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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:
Iggly · 22/06/2019 07:22

I don’t mind because for me it’s a luxury as I’m off work. I go back soon so will definitely miss it.
The work commute will be tedious.

JeezYouLoon · 22/06/2019 07:24

Yep, many things with children is tedious but there you go, that's life!

I did the school run and now DH has taken that role thank God I get a daily text as to how horrendous it was getting the teenagers moving Grin. We all live for the holidays!

It'll soon go and they'll be adults living their own lives, we'll look back fondly remembering all the best bits. Then they'll bring the grandchildren round and we can do it all again but with less stress as we can give them back Wink

Itsnotme123 · 22/06/2019 07:25

NotAnotherJaffaCake I used to live 30 seconds from a school that mine never went to (it was strictly for catholic’s) but I had to put up with mums parking up and Making it difficult to get into my driveway as it was a narrow road.

formerbabe · 22/06/2019 07:28

It's one of the main reasons I'll never have another child!

Three years left to go for me!

DameSquashalot · 22/06/2019 07:28

I only get to do it twice a week and I love it. Maybe if I did it every day with a smaller DC to get ready I would feel differently about it.

Strongecoffeeismydrug · 22/06/2019 07:29

I enjoy the school run it's lovely to listen to my five year old on a one to one basis.
She has an older brother with severe autism who sadly is quite vocal on a morning and after school so it's just our time where she gets my undivided attention .

dottiedodah · 22/06/2019 07:29

My life for 20 years!.Big gap between children .Even when my son went to do A levels at a school some 6 miles away, and went on the bus.Still ended up picking up after football/missing the bus/extra classes and so on .3 pm comes round PDQ and most of the morning would be devoted to chores/dog walking /seeing friends and so on.Even now have the same routine SAHP ! only now need a nap /rest after all that!

formerbabe · 22/06/2019 07:30

I did the school run and now DH has taken that role thank God I get a daily text as to how horrendous it was getting the teenagers moving

School run for teenagers? Surely that's the best thing about having secondary age children that they can go to school by themselves!

MaybeitsMaybelline · 22/06/2019 07:32

I never found them tedious, what I did find tedious were the cliques in the playground, the competitiveness of the parents, the sucking up to the teachers etc

The walk there and back chatting with my DC was cool, even the race down the motorway to get there after work wasn’t so bad.

mogloveseggs · 22/06/2019 07:34

Just deadlines I've been doing school runs for 10 Years and got another 4 to go!

mogloveseggs · 22/06/2019 07:34

Realised!

whiteroseredrose · 22/06/2019 07:34

It just becomes part of your daily routine same as getting up, having a shower and driving to work used to be. As others have suggested, you can add variety by using different routes and scooters occasionally.

I find choosing clothes to wear every day tedious. I now have 5 identical t shirts and trousers for each day - no more thinking about that!

IceTippedMountains · 22/06/2019 07:47

I am in my 12th year now, my youngest is going into year 6. We live 15mins walk from school and DD's good friend are a couple of houses down. So they have started to walk to / from school together some days, I cannot express the amount of happiness this brings.

I mean its not all bad, I have got good exercise but it was especially painful when all three dc were tiny (so had to do both nursery and school) and it took forever and a day.

That said I am sure when DD leaves it will feel odd not having to do the school run at all, but I am certainly keen to leave the primary school politics behind.

FancyACarrot · 22/06/2019 07:48

Wait until you add in taking them to all the after school and wk end clubs then your really talking tedious! So glad I'm past all that! See it as your penance for having the privilege of having wonderful children, consider cycling it? would cut it down to 10mins!!!!! plus give you exercise. Or jog there and walk/jog back (child on scooter). Focus on it being regular exercise.

Stravapalava · 22/06/2019 07:50

I quite like the school run! We have a chat / singalong in the car.

Sometimes it's annoying trying to fit everything into school hours and go back for pick up, but I manage it.

I chat to the other parents / grandparents as well while we're waiting to pick up and our school caretaker is a joker, so we have banter in the morning.

JeezYouLoon · 22/06/2019 08:05

School run for teenagers? Surely that's the best thing about having secondary age children that they can go to school by themselves!

You'd think so wouldn't you Hmm

Apolloanddaphne · 22/06/2019 08:10

I had to do the school run when mine were teens as we live rurally and there is no public transport. As they were at a private school there was no transport provided. This was our choice and we just got on with it. I was very happy when DD2 managed to pass her driving test in time to drive herself to school in her final year though!

SmellbowSmellbow123 · 22/06/2019 08:13

I love the school runs, they're the only time I get to see other people or see my friend! sad loser that I am

NotDoris · 22/06/2019 08:14

We live out of town and need to drive literally everywhere. I started doing nursery runs when I was 34, and will finish picking up from college when I’m 58. That’s 24 years 😮 and yes, I will rejoice when they’re finish!!!

MsMarvellous · 22/06/2019 08:15

@SmellbowSmellbow123 I'm with you. I'm self employed working from home. School run and chatting with other people in the playground saves my sanity every day.

EagleRay · 22/06/2019 08:20

The school run has been the bane of my life the last 2 years

School is just over half a mile away (DD1 goes there), nursery another half mile (DD2 goes there) then another half mile home again

Route to school is up a v steep narrow hill which is used as a rat run by commuters and the pavement is frequently blocked by parked cars. Only option is to walk in middle of road as quickly as possible before a car comes. Then it's down the other side of the hill (after a quick pause to catch breath) towards the school

Since school run started, I've had an extremely debilitating illness (thankfully now recovering) and DD1 has a (now mild) disability affecting balance and mobility. DD2 goes in pushchair because I can't carry her (nor all the bags) but has frequently got out and demanded to be carried. On a really bad day, would have DD2 screaming to be carried and DD1 would often have tripped over and be screaming too.

I've hated it - it eats up a ridiculous amount of time and we are always running late. However, it did help me get fit again after being ill.

I'm now working almost full time again and only do school run one day a week (DP has a day off in week and does a school run too) and the difference is amazing - it's nice catching up with the other parents and talking to DD's teacher

SoyDora · 22/06/2019 08:30

what I did find tedious were the cliques in the playground, the competitiveness of the parents, the sucking up to the teachers etc

Luckily, we don’t have this. There aren’t any ‘cliques’ that I can see. Of course people tend to stand with their friends/other people they know, but that’s not a clique. If I do stay and chat to other parents, it’s rarely about the DC and certainly never about their achievements. And no one really talks to the teachers at drop off/pick off apart from a quick word maybe about something they’d desperately need to know that day.

chipsnmayo · 22/06/2019 08:44

DD left primary 10 years ago and I do actually get a bit wistful for the school run. Walking home, being able to chat, sometimes with the odd ice cream, admittedly I only did 2x a week.

formerbabe · 22/06/2019 08:49

I think it will be bitter sweet when I'm done with the school run. It's been such a big part of my life...but also the bane of my life!

ImogenTubbs · 22/06/2019 08:57

I love the school run, but then school is a ten minute walk and DD and I have some of our best conversations walking and chatting. Can you develop some school run games or something that creates a little ritual for you and makes it more 'quality' time together?

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