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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not understand the big deal about doing the school run?

63 replies

gilbert26 · 12/03/2012 13:44

DS is only 1 so not at school yet. He does go to nursery 3x a week, and dropping him off is fine. We tootle in, I have a brief chat with his key workers, I nod hello to the odd parent, I then go to work. Job done. Why is it so different when it comes to school? Having read a few threads on MN about the school run you'd think it was equivalent to going over the top.

I don't mean to be bitchy about this - but seriously, what is the big deal? Am I overlooking something which is going to come and bite me in 3.5 years time?

OP posts:

OrmIrian · 12/03/2012 16:53

IME it's the parking (assuming you can't walk there) and the mad rushing and fear of being late that makes it stressful. Babies and toddlers have to be got ready - at some point school age children have to be encouraged to get themselves ready, and that is the point at which it starts to get stressful. My youngest child is now 9 and it's still stressful every morning. Thankfully the other 2 are at secondary so their lateness/preparedness is Not My Problem anymore!

I am quite happy to serenely ignore everyone so the politics/bitchiness thing isn't an issue.

everlong · 12/03/2012 16:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KalSkirata · 12/03/2012 17:03

cos its a 3 mile slog there twice a day. sob. And some bastard put a hill the size of the Matterhorn in the way.

ragged · 12/03/2012 19:45

What Tabalahrasa said. I don't sense competitive or intimidating, but I am wary of which parents to talk to (have learnt the hard way :().

On top of that, DC literally talk my ears off the moment they exit & then they try to kill each other competing for my attention. Naturally they are prone to strops walking both ways, too. I am not a morning person & have to supervise everyone out the door & deal with all the gumpfph of school stuff at home too, so am often a quivering exhausted wreck by 9am. It's quite draining.

treadwarily · 12/03/2012 20:46

Well it's different because you have to be at school at certain times, along with the rest of the school population. And this can be tricky if for example you have a newborn or a sick toddler to crowbar into the arrangment.

As to other parents, never had a problem with that and I don't really get it. I've heard others complain about cliques but they are the same people who complain about cliques at playgroups etc and I've never had a problem at those places either.

jinsei · 12/03/2012 20:59

I do the school run every day on my way to work, and pick up once a week. It's no big deal at all. YANBU

funkybuddah · 12/03/2012 21:19

I've never understood thw big deal about school runs either and ds is 10.

A lot of drama llama-ing over nothing.

hazeyjane · 12/03/2012 21:26

'A lot of drama llama-ing over nothing'

for you, everyone is different.

OlympicEater · 12/03/2012 22:06

I think it is the hanging around in the playground like billy no mates that some people find daunting about the school run. In our school FS and KS1 come out at 3.15 and KS2 at 3.30, so that is at least 20 minutes standing in the playground if you have DCs of different ages.

The school run coat / shoes / dress thing on S&B is so not about dressing correctly, but more about being practical and dressing for your day. So... you need flat shoes that you can walk a couple of miles in, but you don't want to wear trainers, so you ask for recommendations for comfy but non frumpy shoes. You need a waterproof coat - with a hood, that covers your bum, and maybe has several pockets for keys / phone / purse - cos you are laden down with book bags / lunch bags / instruments etc etc so can't manage to carry your own handbag too. The school run dress is a dress that you can chuck on after gardening / snoozing / housework when you realise that you have to run up the road to pick up DCs as you are late, you chuck a dress on and bingo you look pulled together rather than pulled through a hedge.

Hulababy · 12/03/2012 22:10

I've never got the issue either.

DH does drop off and no issues there either.

I collect.
I go wearing whatever I have had on that day.
I drive to school, park in nearby road, walk into playground and wait.
I will say hi or nod hello to people, will chat with anyone I know a bit better.
When DD comes out, we say goodbye to anyone we were chatting to and leave.

I also do the school pick up once a week for a friend's DDs. Know far less parents obviously - but do similar.

Cherriesarelovely · 12/03/2012 22:29

I don't think the school run is inherently dreadful but I for one am sick of it and am very glad my DD is now old enough to walk a bit of the way on her own. God knows why but I just started to feel as if I had nothing to say to people, even though i am a really chatty person. Then I had a HUGE falling out with another parent and it just made the playground a very uncomfortable place to be. IMO you just get to the point where enough is enough!

Cherriesarelovely · 12/03/2012 22:31

No issues about what I wear on the school run however! Nobody takes a blind bit of notice of that.

Original poster

gilbert26 · 15/03/2012 13:24

Just to say thanks for all the interesting posts - despite the logistical nightmares which some of you have flagged up to me (last year, kids living in our road got sent to the 14th closest infant school), I am perversely rather looking forward to this next phase in being a mum! still some years to go tho, so still time for the optimism to fade!

thanks again.

OP posts:

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