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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:
Cutesbabasmummy · 22/06/2019 08:58

My son starts school.in September and because I have to work- not want - I will only be able to do the school run once a week. I have to be at my desk at 8.30 and finish at 5. I think you are lucky. You had the children so surely you were expecting this?

SoyDora · 22/06/2019 09:09

You had the children so surely you were expecting this?

Surely there are some aspects of parenting that you find tedious, even though you were expecting them? I expected sleepless nights, but they’re still shit.

formerbabe · 22/06/2019 09:11

You had the children so surely you were expecting this?

When people get a job, they know they'll have a commute but it doesn't mean they enjoy it.

Havenly · 22/06/2019 09:40

13 years service here... and glad when it came to an end. It's just part of the job- along with getting them to and from various after school/ weekend activities.
As it was all done on foot, I always felt justified buying lots of nice, good quality coats. North Face winter waterproof, lovely Barbour trench for lighter rain, long puffa for deep winter, short puffa, smart wool. So many fab coats ...Same with shoes and boots- doing the school run in all seasons justified lots of boots for the rain, trainers for comfort, sandals for warmer weather...

AudacityOfHope · 22/06/2019 09:46

Next year my kids will he in P5 and P3 and I'm letting them walk alone. Happy times for all of us! Grin

Whackitupto200 · 22/06/2019 09:49

Yanbu. I feel the same.

stopitandtidyupp · 22/06/2019 10:31

I loved the school run. I saw it as an opportunity to get my fit bit steps up and burn some calories.

I am a teacher now so I actually miss it. Dd starts my school in September though so I can finally do it again. Only now I am an embarrassment.Grin

Original poster
HelloJuly · 22/06/2019 18:03

Well yeah. But you had kids
Ah, thanks, I was wondering who those two boys were...

I did use to live a much quicker walk to the local school but had a fairly unanticipated move. And yes when I walked to my old job I got fed up walking the same way every day but at least I only had myself to worry about. Even having just one of a dawdling 4yo or a pushchair is somehow easier than both!

Good to hear others' views! Will dig out my ipod...

OP posts:
Original poster
HelloJuly · 22/06/2019 18:07

Oh yes and in 3 years I'll have to do it at two schools in different directions!!

OP posts:
notso · 22/06/2019 18:36

YANBU I find routines can be smothering.
I worked out the other day that by the time my youngest leaves primary in four years time I'll have been doing the school run non-stop for 20 years!

TheDarkPassenger · 22/06/2019 18:40

6 years in here and throughly fucking bored of it now. Just 7 more years to go! Ick

Fucktuates · 22/06/2019 18:41

I HATE the school run and as soon as my kids are old enough to just walk round to the car together, it’s happening Smile

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 22/06/2019 18:42

6 years down, 8 to go. Yes, it’s bloody tedious but it needs doing so there we go.

Camomila · 22/06/2019 18:55

We live next door to the primary I want DS to go to. I could literally throw him over the fence if I wanted to Grin

I'm looking forward to getting him to wave at me from the top of the monkey bars (I can see the DC doing the monkey bars from my living room)

TopBitchoftheWitches · 22/06/2019 19:00

I cannot stand the afternoon pick up.

We leave the house at 8am, I drive 25 mins to drop them at school (it's quite a few miles) then go to work. I always have it hanging over me that I also have to pick them up 3.20pm.
I don't know why it annoys me so much but it does !
Maybe because I have to do it. Single mum and all that. 🤷‍♀️

Xmasbaby11 · 22/06/2019 19:09

I work 4 days a week so I only go to school twice. I really appreciate it and look forward to it. I'm sure it is boring to do every day though! Most sahp send their dc to an after school activity once or twice a week and pick up later, so I guess that varies the routine.

YouJustDoYou · 22/06/2019 19:09

Yes. And you've many years of it to come.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 23/06/2019 08:55

Just grit your teeth and get on with it, OP. You will get used to it and may even enjoy it in summer months!

Having done it for so many years, I actually miss the school run, the chats with other mums (and a few dads) on a daily basis, seeing so many children growing up, feeling part of a micro-community.

ForalltheSaints · 23/06/2019 09:00

Could you make it the school walk? Think of the exercise it brings.

Shinyletsbebadguys · 23/06/2019 09:05

Oh flipping heck at all the people saying you had children you should have expected it. Of course I expected it ,I also expected to visit the dentist because I have bloody teeth doesn't mean I'm throwing a parade about it.

It is tedious OP as are permanently running conversations about Minecraft and my youngest inability to understand the concept of removing shoes.

Still totally worth it in the end and it becomes so habit forming it is almost muscle memory after a while. I figure it's saving grace is it is relatively quick (if I can dodge the infamous mother that treats it like a social get together and it's my turn to be collared for her passive aggressive comments on my parenting in her sing song sickly sweet voice )

Always entertaining seeing the domino like affect of parenrs along over each other trying to avoid her so they don't get stuck for half an hour.

AppleHEAD · 23/06/2019 09:08

Hate it. It's time consuming and I have to speak to people I don't want to to be polite.

The80sweregreat · 23/06/2019 09:08

It is tedious, but I know someone who selected secondary schools for her two that was 40 mile round trip every day ! ( no school bus available or anything)
I call that dedication as the best bit for me was when mine could walk to school in the rain on their own!
It's not something you think about when you have a baby but school times and general school life takes up a lot of time.

haverhill · 23/06/2019 09:12

DS left his (fantastic) primary school last year and the one thing I don’t miss is that boring walk over and over and over again. Yanbu.

theorchidwhisperer · 23/06/2019 09:16

Yup, I did this for 9 years......

A sense of euphoria when my youngest transferred to upper school and could catch the school bus.

Every day was divided as I had to get in the car at 2.20pm to get to school in time for pick up. We are rural.

I think unless you have good after school clubs or a willing grandparent. That's a usual day for mums.

One of the mums leaving primary the same year I did had been doing this same run for 19 years as all her children were spaced about 4 years apart. Omg.

NoSquirrels · 23/06/2019 09:28

I have a very low threshold for doing the same thing over and over. I'm now a SAHM

Well, think that’s choices for you. SAHM and repetitive tasks is part of the tedious nature of FT childcare, unless you can afford to outsource it, which most SAHMs can’t.

I don’t like it at all either. Was better when we could walk to school, now it’s a drive and just low-level stress constantly. Shall be mighty relieved by the time secondary rolls around!