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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to find the school run tedious?

118 replies

HelloJuly · 21/06/2019 22:54

I haven't actually even started the school run proper, as DC1 doesn't start school until Sept, but he has been to pre-school on the school premises for the past year. Same start/finish times.

Before that he was at nursery where you could pretty much drop off and pick up when you liked so I'd finish work then go and pick him up when I was ready, about 5ish. 3pm now rolls around very quickly and I have dc2 who usually finishes napping around then so I end up leaving him sleeping as long as possible before rushing out.

I find it really tedious making the same journey nearly every day and having to plan everything around pick-up! Nothing to do with the mums or school, I love to see DC1 when I go and collect him but the round trip can take the best part of an hour on foot and I have a very low threshold for doing the same thing over and over. I'm now a SAHM so I know it's far more of a stress when you're working, so I'm not complaining about that - I'm just picturing spending every afternoon making the same old trip at the same time of day in all weathers for what seems like a million years, over and over....

aibu? I think it's just not something I really anticipated as a parent (rather foolishly).

OP posts:
Zoflorabore · 22/06/2019 05:57

Ds (16) has just left school and dd (8) is in year 3 so I have been doing the school run for quite a while now and I enjoy it too.

Ours is a 10 minute walk away and through a small park at the end which is nice to go to play after school if the weather is nice.
I get to find out about dd's day on our walk home and of a morning its a bit more of a rush but we practice spellings and times tables and she loves it.

I think being a SAHM can make me lose focus sometimes. There are no demands on my time which can be both a positive and a negative thing.

I like the routine. I have OCD and feel more in control when organised. Many parents I know would love to do the school run everyday but are unable to due to work commitments etc. I count myself lucky that I can and will probably miss it when she starts secondary school in 3 years.

Vulpine · 22/06/2019 05:58

You don't have to talk to other parents ?Hmm.

SnowsInWater · 22/06/2019 05:59

I had kids in primary school for 19 years.........

Littlekittystops · 22/06/2019 06:10

I have been doing the school run for thirteen solid years up to four different times every day.

It can very wearing.

In the early days I missed the sense of freedom I had when they were younger, I found the enforced relationships with other parents quite taxing. I did make an effort because you have to if your child is to have friends, and see children after school. The playdates and parties all of the time. I was very tired doing this, and having to take a newborn everywhere.

The upside: Making lovely new friends, splashing through puddles in all weathers, singing christmas songs in the car, hearing dds excited chatter about their day. A brand new world that is school.

The downsides: Early starts and having to be on time all the time. Confined structures to life. Talking to people day and in and day when I was so tired I could hardly stand/bereaved/ill/otherwise not in the mood.

Turn the music up loud and make it fun, make it talking time or tables time if you are in the car. Or enjoy the seasons and all the weathers with your dc if you are walking. Holding their little hand when they were so small going into school in the early day is still one of my loveliest memories.

SoyDora · 22/06/2019 06:15

I’m a year in (and DD2 starts this year) and yes, it’s like Groundhog Day. Bores me to tears. Although at least from September I’ll only be doing one drop off, this past year we’ve been walking to DD1’s school then having to walk on another mile to DD2’s pre school (and then in reverse at the end of the day). And the baby seems to always choose the moment we need to leave the house to either fall asleep or do a poo.

BumandChips · 22/06/2019 06:23

Of course it’s tedious. Getting them ready in the morning can be frustrating after I’ve tried to get them dressed 15 times etc.

6 hours goes really quickly, it really isn’t that long. And it’s nice to see them at pick up. I also like chatting to the other parents, I’ve made some friends and it’s nice to catch up, watch the children play for a bit while we talk. I rarely get told about their day, they forget the minute they walk out the door. Grin

Isatis · 22/06/2019 06:26

Podcasts and audiobooks are your friends.

Mummadeeze · 22/06/2019 06:27

Get Spotify on your phone, put headphones on loud, power walk to pumping music. Makes a walk into a fun workout! When you have your child with you, play a word game. We also play a game where we look at the front of parked cars and describe their personalities based on their expression. Once you start looking at them with the different shaped headlights they all look so different and it is quite funny. Or chat about life. I ask my DD a series of ‘what’s your favourite...?’ Or she makes up a quiz for me. Or we play I spy. There are ways to make it more fun!

NotSorry · 22/06/2019 06:30

18 years in and still 2 to go. I use the time to chat to my kids - they ignore me the rest of the time 😂 (teenagers!)

Yes, there are days when it is beyond tedious but in a couple of years I know I am going to wish for those days back

Uptheshard · 22/06/2019 06:32

Yes its bloody tedious but so is alot of childcare..

IRememberSoIDo · 22/06/2019 06:36

I love it. I only get to do it on a Friday and it's me favourite part of the week dropping off and collecting. Also we live down the road so it's a two minute walk. I wish I could do it more.

Minesril · 22/06/2019 06:41

I don't mind it. Just part of the daily routine! Mind you it is on the way to work. And I only do half of them (DH does the other half, also on the way to/home from work).

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/06/2019 06:48

As with PP, it is tedious (I did it for 14 years) BUT it's good exercise and yes it does become part of your normal, daily routine.

Good luck, OP.

NancyJoan · 22/06/2019 06:54

There are lots of things I find tedious: endlessly doing/sorting/putting away of laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, having to plan for/shop for/cook meals. Unless you live a carefree life with no commitments or responsibilities, and pay someone else for the domestic stuff, that’s adult life.

IVEgottheDECAF · 22/06/2019 06:57

I am on my 7th year of the school run

I have either 11 or 12 years remaining....

Laura221 · 22/06/2019 07:00

Yes I agree. Although I only do it 2 1/12 days a week but I time it just right so I get there as my oldest is let out then get the other 2 kids so I dont even stand still 😆 also I agree with the audible podcast and spotify's suggestions. When I walked with my youngest we use to play games on the way, the 2 favourite where floors lava and me pretending to be a crocodile eating her. I actually miss those walks. X

lazylinguist · 22/06/2019 07:02

I'm not sure why anyone would expect it to be fun really. That would be like expecting your commute to work not to be tedious.

Itsnotme123 · 22/06/2019 07:05

I had 25 years of school run with my kids.. it’s like whacky races 😂
If I could’ve walked I would have done so much more. Depending on what school they were at the time,( mine went to 9 different schools between them) if the school was near enough I walked as it was so much more pleasant, but my dc didn’t always agree as they get tired easily. Enjoy these years.

swimmerforlife · 22/06/2019 07:08

I really enjoy doing the school run when I can (I work FT) as I can catch up with some of the other mum, and its nice walking home with kids and them telling me about their day.

However I can see it gets tedious having to do it everyday in rain or shine.

yoursworried · 22/06/2019 07:12

I hate it! I did it when I was on mat leave with dc2 and I found everything about it repetitive and boring. I also don't really like making small talk although I did it anyway so as not to appear rude!
I was delighted to go back to work and hand it over to a childminder Grin

Itsnotme123 · 22/06/2019 07:13

When one of mine was at infants school, I used to leave extra early in the car with him, to a) miss the traffic and b) do the spellings/reading homework in the car with him when we got to the school. That way, you have undivided attention and dc was fresh in the morning to learn. Then after dropping him into school I’d go and get shopping whilst I was out. I miss those days.

YoYoYumYum · 22/06/2019 07:16

Yup. Utterly tedious. I am past that now as kids are at secondary school. I used to go different routes even if it took longer. My school runs spanned 11 years. I did 99% of them. (What was worse was the monotony of the homework afterwards.) But I did it and I feel a weird sense of accomplishment!

11 years is nothing though. A mum I know has 4 kids that are aged 16, 11, 8 and 4 so her school run years started in 2007 and will go on till 2026. 19 years!!!!

pictish · 22/06/2019 07:17

Yes it’s very tedious but unfortunately you can’t escape it so you just have to be zen about it.

I couldn’t drive when my kids were younger (I can now), so I had to do it three times a day for ages, dropping younger ones off at nursery, picking up before lunch and then back for the older one at three. The school is a mile and a half on foot, which isn’t actually that far in terms of distance...but meant the school runs took up a good portion of the day. I did find it boring and a hassle but I had no choice so I just got on with it.

I drive and work full time now while the younger two are old enough to walk home by themselves so those days are done for me. Bizarrely, I kind of miss it.

NoSauce · 22/06/2019 07:19

I have a very low threshold for doing the same thing over and over

Not a lot you can do really. You chose to have children 🤷‍♀️ so there’s many different aspects of doing stuff on repeat, better get used to it Grin

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 22/06/2019 07:20

We live 30 seconds from the school. Can’t tell you how much a difference that makes to our quality of life.