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?

I’m confused how is there a queue for home time? What if her kid is out before yours? Should she wait just because you were there first?

at ours our classes all come out at 3ish (one might be 2.58,3.01 etc) and we just wave grab and go. There’s no official queue

It doesn't in most shops, I was actually picturing more of a supermarket situation where the doors open and everyone just goes their separate ways.

I feel like in real life most people would agree that pushing in front of people who you know had already been waiting before you - in any situation, 'official' queue or not - is usually seen as pretty rude.

The queue is to get in the gate to the playground. So the order of the queue is utterly irrelevant to when you’ll pick you’re kid up.

Everyone saying its not a queue. Bet you'd all stand in it though if it was at your school gates

It may be that she has to grab her child and run to go get another child from elsewhere. The dawdling at pick up can be unbearable

I assume your kids go to a little village school or something? I'm trying to imagine the 400ish parents at our school queuing nicely in single file to be let in

Duplicate post

Thank you, I needed a good laugh😄

Maybe, like I suggested, she's like me and has a disability that means she has to queue jump. I don't feel the need to explain that to everyone I walk past

Ah ok. I’m surprised your allowed in the playground. We’re all kept outside and our kids are brought to the gates to make sure every child gets to a parent and the playground doesn’t turn into chaos.

i have older kids at our school. Previously we didn’t queue, we all huddled near the gate and had a chat.
The new reception lot for my youngest child all started queuing and it’s really weird - like why stand in a line and speak to no one ?! So I went against the grain and didn’t queue…… no one seems to queue anymore 😁

So I guess my question is - is the queue really necessary or is it all a bit British and antisocial?

But this isnt a queue that will get you to the outcome everyone is there for any quicker.

This wouldnt bother me tbh but I get that it might annoy others, it is pretty rude what this woman is doing.

And if people are going to jump any queue they should expect they might be challenged on it. Appreciate they might not give a shit tho 😬

I like people that don’t queue for the sake of queuing.
A rugby scrum sounds much more entertaining imo. Maybe you could form a circle and start a singalong?

oh never mind OP it makes no difference to how quickly you get your child - that's what you are there for, and only that really, let the playground nonsense happen between the children in the actual playground

It's not about getting their quicker it's simply that I cannot stand for any length of time

People can challenge all they like. I don't owe them my medical history

I've never seen queueing to do school pick up. The children come out when they come out, it's not like waiting to be served in a shop.

Does the person at the front of the queue get their child first, or does it not make any difference what order the parents file into the playground?

Does no one challenge her?

Well I don't because I don't push them out the way or perform said leapfrog. But I can get annoyed at people walking at a glacial pace who clearly don't have anywhere better to be holding up the 'queue' (agree it is not a queue) because they want to let their baby walk along and block 200 other parents getting on with their day. It's not just work, it's getting to appointments, clubs etc.

This. Who gets aggravated and can be bothered with queues? Kids pour out randomly. 🙄

I think, arrive first, casually lean up against the actual gate, and look at your phone. Then see what she does. This could turn into an ongoing kind of psychological tussle. I need to know what happens….

queues were under covid. Now since the gates open, whoever is there, barge in please.

Some people just love queuing! It’s the same in my school, 80% of people are lined up one behind the other, leaving a huge gap at the front near the gate. Why?!
I usually just walk to the front (I’m never early tbf) wondering why people are in a line when it makes no difference to getting your child?

But in this situation youd still be standing for the exact same amount of time its not like the gates open and the kids are already there so pushing to the front means this woman can get home 1 min quicker

So youd/shes be pushing to the front for no reason or benefit at all. Which is why I wouldnt personally care but also Im not sure why the queue pusher is doing it either 😆

Tbh this is why I was usually one of the last at pick up. Cba with standing around risking someone making eye contact and getting annoyed when it was my DC class that was ALWAYS the last let out 😤

This sounds a lot like my kids' primary school pick up. There is a queue to get past a smapl gate into the staff carpark, then another gate into the playground where we collect the kids.

I never come early enough to 'queue', but I also would not go in front of other parents. I hang right back so I don't have to make small talk. It would be weird in our school if someone did what this woman is doing. Funnily enough, once the gate opens and we are all in the staff car park, people go in front of each other and nobody cares.

All this said, I couldn't care less who goes through the gate first as it doesn't mean they'll get their kids any quicker than me