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?

Doesn’t your primary have breakfast club? Could you drop the primary kids first?

I can see why you're pissed off. Rant away.

But you can't change other people's behaviour.

I would be thinking of a way to drop your dd off earlier. There must be something, even if it's not ideal. Drop her off 10 minutes walk away? You must see other kids walking as you are driving away so there must be somewhere you can drop her and she will not be alone, even if she's not with friends.

Or just put up with the parking stress. You don't have any other options really.

YABU why don’t you get ready and leave earlier ?

Most of the problem comes from people thinking they have to park right on top of the school.

If more of those who need to drive parked 5 mins walk away it would make life much easier for them!

*@YeTalkShiteHen
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But as evidenced on this thread they get very defensive and aggressive when it’s pointed out to them. Me, me me. Seems to be the popular attitude now eh?

Rather than parents not taking up one of a few parking spaces at drop off time for 10-15 minutes you must change your entire routine and juggle things round them

Utterly ridiculous.

We park further away and walk the last bit to make sure we’re a) not late b) not inconveniencing other parents doing drop off and c) not being such a selfish arsehole as to put children at risk.

But hey, it’s their “right” you know, and precious people get awfully wound up if you suggest otherwise.*

Thank you for your comment.
Again I want to say this is a problem many parents who drive their DC at same school are facing. This is not just posted about what I am going through but on behalf of many.

I also get they are not doing anything illegal. But they are being very inconsiderate and selfish. There has been a few days I have managed to get a space as soon as I drive up the road. Yet I haven't hung back and chatted, thinking fack everyone else I'm legally parked so this is my chance to have a 5 minute chat with Year 1 DC to see how she has settled into her first proper big class. (she walks a little odd, so I do kind of worry about her being teased).
Or stand there chatting to one of the few mums I know.

No, I get back to my car and leave, giving someone else the opportunity to pull in and drop theirs off.

I have honestly circled the surrounding roads, streets and have yet to find somewhere suitable. Without parking permits and other restrictions. I suppose at times when I can get there earlier I will look further afield,

It's called common courtesy, once you have dropped your children off get in your car and drive away so someone else can do the same. You can chat anywhere. I don't even really have this problem at my kids school OP but I am mad for you at all the entitled " If i want to take up a space so I can stand and natter in a playground with my friends, I will and you can't stop me" entitled rubbish that's been spouted on this thread. It's hillarious!

I think your morning routine is unworkable, and I'm surprised this didn't occur to you before your daughter started y7. I think she probably needs to be getting the 2 buses. Most secondary kids do that here and get the first one between 7 and 7.20.

We walk to school, and my children's school has a car park so it isn't an issue where we are - but my experience is the chatting often happens between the more involved parents - the ones involved (or who the get involved because of the chats) with the PTA/school events. As someone above said, it helps build the school community.

I'd encourage your eldest to cycle (or get the 4 mile bus trip) and walk your younger ones to school.

*@Thatstheendofmytether
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It's called common courtesy, once you have dropped your children off get in your car and drive away so someone else can do the same. You can chat anywhere. I don't even really have this problem at my kids school OP but I am mad for you at all the entitled " If i want to take up a space so I can stand and natter in a playground with my friends, I will and you can't stop me" entitled rubbish that's been spouted on this thread. It's hillarious

Thank you!! It's nice to once again. Not feel like "OMG HOW DARE I EVEN THINK TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS, WHEN I AM THE ONE NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION"

Your attitude is bizzare you have no say over how long someone can park their car. You call them selfish and inconsiderate... but News Flash, the world doesn't revolve around you!

Anotherragingmorning I think a lot of the responses you’ve had come from exactly the kind of people you’re annoyed with and that’s why you’ve had such a hard time.

It pisses me off too, but I honestly don’t have the energy or the time to engage with selfish arseholes that can’t see beyond what they want.

I’ve changed the way we do drop offs to avoid stress on me and my kids, because the alternative would drive me mad.
But I totally get what you’re saying.

Life in general would be so much nicer if so many people weren’t so bloody selfish.

but News Flash, the world doesn't revolve around you!

The same could be said for the inconsiderate parkers though.

@Sisgal

No quite clearly it revolves around the parents who like to inconvenience others for the luxury of hanging around and chatting because they have nothing better to do.

The irony you're displaying here op is quite remarkable.

Yes, they probably are being inconsiderate.

But, can you not recognise, that you are being EQUALLY INCONSIDERATE. You do not need to drive to school. You can all walk.

You are part of the problem. You're all doing something inconsiderate but in different ways.

And yes, I have read the thread. You absolutely can all walk to school, you have chosen not to.

Car drivers. Selfish bastards, all of them. How much exercise do children actually get theses days, with being driven everywhere? Madness.

There is strength in numbers, do you have contact with other parents in the school who experience the same? If it's as big a problem as you state then rounding more people up would help.

Secondly speak to the school, either the head or Chair of governors and ask for a written response.

Thirdly, if it is as big a problem for the wider community as you are stating than speak to the council.

Our scoop has different pick up and drop off times to other primary's in the close area. Just because it reduces the chaos if it's staggered.

So you have options.

However, it comes back to my previous points, you can't change others, only yourself.

1. So there is a breakfast facility and I agree it's extremely expensive at your school. But it is there and would eliminate your issue, everyone would be safe and supervised and you don't need to worry about parking.

1. Your eldest child could walk or cycle, I understand your concerns there are she is young, although I don't necessarily agree with you that you should do it for her entire high school career. She needs to be independent too. Perhaps looks at self defence of that's your concern. But encourage her to make friends, I'm still confused how she doesn't seem to know anyone yet has been to school with them for years. I do appreciate your concerns, but it is still an option.

1. Drop your youngest off at a friends on the way to taking the older one in. They can take her in. Obviously ask and use someone you trust and his friends with your daughter, but I can't see it be an issue. We all pick up each others here of there is any issues, and would make much difference to do it regularly.

1. Join the governing body and make it your campaign to change to a different system, or volunteer to help implement it.

1. Park in ten petrol station and buy a chocolate bar each day so you have actually used the facility.

Why is it impossible to be ten to fifteen minutes earlier? The parents who are parked in the spaces haven't been there all night?

So you can get there earlier? And there are places to park further away?

So what's this thread about exactly?

And fwiw yours (or anyone elses) time isn't better or more important than theirs. If, as you have admitted, you can get there earlier and there are places further afield you can park then just do that and save yourself the grief.

YANBU to have a rant, but YABU not to just walk. I've read the whole thread and leaving aside the fact that your older daughter could walk to school but you don't want her to, I don't understand why you can't just walk the mile to the primary school in the morning?

I seriously don't know what it is with the suggestions of getting my DD to take a bus 4 mile trip, putting my kids in breakfast club, not to mention the extra cost of all this.
Who is going to pay for all this, maybe the people suggesting would like to fund it?? if I could afford it and it was money I had I would have already done that and saved myself a lot of headache.

I live on the outskirts of a small town. Unfortunately I need a car to get around. I need to help my elderly parents too with shopping trips, doctors visits etc. So just about running a car is affordable.
I have to even ask my parents to cover any fuel I use when helping them out. That is basically how financially I am coping. This is not for sympathy because thank God I have a roof over mine and my 3 DC's heads, food on the table etc. I can not afford any extra expenses on a long term basis.

Not to mention chop and change a child's routine as opposed to adults being more considerate to minimise the problem.

Once again my post is not about who is more entitled then the other. It's about common courtesy and consideration. Something quite clearly many many people are not aware of anymore in this day and age.

Why should others not do as they wish, just because it inconveniences you? Bet there's plenty that you do that annoys/inconveniences others, but you get on with it cos we all go shit to do... Anyway at end of the day you are not going to be able to do anything about it so why not suck it up and just get on with it like the rest of us need to do.

It's called common courtesy, once you have dropped your children off get in your car and drive away so someone else can do the same. You can chat anywhere. I don't even really have this problem at my kids school OP but I am mad for you at all the entitled " If i want to take up a space so I can stand and natter in a playground with my friends, I will and you can't stop me" entitled rubbish that's been spouted on this thread. It's hillarious!

Absolutely! 👏

This started to become a problem about 10 years ago for one of the school runs I do, and it's got increasingly worse. I have driven past half an hour after the school bell has gone and they are still in the playground, gossiping - and no, they are not talking PTA stuff: they are conspicuous by their absence anytime they're asked to do something constructive.

It does impact the school: they want to use the playground for outdoor lessons and for playtimes - yes, they have been there that long!
It doesn't matter how many times the Head pleads with them to just drop off their children and GO, they ignore her. They leave the gates wide open, they stand in the way of others trying to drop off their children. They have no self awareness and no consideration for anyone but themselves.
I'm frankly surprised they have so much time to waste.

Look your DC have been late 4 times so you need to get your act together and get to school on time. Its in no way impossible at all. You can take you eldest to school earlier, you can ALL walk to school, you can park further away and walk 15-20 mins and still be on time.

Your excuse is that you don't want to do any of those things.

The majority of people are managing, many will have feeding babies, stroppy toddlers, work to get to etc but they are sorting their life out and getting things done.

Changing a child's routine is also a concern here? Don't worry about that! It's not like babies who need routine to settle etc when kids start school and are almost teenagers they should be able to handle a very slight change in 'routine'.

If you walk the very short distance or park a bit further away you'll save a fair bit in petrol too, must be costing a fortune if you're having to shark around some days.

My DCs secondary is busy from 8 am due to needing to plan for bus delays. There's very few arriving close to 8.30. Why is this not an option. Then you can get on of the earlier parking spots.