like this when she first moved here, she didnt fully appreciate the British attitude to queueing is that its not optional! She got it after a couple of fallings out at supermarkets etc and a long chat with at work!

It may be that she isnt being deliberately rude and doesnt see it as queue jumping because she doesnt know the rules.

Does anyone else seem bothered? I'm surprised someone hasn't said.
I think it's rude to skip the queue but I agree you should say something or let it go .
what happened today?

OP, you keep insisting that it’s a queue and that she should therefore follow queue etiquette. What you haven’t been able to articulate is why there’s a queue and what benefit the queue serves. It honestly sounds like the queue serves no purpose except to move you from one waiting area to another. If this is the case then YABU, and honestly a bit foolish to be wasting energy over this none issue.

Possibly the gate is right next to the road, so you can't just stand in a gathering..This is exactly like my child's school, people end up in a line because otherwise they would be stood on the road waiting.

EdIt - sorry I quoted the wrong poster

Wow. reading comprehension on Mumsnet is at an all time low today.

This is me too. I’ve never understood the waiting in a line outside the gates. I always wait till the gates are open and I just stroll in….. I’m sure I’m the mum people who have been stood out in the cold lining up questioning whether I’m oblivious to why others are queuing 🙈😂 now if by any chance I had a complete personality transplant and turned into one of those eager parents who are 5-10-15 mins early then I understand queuing till the gates are open as often it’s on the public path for other passer bys but when you arrive when the gates are open do we really need to join the queue at the back and enter single file in a line when the gates are usually huge 🤷🏻‍♀️ xx

I can see it from both sides.

On the one hand, this woman is flagrantly flouting the British rule of queuing, thus, understandably, evoking the wrath of the other mums who are obediently obeying social expectations.

On the other hand, she’s arriving and seeing a load of people queue pointlessly, because it’s not really a queue, and thinking ‘fuck that’ because it’s a massive waste of time.

On balance, I kind of have to side with the (not a) queue jumper.

Sorry OP

Possibly the gate is right next to the road, so you can't just stand in a gathering..This is exactly like my child's school, people end up in a line because otherwise they would be stood on the road waiting.

its of no consequence who is last, so it might as well be anyone 😂

We had exactly this when my son was in primary and the family wasn’t from the UK. They honestly didn’t realise that there was an unwritten rule that most of us are brought up to abide by.

It of consequence to the people who are queuing, so the people who don't care about queues can go in when the gates are open.

This woman excepted of course - she obviously loves being at the top of a queue.

This entire thread is a waste of everyone’s time and totally pointless.

It of consequence to the people who are queuing

how so?

so the people who don't care about queues can go in when the gates are open.
This woman excepted of course - she obviously loves being at the top of a queue.

so according your logic the only way one can been shown to not care about queuing is to get to the back of a queue? This is so entirely circular and ironic...

What didn't you understand?

Weird, is there a queue system imposed by the school ? When I picked up my younger step son from school you just waited in the play area and they came out when class ended. Best feeling in the world seeing him run towards me for a big hug. He’s taller than me now and would knock me over 🤣

@aperolspritzbasicbitch to avoid the annoyance maybe just leave the house a few minutes later and arrive just as/after the gates open?

We had the same years ago, from a nursery mum. Nursery carpark was tiny and not enough room for even half the parents to park there, so most parked a few minutes away and walked in, often with babies and or younger siblings, and waited in a queue.
One mum arrived at pick up time, drove into the carpark, blocked probably 6 other cars and barged to the front to collect her DD. I found her quite intimidating. In a way i suppose it helped if she got her kid first because everyone would have to wait while she moved her car anyway. (But was still annoying)

Fast forward 12 years the DD was apparently one of the popular (but scary) girls in DDs gcse year!

OP it sounds like your main issue is you don't actually know what a queue is.

Does it matter? If I arrive at school and there's loads of people waiting in a huddle around the pavement but there's space nearer the gate I'll walk nearer the gate. Does that mean I jump a queue? Surely it's just standing where there is more space to wait. Plus if have youngest child with me by the gate is safer than by the road.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 you’re so funny!!!! 😆

Why is the first in queue person leaving a gap between the gate and the start of the queue? She sounds a bit self absorbed but she might be thinking she might as well walk up to the spot right in front of the gate because no one is standing there. Maybe she thinks you all deliberately leave it reserved for her special self!

If it's annoying you then surely the answer is to stand and wait where she likes to stand and wait. Then she can't unless she's going to barge you out of the way. Then you can fight her haha.

I get what people are saying about it making no difference because you have to wait again once you're in the playground but it would annoy me too. It's like when you've been waiting on the station platform for 5 mins and when the train turns up and the doors open some Johnny come lately barges past and gets on first (while everyone else is following "the rules" and allowing passengers to alight first).

as you can see from so many posts, because her - and other posters - think she's so much more important and above a queue for every other parent.

But a QUEUE? Why would I queue, look at me, the rest of you just wait 😂

I can picture exactly the kind of queue, surely it cannot be more obvious what the group of parents waiting rain or shine are doing standing in front of the gates.. in a queue. What else could they possibly be doing?

OP, I would just place myself as close as possible to make sure she can't go past, just for the fun of it.

Look at the way parents park, there are always parents who are better than others, and think rules and basic manners don't apply to them

You can't make that up:

"it's a pointless queue, so obviously I don't need to queue, I am better than you * 😂😂

At least we found her, or her sister , on this thread.

Only she can answer that. Go on, ask her ..😃