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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why so few parents walk their kids to and from school these days?

159 replies

JellyDiamonds · 11/09/2014 20:02

This evening I had to quickly pop into town and my route takes me down a side street where there's a large old Victorian primary school with a smallish car park that's for teachers only. It was 3.15, and despite the fact that it was absolutely glorious, warm and sunny, I couldn't get over just how many parents had driven to collect their kids from the school.

It was absolute chaos, cars double parked, parked on corners, parked at strange angles, blocking entrances to a business and even blocking the entrance to the school itself. I felt so sorry for the people who live there, most of the houses are terraces with no off street parking at all. It made me think, I was rarely picked up or dropped off by car. I always walked, even in the rain. When I got to secondary school I got the bus as it was further away. The only time my parents even picked me up by car was if we were going somewhere straight from school, which was so rare.

Surely most children live within walking distance of their primary school? And on a gorgeous late summers evening there is surely no excuse for such laziness? We have all legs don't we? Why don't we use them more often? I don't understand it...

OP posts:
StripyBanana · 11/09/2014 20:03

Work. I walk but working mums often need to whizz off straight away.

or out of catchment.

redexpat · 11/09/2014 20:05

Because they usually pick them up on the way back from work and dont have time or energy to get home, then walk back to school. That's why I pick DS up in the car from the CM. I do try and cycle or walk with him, though when he's only got little legs it takes a while.

Icelollycraving · 11/09/2014 20:06

Are you for real?
Ok,I'll answer as if you are. People have busy lives,there are jobs/clubs/more homework etc than when I was at school. More people have cars generally & it's just easier.

lilrascal · 11/09/2014 20:06

really? you are genuinely asking why? ok ... a few reasons. not everyone lives close to a school. some people work and go straight for school pick up. not everyone is able bodied to walk. im more surprised you are supposedly genuinely asking this ... so you walk every day. your medal is in the post.

"We all have legs dont we?" very patronising.

lilrascal · 11/09/2014 20:07

the more i read your last paragraph the more pissed off you make me.

JellyDiamonds · 11/09/2014 20:07

Easier, or just laziness? Seriously, if you only live a five minute walk away it's not hard to just walk is it?

OP posts:
HeySoulSister · 11/09/2014 20:10

Evening? It's a 3.30 pick up. How is that an 'evening'??

Acolyte · 11/09/2014 20:11

Out of catchment.

Iggly · 11/09/2014 20:11

Work. Most mums work dontcha know

Or they need to get another child from a different setting.

JellyDiamonds · 11/09/2014 20:11

Late afternoon then, if you want to be really pedantic.

OP posts:
lilrascal · 11/09/2014 20:12

oh apologies ... so you KNOW all these people that were doing pick up in cars live 5 mins away. and that they dont work or have come from a further distance than their house.

TheBogQueen · 11/09/2014 20:14

I suppose many people have children at school a few miles away from home, they may have children at different schools.

They may be taking them to after school activities

They might have to drive to abd from work so pick up kids in car.

Just some wild guesses

MrsPiggie · 11/09/2014 20:14

Some parents do need to drive straight on to work, but... We live 6 minutes walk away from the primary. Every morning we walk past this lady who puts her children in the car. We always arrive at school before her - by the time she straps them in, drives the 500ft to the school, parks and gets them out I'm already on my way out. I've always wondered why she drives them.

HeySoulSister · 11/09/2014 20:14

Hey op.... Maybe the children have disibilities?? Or the parents?

Had you thought of that? No?

lilrascal · 11/09/2014 20:15

no HeySoulSister they are all just lazy Hmm

MissPenelopeLumawoo · 11/09/2014 20:16

How do you know that everyone lives five minute walk away? Or maybe there is swimming club straight after school, or they have to do another pick-up at a senior school/nursery straight afterwards. Loads of reasons. BTW, I am in my forties and lived about 3 miles from my school when I was growing up- my mum drove us everyday. So it isn't a new thing.......

WiseGuysHighRise · 11/09/2014 20:16

I come straight from work to pick the kids up.

My friend has 2 kids in different schools thanks to the messed up admission arrangements.

Have you really never considered that people live different lives than when you were young?

Blackhandbag · 11/09/2014 20:17

I live in the same town I did as a child, then there was 3 primaries.

Now there is still 3 primaries but the town is 3 times the size!

Catchment areas are much bigger, kids in my area aren't on the schools doorstep anymore.

JellyDiamonds · 11/09/2014 20:17

Or maybe they are just lazy?

And honestly coming straight from work doesn't excuse the utterly appalling parking I saw this afternoon. How they passed their driving tests is beyond me, if you need to drive then park somewhere more convenient and not badly and dangerously..

OP posts:
LavaDragonflies · 11/09/2014 20:17

They have come from work, they have children at other schools, they are going out straight from school, they enjoy driving, loads of reasons and none are really your business.

yestheyhavethesamedad · 11/09/2014 20:18

let me see, not picking up as mine go to after school as I work, but going to school I drive as one of my children got into the catchment school 5 mins walk from my house and the other didn't and it is a 10 min drive or 35min walk which to the one outside the catchment area i can't do as I also have to get another to nursery before going to work so yes I have legs but since I have not yet learned how to divide myself into 3 I have to keep using the car.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 11/09/2014 20:18

Often, these days, children need to be whisked off to an extra-curricular activity: music lesson/sports lesson/further tuition/dance class/martial arts. So time is of the essence, and not always enough time to walk home, then get in car to drive off to next activity. It all needs to be so speedy nowadays.

Having said that, I do live near a school and the parking/driving is hazardous to put it mildly.
(My children are grown up now, so I can complain, if I want) Grin

Wednesbury · 11/09/2014 20:18

There's little point in adding to this thread but ...

I would love to walk my children home from school, as would many of the other mothers I know. However, most of us are trying to squeeze in work during school hours not to mention that many of us don't live in walking distance. Many many more mothers work now than did when I was a child (1980s). Also it is true that often children are going to after school clubs in the next town. But most of us are in a big rush getting across to school from work.

sunnyrosegarden · 11/09/2014 20:19

In our school - they live too far away; one of the mains roads has no pavement and is on a steep steep hill; parents come straight from work; taking children to clubs straight from school.

yestheyhavethesamedad · 11/09/2014 20:19

"35min walk to the one outside the catchment which I can't do "