To actually despise the school run....

[Sophisticatedsarcasm]

Ive been sitting here after I’ve finished work thinking how amazing it feels to not have to do the school run . No dealing with the cliche mums who stand and judge others ( if your gonna do it maybe don’t do it so obviously) or the ones with pushchairs who annoyingly block the path with other mums because they just need to have that little mothers meeting right in everyone’s way because go forbid the extra 10 secs it takes to move out of the way so others can get past.
Or the Mum who lets the little one ram into peoples legs on his little trike and not say anything to him. I don’t miss the loud one who talks really loud so everyone can hear her business, even over my headphones with full volume rock.
Anyone else hate the school run..... I’ve still got another 6 years of it 😭😭

Hated it with my oldest 3, who are now grown up. I have a 9yr old too, I teach so from nursery to the end of yr 2 hubby did nearly all school runs. I knew no-one so on the odd occasion I did take DD or collect her, it was really strange. When hubby left I had to move DD (now 9yrs) to my school. It's great....she comes in with me...just before the buzzer goes she heads off to the yard. After school she arrives in my class at hometime (or after her clubs) I don't have to set foot on the yard.....not as a parent anyway!

I cannot stand the school run either. There are a set of mums chatted to mostly in passing or at parties or on the way home with dd, but in the last couple years things have really changed. Dd is in Y2.
At one party these mums sat so close together as if they were frightened to actually converse with anyone else. One of them who had always been chatty, couldn't have been less interested in me when I tried to sit with them. I realised that they had become a clique and who the Queen Bees were. That was the beginning of the end for me. I wasn't a part of their clique so I wasnt important enough to listen/talk to. This favouritism continued on Facebook.
I try to avoid them now.
I just couldn't believe it, they used to be so normal.

I bought a house right next to the school so son has walked home from age 8 (can see him leave the gate from my landing window). Before that in the old school I hated it until he was 7 then I showed up early to park right next to the gate so he could just walk straight to the car.

My other son will start next year but luckily I’ve made friends with about 7 mothers who will be sending their kids there so I have a readymade clique 😬

Too true! I tried hard at the beginning and found it all so disheartening. So cliquey. All local people who'd all grown up together. Even the fucking grandmothers doing the school runs are cliquey fucking old bitches. All go to church. Massive hypocrites. When trying to make conversation or sort out a play date with the mother of DS friend, being aware of the mother looking over her shoulder to see if there was anyone better to talk to. 8 years on and youngest is in Y6. I stopped giving a shit a long time ago and don't give it a second thought when I swoop in and out again. I've become a hardened cynic. I see the parents of the younger ones doing exactly the same. The same pain in the arse PA people. I just count the days and think 'you can fuck off, and so can you, and you and you.' Never need to see any of them ever again. Feel similarly about all the teachers too.

I hate the school run. As butchmanda aptly put, its full of people who grew up together. My kids have been with some of the children in their class since they were 2/3 in preschool but I’m still not ‘one of them’.

In some cases it’s the same with teachers!

I just meet mine at the gates now to go home.

Although I do enjoy a giggle at the Uber-mums who turn up wearing head to toe gym gear, a face full of make up, and perfectly blow dried hair. If they’ve been to the gym I’d eat my hat!

I changed my hours in September and DH now does the school run, I get home about 10 minutes after them, its brilliant.

My school run is fine. It’s busy. A few of the drivers are imbeciles. A few of the parents are thoughtless. But mainly it’s just a lot of people saying hello and trying to be safe and courteous. Sometimes they’re even friendly.

Ummm. I used to really enjoy school drop offs and pick ups. I was actually really sad when the childminder had the privilege of doing it. I don’t remember seeing any cliques, just fairly friendly parents where anyone talked to anyone in the line.

Breakfast and after school clubs x 4 days here so only one proper school run a week, that’s enough for me. On child number 3 so playground politics doesn’t bother me but the crappy parking of others makes my blood boil, and the leisurely walk in to the playground when the gates open drives me insane like no one has anything better to do!! On the plus side I love seeing my daughters smiley face when she comes out and wouldn’t miss that for the world!!

I like the school run! I think it's nice taking and picking up my dcs and seeing their friends, teachers, classrooms etc.I would miss it if I never did it. I am friends with some Mum's but even if I wasn't, I am struggling to understand what all the drama is about?!

Ditto. It's very off putting when friendship groups are referred to here as cliques. God forbid a few parents like to hang out with each other moreso than anyone else.

The only things I loathe are having to stick to the exact same times everyday and the parking issues. But I hate routines, so that's probably why, and is completely separate to seeing other parents etc.

I quite miss the school run. Better than being at work!

BertrandRussell speaks sense. It's just another place where people congregate. Sometimes they make friends there sometimes not. Just like Uni or the workplace.

Are the people who bitch about schoolgate cliques the same people who complain about some people at work going for a quick drink after without inviting the whole office?

YABU. I love it. Getting the day off on the right foot with kids fed washed dressed and off with a kiss. Makes me feel like a functional parent for a moment. I say the odd cheery hello but am not particularly matey with anyone. If anyone is judging who cares. Likewise cliques. Helps we are a five minute walk away so that helps with stress levels.

I love it. I like seeing their little faces coming out of school.

Not that bothered about other parents, although I usually chat with someone. If I don't I quite enjoy a bit of quiet between a busy work day and the incessant dc chat!

I had no idea about 'cliques' and judging etc until I went on Mumsnet. But then I never expected my social life to come from school (although it sort of has).

I think I had an epiphany a cpl of years in where I learned that most of them weren’t that nice and I wasn’t there to make friends anyway so it’s a quick drop off and pick up and keep myself to myself. 10 years on I have a few people I talk to but there’s still drama all around. Best to just ignore! Had a father kicking off with me last week for asking his child not to climb on one of my children. Shocking behaviour on my part with my lovely Mary poppins voice. Lol. Just goes to show that there’s nowt as queer as folk and just get on with your daily business and ignore those around you!

Hated it - 17 years in, and at the end now thank god. Standing with folks who are arranging their social lives around me..... just plain rude.

I've done the school run at 5 different schools/nurseries, and never encountered anything remotely like some of you describe. Nor have I heard this talked about where I live.

Maybe it's a British thing.

Wow - so much hatred for people you don’t know or really interact with. I think some of you need to hold the mirror to your own behaviour.

It’s just a group of mums with kids the same age in common. I’ve never experienced anything like described here. I’ve had periods of working and not working. Sometimes I chat, other times I don’t.

I’m there five mins. I pass time with whoever is standing next to me. I ask about homework or own clothes day. Ask if they have weekend plans. It’s nice. In fact I like it thinking about it.

I’m grateful to the mums who collect for Christmas (I couldn’t be arsed). Thankful to the WhatsApp reminders for days out or a warning of nits.

I just don’t have the time or energy to give it any more thought! This thread is so strange.

I don’t do the school run as my dd goes on a bus (rural area) but I find the morning rush to get us all up, ready and out a pain day after day. Love the holidays where we can all wake up naturally (I work term time).

7 years of school runs so far. I could do without the manic panic to get out of the house in time, and having to be in 3 different places at once (2 different schools and work.....all start at 8.30, a logistical nightmare!) but I've enjoyed the school gate/bus stop chat and walks to and fro with the kids. Next year the 2 oldest will be walking up to secondary, so will miss that aspect. Ds is only yr 3, but he gets dropped with his TA in the morning and the parents in his class act as though he and I are strangers.

I only do it a couple of times a week, I am in my eighth and last year of school runs. I miss it, DD wants to take herself to school and I work, but it is great to catch up with some mums otherwise I don't get any gossip! And maybe all those other mum's judging feel like they are being judged too?

I can't say I miss doing the school run. Cliques didn't bother me because I just had no wish to be part of them. I viewed it as a chore rather than a social event.

My youngest is 15 now, and in year 11. Secondary school is much less in your face than primary school was, with no school run required unless she is going to hockey training and won't be able to get the bus. That suits me fine.

Are they cliques? Or just groups of friends?!