In having 4 DCs, and still using buggy for DD....

[Inthepotty]

Have just dropped older DCs off at school.

DD (3yrs, just!) had massive tantrum this morning as she wanted to go on her scooter. It's about 2 miles to school, few busy roads, and piss pouring down. Being the cruel mother I am, I stuck her in the buggy and set off.

DD was still moaning and flailing by the time we were going in the gates. Horrid viper woman (who has one DS in my DTs class) turned to her friend and said VERY loudly

"People shouldn't have as many children if they can't control them, my DS never carried on like that in his buggy, he was out of his pushchair by the time he was 2, I just carried him if he was tired." Also a very pointed look in my direction.

Now, I'm not really sure what she expects me to do- I'm told you can't actually shove DCs back?! They're not a bad bunch really, DD just being 3 and hard work at the mo. Am now having a wobble that she's too old for her buggy. She does look older than she is, I suppose.

AIBU to spend all day alternating between panicking I should be making her walk, and hoping this horrid cow trips up into a puddle??

Thanks for the many replies- was worried that I was being selfish sticking DD in, she can manage the scoot/walk but it's so much easier to be able to shove book bags/pack ups/sports kit on the handles and go!

Am setting off on school run now, DD happily sat in buggy with raisins and buzz light year.

My nephew 3 and a half has a problem with his ankles and falls over when he tries to walk injuring himself regulary so in a buggy and for some reason people think its okay to stare and judge when he criesto be let out to walk as if they hav nothin better to do!!!
So you do whatever you feel best and dont care wat anone else thinks.

I can't find a link, but this was in the news in last 2 months. 70% of people walk less than 10 minutes a day (on average). Which if you think about someone on school run, means a maximum of 200m in any direction. Not 3200m each way like OP is doing. Even my 2-3yos could manage 200m bursts most days.

YABU for not pushing her into a puddle. People like that tend to be the lazy ones who drive everywhere and get their children to walk from the car to the school gate! Hats off for getting out of the house with four of them!

Ds is 3 3/4 and still regularly in a buggy (often with a tantrum) as the school run is about 0.8 miles each way with several roads to cross (just as an example my pedometer recorded over 13000 steps yesterday and he was with me for over two thirds of that)

(a) he always ends up asking for a carry about a third of the way up the hill or just sits down on the pavement, (b) he's a nightmare at holding hands and is very likely to run off, (c) I have too much to carry. He still gets plenty of walking during the day as I rarely use the car. I'm hoping to wind down the pushchair use over the summer and build up his stamina for walking a bit ...

Don't let anyone judge you - you know what is appropriate in your circumstances.

YANBU. Ignore the judgy so-and-so.

Exactly what farrow said, the women (bitch) was probably a car driver who doesn't have a clue about walking long distances with a small child.

Crikey, my nearly 5 yr old jumps in the buggy sometimes when she's tired. And I always put ds, 2.5 yrs, in it if he's tired or playing up. I'd have told the interfering old bat to piss off and mind her own business.

No doubt if you hadn't had your little one in a buggy she'd have made a load comment about making your lo walk in the rain. My dts were only in buggy till about 2 as their buggy broke and I didn't want to fork out for a new one. DD3 is 19 months and will definately be in her buggy a lot longer. We have a 3 mile round trip to school and I generally let her walk part of the way home but if I let her walk there we'd have to leave at 6am

It's not easy but please try to ignore this nasty woman and just enjoy your family. Seriously would you really want to carry a 3 year old who'd been jumping in all the puddles just to please her?

loud not load

my dd used one up until about 2.5-3 years.
if it makes you feel any better a woman at my dds school has a dd my age (7) and a son (12 who is in senior school!!!!! and no he has no disabilitys and nothing wrong ) and she takes them out on trips in a double buggy that she recently purchased for this purpose!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kelly I can believe the seven year old as there is a 7 year old girl who is brought to school in a buggy in dc school but surely not the twelve year old! Are you sure he doesnt have a hidden disability?

Its nobodys business but yours if your dd uses a buggy. Just ignore b**es like that.

What a cow (her not you OP)! My just 3 year old still regularly uses the buggy. More to the point, it's none of her business, and she must live a truly perfect life to judge on something as insignificant as a three year old in a buggy!

I read an article the other day about how physically being able to walk was a separate skill from walking consistently along the road with you, which they only learn about the age of three (obviously within normal variable limits). So it's normal for them to be carried or pushed till then.

my dd is 4.5 and still hops in the buggy if she is tired on the way home from walking DD1 to school, it is just under a mile there, so nearly a 2 mile round trip & she does it twice a day. i have had comments from people but i just ask them if they walk 4 miles a day, when they say no i ask why they expect my DD to. once she starts school in september i wont take the buggy cos she will only be walking half the distance!

ignore the silly old bat who had a go at you, none of her business what you do!

If it is any consolation, DD2 had a massive tantrum,removed her shoes and had to be returned to the car while waiting for DS1 and 2 to come out.Yes everyone was looking,but by the fourth I am past caring!! Everyone elses seem to sit quietly in thier pushchairs,but at least mine have spirit!

I've got one like that tiggyfours. Great aren't they? Sometimes I almost can't face going out in public.

My ds is 2.10 and I still use the buggy on the school runs for him as he can't walk that far at the speed I need to get there. It's also handy to hang the PE kits, lunch bags, backpacks and book bags on!
My ds starts nursery in sept so by then I'm hoping he'll be able to walk at least one part of the journey!