To think you are only worth talking to on the school run if you drive a 4x4 & are minted...

[morphyrichards99]

The dc have been in school just over a year now. Their school is a state school in an affluent part of the city. The parents who live close enough to walk insist on driving their chelsea tractors to the gates (obviously to show off), parents who used to drive ordinary cars are upgrading to 4x4s. Quite a large percentage of the parents only acknowlege you if you are thin, wearing the right clothes (designer sportswear& full face of make up seems to be the uniform at the moment!) playdates are arranged on who the parents think are affluent & worth networking with not on who the kids are friends with... Some of my observations,however there are plenty of normal parents too. Even though there are some who appear to have jumped on the bandwagon & are trying to keep up with the joneses...

Is it possible that there are plenty of other parents that you just don’t see so much as they work full time and might use wraparound care?

We have one car - a bit crap really and it is mine most of the time (DH commutes by train). My friends didn't care - and actually we have been among the "wealthier families" but have no idea how some other families afford their lifestyle sometimes.

It was the Mums who turned up in their tiny white Tennis dresses that amused me.

It was a breath of fresh air when we came off the hill for Secondary, much more "normal" people.

But actually I am still friendly with all kinds of people including some of the Chelsea Tractor Mums.

I knew you were going to catch hell for this thread! The 'You're just jealous' brigade out in force!

I know right, so predictable. OP I'd stay well clear of the Hyacinths.

.... I think the people you describe could well be caught in a kind 4x4 poverty trap. It goes like this. They bought the 4x4 on an irresistible finance deal with 1 free service etc. They clocked up around 30,000 miles swaning around the village, Waitrose, school etc. Lights starting flashing on the dash board demanding ever increasing sums of cash - almost on a weekly basis! They ran WeBuyAnyCar or the part x folk and were offered peanuts, a derisory sum. They are now stuck with the money gobbling beast....hating every minute but waiting for the day when it will finally die! It's pity not jealousy that OP needs to feel!

Hehe Tinkobell, honestly not jealous at all! Anyone could don their leisurewear & put on a full face of make up, the "leisurewear" look & the 4x4 is just seen as a status symbol in this school.

It does come across as though you are jealous...
I prefer to judge people on who they are rather than what they have.

Well prettylady, it's hard to get to know people when your hellos & good afternoons are blanked!

Yes but surely thats because they are rude, Not because they have a 4x4?

Oh dear. DH has an SUV. I hadn't realised it means he is One Of Them.

Well they are certainly able to acknowledge the ones that they perceive worth talking to(the dads are the same!). The chosen few happen to be leisurewear clad & drive expensive cars! It was an observation & one that some other posters on this thread have experienced as well..

At my childrens school I have had people ignore me, But they dont drive 4x4s.

yes but there will always be mother cliques at schools, whether you live in an affluent area or on an edge of town council estate - the only difference will be the socio economic profile of the clique.

At my children's infant school it was a set of estate mums who were mostly over-weight smokers who would arrive early for the gossip and stand at the school gates blowing smoke into the faces of passing Muslim mothers...

there were some shelters in the playground that they would take over...we called them 'the bus shelters'...

what i mean is, the formation of cliques is just human behaviour, whether rich or poor.

...cloud cuckoo land

Katie Price dresses in leisure wear. I rest my case.

Some of you don’t get this. Just because your OH drives an suv - or 4x4 which is a less American term - does not mean you have to worry. Lol
But do carry in with the old stealth boasting!

...carry on

We used to have a 4x4 but it was a fuel guzzling nightmare. We should have if the planet; we do now.

...should have thought of the planet

Not being a judgey cow

That’s the funniest thing I’ve read on MN today given your OP was just brimming with resentment and prejudice.

Make an effort to find some friends at the school gate and stop judging other people solely based on their cars and fashion choices.

You sound really chippy. I'm neither thin nor rich, but what I am is friendly and warm. Without exception, I am on friendly terms with all the parents at my kids school, who willingly smile, wave, stop for chats etc.
I suspect the problem might be your own attitude.

i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/01/16/45E826AD00000578-5037619-image-a-3_1509552105711.jpg

Some of you don’t get this. Just because your OH drives an suv - or 4x4 which is a less American term - does not mean you have to worry. Lol But do carry in with the old stealth boasting!

Sorry you totally missed the point

OP, is this in Clapham?

What’s a fluid reader?

Are you alright RoseTipsLips