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Original poster

Do you wait or drive home?

31 replies

ambivalentisland · 13/03/2026 21:19

Tomorrow my DD has a club & then rehearsals from 9.30am - 2pm. It’s 30 mins drive away. Then she’s got to be at the theatre for a performance at 5pm. That’s near the club so a similar distance. The show starts at 7pm so I’ll need to be there for that time.

ill definitely drive home in the morning but not sure its worth it in the evening too. it’s so much driving! What would you do?

do you usually wait in the car (or go somewhere else?) whilst your DC are in clubs or similar , or do you go home?

OP posts:
MarmaladeSandwichUnderMyHat · 13/03/2026 21:26

It is a lot of driving back and forth (and who knows how much fuel prices will rise by!)
Is there any life admin/Netflix you can do in the car? Or a supermarket nearby?

ChinaPlates · 13/03/2026 21:27

I’d do something else between five and seven. Like the shopping or go for a meal.

ShakyBake · 13/03/2026 21:53

Might seem a bit over the top but have you looked at local hotels?

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SummerFrog2026 · 13/03/2026 21:57

I spent a LOT of time waiting...I did a mixture of sitting in the car (devices/reading/crochet) & cafes/pubs/whatever was nearby. I listened to a lot of LBC.

foobio · 13/03/2026 21:59

Is there a local library, cafe or pub? I think I'd settle down with a book or laptop (and a nice slice of cake...)

Jk987 · 13/03/2026 22:15

Cafe. Have some me time.

Keeldrop · 13/03/2026 22:48

For 2 hours I'd always wait, I worry that there might be delays driving back and I'd end up being late. Usually I'm fine just sitting in the car, or a waiting area if there is one. I wouldn't be paying for coffee shops every time (DD does 7 avtivities a week so it would add up!). I usually have reading material on my kindle (am studying), and sometimes do admin on my phone. In summer sometimes I'll go for a walk, in the area around the venue.

Talipesmum · 13/03/2026 23:10

If they’re annoying 2 hour type windows, DH and I alternate, one dropping off and the other collecting. If we can’t for whatever reason, I’d probably come home - but in your situation with all the other back and forthing, if I couldn’t split the driving with someone else for some of the other journeys, I’d maybe see if there’s anywhere to wait around at 5pm. Maybe get some food? You’ll need to eat some time.

JaneBoleyn · 13/03/2026 23:30

OP I have something similar with DSs activities.

Pillow, blanket and hot water bottle always in the boot 😊

3678194b · 14/03/2026 00:00

I've often thought of all the hours waiting around for DC, in the car, or popping into the shops to kill time while they're having activities. I'm sure it would amount to a sizeable amount.

I guess it depends to what is near. When DC had piano lessons, no shops nearby, it was an hour so I waited in the car. Nearer activities I've gone home.

For 2 hours and if it was at least 30 mins drive away I'd probably go to the nearest supermarket or get a hot drink somewhere.

BerryTwister · 14/03/2026 00:24

I bring a book, iPad, list of admin jobs that I can do online - and then I find a pub to sit in, drink Diet Coke and eat crisps. For a year DS trained near a village with a lovely pub. I really enjoyed listening to the local gossip. And writing my Christmas cards by the fire. I miss that year!

JustGiveMeReason · 14/03/2026 00:30

That's a long day, and a lot to be doing on one day.
How old is she ?

If my dc were in a show in the evening and needed to rehearse before that, I'd be giving a lot of consideration to them missing the morning activities.

However, as a more general question, if the activities weren't something you would generally support / watch - like a sports match or competition - then I would have communicated with other parents and shared pick ups and drop offs rather than yoyoing to and fro.

Other factors would be what the other dc were doing; what dh was doing; if we were busy all week and needed to fit everything into Saturday or not.

BreakingBroken · 14/03/2026 00:57

Sometimes I would stay, or I’d do the drop off and dh did the pick up.
Once we knew more parents, we car pooled, no point in 20 parents doing the same.
Yes, to dining out individually or as a group, although careful on food choices (wouldn’t want to ruin the performance).
Volunteer, so that during the two hours I’d be setting up, organizing dressing rooms, costumes, taking tickets etc etc my fave was working in the canteen.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 14/03/2026 06:30

I'd definitely stay local for the evening, probably go somewhere for a solo dinner. My daughters often have 3 hour rehearsals about 30mins drive away, for that I also stay local and enjoy some peace and quiet with a book in a cafe, long than that I'd think about going home. But I'm very glad now that the eldest can drive!

Thesnailonthewhale · 14/03/2026 06:33

Wowsers, she has such a long day! 13+ hours. She must be exhausted!

Thesnailonthewhale · 14/03/2026 06:33

Wowsers, she has such a long day! 13+ hours. She must be exhausted!

SwedishSayna · 14/03/2026 06:38

Keeldrop · 13/03/2026 22:48

For 2 hours I'd always wait, I worry that there might be delays driving back and I'd end up being late. Usually I'm fine just sitting in the car, or a waiting area if there is one. I wouldn't be paying for coffee shops every time (DD does 7 avtivities a week so it would add up!). I usually have reading material on my kindle (am studying), and sometimes do admin on my phone. In summer sometimes I'll go for a walk, in the area around the venue.

Seven activities a week ....? What are they?

Shedmistress · 14/03/2026 06:40

I'd probably have timed it so I could do the week's shopping in that 2 hour window. I often do this when my OH has a half marathon and it is in a city I'll drive him and do the shop then pick him up after.

Gizlotsmum · 14/03/2026 06:55

I wouldn’t drive back in the evening gap, I would do life admin or grab food or read a book ( realistically I would doom scroll)

Keeldrop · 14/03/2026 07:39

SwedishSayna · 14/03/2026 06:38

Seven activities a week ....? What are they?

Show quote history

Swimming, ballet, judo, violin, gymnastics, drama, maths tutoring.

Eenameenadeeka · 14/03/2026 07:57

Id go home for the first, but wait for the evening. I also have my child's activity 30 minutes away and do the grocery shop/go for a walk/online stuff admin etc/read a book

GameOfJones · 14/03/2026 08:09

I have a 2 hour wait every week while DDs are in a club. I do wait rather than going home as it's just that annoying amount of time, plus parking can be difficult so once I've got a space I leave the car in it.

My usual routine is to go and grab a coffee from Starbucks and take a book but I don't always want to spend money so I'll also go for a walk, listen to a podcast, call my sister for a catch up or do other life amin tasks in that time so I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.

Miskast · 14/03/2026 08:19

Lift sharing helps a lot with this kind of thing, especially when you get into a regular round. A friend does the 3pm, you do the 5pm, it really gives you your day back. Or if not DH and I will do some combination of tag teaming or hanging round with laptop or take DC somewhere. In summer, playground and picnic would be nice between 3 & 5pm and she'd probably run into friends from the show there.

Offer to take a friend or two out for the down time this time and their parents may repay the favour another day.

PensionMention · 14/03/2026 09:11

I would nap in the car and take a flask and book with me. But I can fall sleep literally anywhere and used to nap under my desk at work after locking the office door in my lunch hour.

With phones and so much being available at the touch of a button it’s easy now. Life admin, phone calls, games.

itsthetea · 14/03/2026 09:12

If lift sharing isn’t an option , I’d pack running kit