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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Paper round in a Range Rover

95 replies

Incywincyspinster · 10/09/2016 23:40

When I was a kid a paper round was a right of passage between childhood and getting a proper job. It was the beginning of our independence. We went out in all weathers and did it in dark mornings and evenings too. If we were lucky we'd persuade a pal to come along for the fun of it.

Our local paperboy gets driven around his route by his mum in a rangerover or his dad in a jaguar. It's not weather dependent as they're there in the sunshine too. They did the same with his brother in the years he was doing the round.

Aibu in thinking this is a bit strange, or is it the norm to be accompanied by parents in expensive top of the range motors on your paper round ?

OP posts:

rosesandcashmere · 10/09/2016 23:42

I would say at least he has a job for himself and there could be a hundred reasons he's driven. He's at least being taught to earn a living and is keen to do so!

PinkyOfPie · 10/09/2016 23:53

Sounds like a pain in the arse and surely it's much quicker on a bike?

Spartak · 10/09/2016 23:53

For what it must be costing them in fuel it can hardly be worth it. Range Rovers aren't known for their fuel efficiency.

Abloodybigholeintheground · 11/09/2016 00:08

Weird! When I had a morning paper round it was around the time when a kid was abducted (possibly murdered? ) when on a paper round. So my dad would drag himself out and come with me on his bike so I could carry on working but they would feel I was safe. (Remember one icy day when he came a cropper round a corner!!). But being driven round in a gas guzzler-not on!

WhisperingLoudly · 11/09/2016 00:13

I'm not sure I'd like my 12-14 year old out in the dark on a bike delivering papers.

I guess your argument is the parents could just give him extra pocket money but making the kid get out even if they are facilitating it teaches them a valuable lesson

yoowhoo · 11/09/2016 00:17

Why does it matter what cars he's being driven in? Why not just say that he gets driven on his paper round. You have no idea why he's being driven. It could be logistics or anything!

FireSquirrel · 11/09/2016 00:18

Perhaps they have SEN and not able to go out alone but are craving the responsibility of a job. Perhaps their parents are just overprotective. Who knows. It's a bit bizarre but not harming anyone.

sirfredfredgeorge · 11/09/2016 00:21

Unecessary journeys (and delivering papers by car is unnecessary) are not harm free, they cause congestion and pollution at least.

It may be that it's a reasonable adaption to some specific needs of the child, but even then I suspect it could be achieved in a better way that does not consume public good. (ride/run with the child etc.)

elephantoverthehill · 11/09/2016 00:24

Marc Bolan, Elvis and Sid Vicious. I learnt about all of their deaths on my paper round. The Day the Music Died.

sandgrown · 11/09/2016 00:28

When it is raining heavily I do take my son but it is in a beat up Fiesta! I know the round so well I have done it on my own so he could go to sleepovers etc.

CousinCharlotte · 11/09/2016 00:31

Lucky kid
I had to do mine on a battered shit heap of a bike with no brakes.

Guessinggame2016 · 11/09/2016 00:38

My DS delivers the free paper once a week. He has loads. The round is near his school not our house. I meet him by school in the car and he loads his bag up from the car as it's loads too many to carry in one go. I love spending the time walking round with him, have our best chats then!

Ditsy4 · 11/09/2016 00:42

He might have SN or he might be mummy's and daddy's special little snowflake. Ah! How the times they are a-changing Incy!

Duck90 · 11/09/2016 01:05

Wow, does it really matter? If the papers are delivered when expected that is all that matters.

The type of car is irreverent, would you mind if someone helped their child via Ford Focus?

HerRoyalNotness · 11/09/2016 01:10

That actually really tickles me,
Paper round in a jag or RR, brilliant!

clary · 11/09/2016 01:49

Round my way a number of parents actually do their kids' paper rounds for them on a daily basis in the car!

Not me tho - all my 3 have a round and I only step in to help when they are away. We didn't go for a long hol this summer and they were extensively used as holiday cover. I reckon they were doing about 7 rounds between them at one point good money tho

BTW you have to be 13 to do a paper round.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 11/09/2016 07:58

At least your paper round is done by a child all the ones around me are done by people in their 30s or 40s, everytime I see them I feel sad for those children who would have loved the chance to earn some extra cash but cannot because one of the only jobs they can do has been taken by an adult. Always seems very unfair to me.

Crackerdog · 11/09/2016 08:10

Unecessary journeys (and delivering papers by car is unnecessary) are not harm free, they cause congestion and pollution at least.

Fucking hell you are a joy bundle. Are you a local authority employee by any chance? Perhaps a mature student studing A level Sociology at your local FE college?I think as the kids parents it's pretty much up to them what they do. And as long as they are not rich through tax evasion or ill gotten means, they should drive their car with pride and take even greater enjoyment that people like that poster are so jealous and bitter about their success.

topcat2014 · 11/09/2016 08:16

I used to do mine by moped - but at least I was driving myself..

PinkyOfPie · 11/09/2016 08:19

Why on earth are adults doing paper rounds

KoalaDownUnder · 11/09/2016 08:22

I think it's hilarious.

Come on...what's it really teaching a kid? Eff-all. You're not doing a job yourself if your parents are actually doing it for you.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 11/09/2016 08:23

Why on earth are adults doing paper rounds

I honestly have no ide Pinky but it does seem to be more common for adults to do them than children around where I live. It always baffles me as even the worst minimum wage job would pay substantially more than a paper round.

Crackerdog · 11/09/2016 08:32

Depends on the kid I guess. How confident they are, how vulnerable they may be doe to a number of things. It might be anything but just because the parents have nice cars (and ones that probably are far better on omissions than a battered up old shit heap)

Crackerdog · 11/09/2016 08:33

They are fair game for judgement and pissed taking.

SoupDragon · 11/09/2016 08:35

I feel sad for those children who would have loved the chance to earn some extra cash but cannot because one of the only jobs they can do has been taken by an adult.

I doubt this is what is happening at all. I don't think there are many children after paper rounds any more.

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