Parents (mostly mums) taking the mick dropping kids off to school (PARKING)

[Anotherragingmorning]

Another morning another battle trying to find parking outside school. With mums mainly huddled around in playground or standing outside their cars talking while other parents struggling to find parking spots.

My DC primary school on a road with one end busy road, other end parking restrictions. Opposite school houses with driveways that now (over summer hols) have had double yellow lines installed due to parents blocking driveways. School has opened up their car park to help out but only a few spaces available about 10 and road has about 15 so In total about 25 parking spots. Causing a huge lack of space now. Takes about 2-3 minutes to walk kids in and drop off. Yet cars are parked up for 10-15 minutes at times. I know it's parents because as soon as the bell goes all the cars disappear.

Since school started I am having to drive up and down several times before finding a slot. Lucky if someone pulls out just as I come in otherwise a constant battle.
Yes this is a 1st world problem but one none the less I am having to live through almost every day. Since school started 2+ weeks ago my 2DC have been late 4 times. This morning being 4th time, and been told by office next time they are it will be marked as late.

AIBU to think this is pure inconsideration for other parents needing to drop their kids off too? Do parents really think this is their slot for however long they choose to have it?

While technically the other parents can stand there as long as they want, the school could be doing more to facilitate things.

By imposing rules on a public road? They absolutely can't do that.

@chuckiecheese what would you like us to suggest? This is a recurring issue people moan about regularly and it's not unfamiliar to most of us. School drop off/pick up can be a pain but you are unlikely to be able to change the behaviour of all the other parents, far easier to adapt your own.

I'm not for one moment suggesting that other parents can't be selfish at times, that it's not annoying etc but the objective is not being late for school.

Op needs to find a solution that works and the only reliable way to do that is to alter her own routine.

The whole point here is that the parents socialising will not change and can't be forced to change so OP WILL have to find another solution but everything suggested of course is not working for her. I can totally see your frustration but being frustrated is not going to shift those parents is it?

personal right to hang about using up space needed by other parents

It is their right. It's a public road. They got up and left earlier so they could park. You don't want to do that and you want them to change their behaviour to suit you?

What if you clubbed together with a few of the other mums to take turns walking them to school?

The OP lives a mile away?

Fucksake

I guess your best solution OP is realising that selfish twats will always be selfish twats and just rising above it.

Fair? Nope. But it’s life.

So you want everyone to change their morning routine, drop kids off, no talking or socialising, just jump in your car and sod off so i can park mine....YABVU!
Regardless of whether you are single, married, living with someone, have 1 or 5 kids, every person dropping their kid(s) off has the same hassle and drama getting to the school, parking etc. For some, that 10 minute chat outside the school gate might be their only opportunity for adult interaction in the day.

sort out a different plan, whether it be dropping a younger one at breakfast club so you are there earlier, or just carry on doing what you are doing, its up to you, but do not expect others to change their routines just to keep you happy!

YABU. Get there earlier, find a parking space further away where there will be more space and walk. It's just tough luck.

If your dd lives 2 miles from secondary school and you live 1 mile from primary school there isn't really a need to use your car at all.

Can DD get bus or cycle if she absolutely can't walk? Or as others have said drop her earlier in ok weather.

Yes, everyone could be more considerate but you could walk to the primary school.

Most state schools have a tiny catchment area, so just walk

I love that parents stand around chatting at drop off time. It's how community is built. You never know what is going on with the people and why they need to stand and chat. It could be the only time in the day they get adult conversation.

I'm stunned that parents have to take theor child to the classroom. Most schools I know don't let parents right in to the classroom first thing. Children get dropped in the playground and parents can leave them 10 min before at our school or they can stand and wait for the children to go in.

I do think you need to drop you eldest a bit early or round the corner from school so she has to walk in, then get back in time to walk your other two down.

You can't change the situation at school, you can only change your own routine and tour own attitude.

If people didn't get in their cars for such short journeys then there wouldn't be issues to park at schools at all

I do think schools could make drop offs easier. When you look at the American system where they seem where kids just get dropped off with an adult there to take them in without each set of parents having to park, get out etc. But then they also have a proper school bus system.

Given that many more parents drive to schools these days as they are dropping off on the way to work, it would be much easier if there were better strategies in place.

Drop secondary school child earlier and park a distance from primary school and walk to it?

It's unusual for parking permits or restrictions to kick in before 9am where we live. Since I've started reading the small print on the signs it's opened up a few more school parking options! I say that because the OP says all surrounding roads have restrictions on them.

Just because someone got here first does not make it theirs for the entire duration they see fit.

So is it actually a designated drop off zone or not? If it's just road outside the school then of course it's theirs as long as they see fit. They could park there and bugger off on holiday for 2 weeks if they choose. Or the residents of the road could choose to 'hog' all of that space.

If you feel strongly about it speak to the school and ask them to put out a message reminding parents of the shortage of parking and asking them to be considerate. It will probably be about as successful as the messages that have gone out about not parking in front of driveways. The residents have had to resort to requesting yellow lines to sort that one so it tells you something.

People don't care about other people in this scenario. Park further away.

The thing is, no matter how raging you are about this parking situation or if you’re being reasonable or unreasonable, it’s never ever going to change so you’re going to have to find some way of dealing with it.

You can ask the school to put out a message out, and it might make a difference for a week or so, but it won’t ever permanently change. At DDs school parents park illegally all the time, the school have tried naming and shaming, parking wardens, community police and just plain pleading with parents, but nothing makes a long term difference. In your case no one is even breaking the law so there’s little incentive for them to change their ways.

You’ve just got to suck it up I’m afraid. I say that as a single mum with one in secondary, one in primary and a toddler to ferry around in the mornings. Get waterproof coats, get the rain cover on the pram, and park further away.

On a more helpful note, our primary implemented a car drop off in the mornings to ease traffic. 3 teachers on the gate, cars stop in the top gate bit, teachers unload kids, parents drive on.

Drop your eldest at a friend's house or at a bus stop earlier. Then she won't be going to school alone.

@Yabbers "By imposing rules on a public road? They absolutely can't do that."

Yes, schools absolutely can and they do this. Regularly. No, they're not enforcing a legal right but they're out there encouraging parents to be considerate of each other. Lots of our schools around here do this for lots of different reasons, not just a lack of spaces. Sometimes it's parents not parking thoughtfully, even though it might be perfectly legal. On occasions, it's been because the parents are acting like dicks and are picking fights with each other in front of the kids (unbelievable I know). Other schools have done it to encourage parents not to linger because it pisses off the neighbours and damages community spirit.

Does a school have a legal right to FORCE you to move? Well, obviously not. But you've got to be a bit of a dick to not respond to a bit of a gentle reminder to be considerate. I can't think of many parents who'd dig their heels in and refuse to budge

Nobody is doing anything wrong. It’s irritatinb for the OP but she can either work out a way round it (such as parking and walking) or just get on with her day.

The school has enough to do without issuing instruction on the appropriate length of time someone may hold a conversation for twice a day.

"I guess your best solution OP is realising that selfish twats will always be selfish twats and just rising above it. "

I agree that is about the long and short of it. A!though there's nothing selfish about having a bit of a chat if the car isn't parked in a restricted zone and nothing selfish about op wanting a space and being fucked off so it's a bit of a check mate situation. Op is the one who stands to lose out as it were so she'll have to be the one to find a solution.

I do think if op makes the school aware that she struggles in the morning they might be a bit more lenient? Or they may, like my DC school, suggest people who live close by walk to school, a mile is pretty close as long as there are no mobility problems.