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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ice cream van outside school

118 replies

Yamyoid · 01/05/2013 20:04

Aibu to be pissed off about the ice cream van parking right outside the school gates?
Would it bu to complain to the council?

OP posts:
HarrySnotter · 02/05/2013 07:07

When I was a kid the ice cream van used to sell a single fag and a match for 6p. Bloody extortion it was!

There's one outside my DCs school, they get one on the way home once a week. I don't give a shit about being the 'baddy' though. They ask, i say no and that's that.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 02/05/2013 07:09

An ice cream van parks on our street literally every sunny day. Also the park most days.

It's got rapidly easier to say no, not today, or I'd be flat broke!

fluffyraggies · 02/05/2013 07:23

I rarely had any cash on me at school pick up, and that's what i'd say to the DCs. 'No, i haven't enough money today'. They wouldn't sulk. I might add 'behave for the week and i'll get you one on Friday'.

As for the memories of DCs hearing the music from the ice cream van coming down the street and looking at me hopefully - bless! IF i said yes there'd be happy squealing and a mad scramble for enough change and all 3 would belt out of the house to look for the van Grin

mummytime · 02/05/2013 07:27

There is one always parked near one local school. There was a new one which appeared near my DCs primary. I said NO, only as a special treat, the PTA also took to buying cheap ice creams from Sainsbury's and selling them in the playground on Friday for school funds (he got cross about that). The local residents have taken to parking to block the non-residents bay where he was parking; so he'd now have to park further up the road or take a risk in the "residents only" bays.

FrustratedSycamoresRocks · 02/05/2013 07:46

I have no issues with icecream. I have a stock of corners and icelollys in the freezer all year for the DCs.

I do have a problem with the icecream van parking right outside the school gates, so I cannot get my dd with autism into the car without a meltdown over a sodding icecream.
I've never said yes to a icecream van icecream, I have no problem with saying no. But she knows what one is. And it winds me up no end. And if the icecream van was up the road a bit rather than in the already dangerous carpark directly outside the gates, it wouldn't be such an issue.

fairylightsinthespring · 02/05/2013 08:05

I get why you are peeved but if your kids are old enough for school can they understand the idea of pennies in a jar and saving up for one on a friday kind of thing? Good opportunity maybe to teach about money and choices and treats etc. What pisses me off is that the ice creams are about £1.50 and much bigger than they need to be. Mine are only 1 and 3 and only need one little swirl of the stuff to be happy. If I could pay 50p and get a proper little one I'd be happier.

likeitorlumpit · 02/05/2013 09:26

i think you should complain to the council and the ice cream company , tell them to make sure there are at least two vans on a nice day , the kids take so long choosing :)

Wouldntyouliketoknow · 02/05/2013 09:40

There's nothing unhealthy about having an ice cream once in a while ffs, so I don't agree with all those trying to pull the 'healthy schools' card.

Parents are the ones in control here - your child doesn't need an ice cream every day after school, so don't buy them one. The end.

mrsjay · 02/05/2013 09:49

there used to be a van who came to our high school and sold us fags

op yabu what do you want the council to do , it is an ice cream van he needs to make a living sees an opportunity and takes it nobody needs to pay him he isn't the child catcher if kids dont have money they cant buy sweets

FinallyMrsFC · 02/05/2013 09:56

An ice cream van is outside our school every day. DS doesn't pester because he knows I will always say no. . I'm a bit bewildered as to why you can't say no to your child tbh.

On hot days I take Jubblys in with me.

mrsjay · 02/05/2013 10:00

It is ok to say no children they wont break in half you know, mummy can I have NO you can't sad face child meh they get over it,

aliasjoey · 02/05/2013 10:01

Amazed at the number of people saying you are unreasonable! I totally agree with you (actually I thought they were banned from outside schools?) There is definitely something about the van which is different to just buying sweets.

Every day a van comes up our road, it started in March. Yes, we can say No, but it's very hard when they see all their friends getting one. I can't afford to buy one every day. We have compromised by having our own in the freezer.

YANBU

mrsjay · 02/05/2013 10:03

we have had an ice cream van that comes round here twice a night for as long as I can remember we used to tell the DDs that when he ran his jingle at night he had run out of sweeties Grin

musickeepsmesane · 02/05/2013 10:07

Did a MNetter actually explode? Was it too much popping candy from the van? Should we dial 111?

FinallyMrsFC · 02/05/2013 10:07

It's not hard to say no. I'm mystified by all these children ruling their parents. Just say no. Even if I was happy for my children to have an ice cream every day, the queue alone puts me off.

The more the whine, the firmer I am. And then on the occasions I let them have one from the van that comes down our street, it's a real unexpected treat for everyone. And I get to have one too Grin

Sirzy · 02/05/2013 10:10

Exactly finally. Wanting to ban something because a parent doesn't want to say no is madness!

anklebitersmum · 02/05/2013 10:15

They shouldn't be parking right outside the school gates. YANBU

I like walking home with the biters, chatting about the day and that's spoilt if I have one or more sulking because I said "No" to an ice cream.

I am not tight but with 3 that's £15 a week on after school ice cream if I do every night Shock

Large tubs of ice cream waiting for them in the freezer at home, complete with cornets, sprinkles and 'magic' sauce that goes crispy and no van hovering outside school is the way forward Grin

BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM · 02/05/2013 10:17

DD's school has one outside, always a queue, no obstruction and the vendor is a lovely chap!

DD tries her luck most days, I say "no" I do allow her one trip to the van a week. I just change the day, keep her on her toes Grin Wink

Oh and Shock at £2.50 for a 99! Matt sells his for £1.20 and they are laden with sherbert and brightly coloured goo! yum!

He also does a legendary "mix up" for 50p (penny mix as was)

Sirzy · 02/05/2013 10:19

I got 3 "99s" for £2.40 from our ice cream man last week!

funkybuddah · 02/05/2013 10:57

YABU if you complain, some parents may like to buy their kids an occasional Ice Cream (after all its not crack, it wont hurt them) some dont.

If you dont want to tell your children no, if they kick of its your own disciplin you need to look at

CheesyPoofs · 02/05/2013 11:01

There's 2 outside DD's school - one at each entrance.

She asked a few times in reception, I said no. She's not asked since.

YoniOneWayOfLife · 02/05/2013 11:05

We have one every day during the summer outside the school gate. Every day the kids ask and every day I say no and every day they point out all the good things they have done and every day I say no and every day one or more of them have a tantrum and every day I say no and every day they still ask and every day I still say no.

DoubleMum · 02/05/2013 11:06

It's quite unlikely his license allows him to park outside the school gates, but it varies from council to council. It's probably fairly easy to check on your local council website.

FadedSapphire · 02/05/2013 11:12

I don't like it however do relent and children know only allowed one from van once a week.
Does not stop occasional melt down on hot sunny day after school though when they are desperate for one. They tantrum/ I threaten to never let them have an icecream from the van again if they make a fuss on non icecream van days... Grrr...happy families....

Flobbadobs · 02/05/2013 11:15

bunbaker I never take my purse with me either! There is an ice cream van parked over the road from school every day of every term, even in the depths of winter. We even had one coming round our street on Christmas eve last year...
It's a good job my 7yo and her cousins still think that if the music is playing it means he's run out of ice cream bad Flobba Grin

YANBU to be a bit pissed off, but if you don't physically have any money on you then you can't be the bad guy.