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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dreaded School Run

31 replies

Constance17 · 03/09/2019 17:05

What fucking loads of shite, I work part time and take DCs to and from school half of the week. I find it so draining, some Mums are just awkward and bitchy. Its giving me anxiety!!! Why???? Am I the only one fucking hate the school run?

OP posts:
NoSauce · 03/09/2019 17:08

Just drop off and leave. How are these women bitchy and awkward? I can honestly say I’ve never seen this.

JustHereWithPopcorn · 03/09/2019 17:09

Just drop off and leave? You don't need to interact with other people, it is possible to keep yourself to yourself.

hopeishere · 03/09/2019 17:11

Going from mumsnet you're not the only one. But I can honestly say I didn't find that. I made some good friends at my DCs school.

AloeVeraLynn · 03/09/2019 17:13

How are they awkward or bitchy? Just pick up your kid and go.. no need for any drama.

Original poster
Constance17 · 03/09/2019 17:16

Thank u for replies- considering drop off and leave. I am polite and ok making small talk. Probably have one of those faces that people like to off- load!

OP posts:
Whattodo20192 · 03/09/2019 17:17

If it's giving you anxiety, could you possibly appear awkward aswell?
I love doing the school run.

Picklypickles · 03/09/2019 17:18

No you're not the only one! Its been giving me a lot of anxiety recently. My next door neighbour is a strange one, always used to chat to me on the school run if we happened to be walking there at the same time, perfectly civlized and friendly. For the last few months she has been very pointedly ignoring me, wont even look at me and has taken to doing the school run with an entourage of her family and friends all of whom look at me like I'm something they've stood in. She is friendly with other mums at the school who now also blank me. To my knowledge nothing has happened, I've done nothing and said nothing. It's all very strange but I have no intention of fuelling their drama by asking what the problem is, but it is quite awkward, feels like being back at bloody school again. Strangely enough though saw the neighbour this morning on the school run without her entourage and she actually looked at me, smiled and spoke. Then back to being blanked this afternoon when she had the entourage back with her, just utterly bizarre. I really can't be doing with fickle people.

RatherBeRiding · 03/09/2019 17:20

Drop and run!

Used to find the playground-clique stuff so tiresome. I would smile and nod if I caught anyone's eye but otherwise I didn't hang around. Once they were old enough I just used to see them to the school gates and then scarper!

Original poster
Constance17 · 03/09/2019 17:22

Awkward = Same woman arrange mums night out then ignores everyone few days later. ( people are scared if they didn't go) Very volatile.

Bitchy= same group would just slag off the others.... lots of drama!!

Always a queen bee...

Am getting too old for this play ground shit Confused

OP posts:
mumwon · 03/09/2019 17:27

covens exist everywhere - imagine them dressed in black pointed hats & broomsticks - might help! Grin

SamsMumsCateracts · 03/09/2019 17:29

Yep, I'm dreading the school run too. No bitchiness or awkwardness, but I have to get to work straight after and can only do it if I drop them off as soon as the gate opens and briskly walk the two minutes home to get in the car. Any longer than this and I hit all the traffic and am late for work. All fine, except everyone wants a bloody chat. Not many of the mums work and don't seem to understand that I can't wander home leisurely while chatting. Add in the slooooow walkers or parents walking toddlers, right in the middle of the thin path, that you get stuck behind. It's a bit of a stressful start to each morning!

NoSauce · 03/09/2019 17:30

Just be bright and breezy. Act if need be! Smile and walk past people, don’t stop to chat and get embroiled in whatever these women are bitching about. Go home and have coffee!

whattodowith · 03/09/2019 17:32

I haven’t done many school runs because I teach so usually DH will drop them at breakfast club and the childminder collects them. I’ve been on mat leave for the past year so had to do it every day. Hated it with every morsel of my being.

Despise the Mum’s who walk at snails pace so they can gossip and they block the whole path so I can’t get past without shouting EXCUUUUSE ME and I usually get a dirty look or three.

scarecrowhead · 03/09/2019 17:39

Put headphones in, ignore

Deelish75 · 03/09/2019 17:42

It’s quite funny at our school, of a morning we (neighbours) all walk our kids separately, bump into each other at the drop and then walk home together. Of an afternoon I tend to get there at the last minute, pick dc up and walk home talking to them.

neonglow · 03/09/2019 17:45

I know what you mean. I just try and drop and go but then I notice the clique-y mums tend to arrange stuff with the kids in the holidays and each others children to birthday parties, so I feel a bit bad that DS misses out on class things on account of my social awkwardness :/

PrincessHoneysuckle · 03/09/2019 17:57

I live 5 mins walk from ds5 school and I've got it down to a fine art..leave house at 8.35 arrive as doors open at 8.40 resulting in no standing around with people you dont want to talk to Smile

Uniformuniformuniform · 03/09/2019 18:03

I love our school years generally everyone is lovely. Or at least to your face. Everyone seems to help each other out and have made genuinely good friends. Kids all get on. I would try and be polite and make small talk so your DC's don't miss out. Why should they miss out for your not liking their friends parents. You don't have to be friends but at least they know you so your kid will get invited to things.

I never got invited to anything because my mum couldn't be bothered to just stop and say hello to anyone and just tried to Palm me off to others to drop off and pick up. If she was frienier my school life may have been easier

Notsure1978 · 03/09/2019 18:31

Yep, dreading it. I’m one of the few working mums at my daughters school. It’s in a very affluent area and pretty much all the other mums are sahm, who drive very expensive cars and turn up fresh from the salon. I get looked down at, because I work. I would love to make a few friends as we moved up to this area a couple of years ago due to having to move away from an abusive ex.
This year I think I’ll make an extra effort to start conversations and just generally be a bit more sociable Confused

arethereanyleftatall · 03/09/2019 18:35

Not my experience at all. I enjoy it.
Just drop and run if it's no fun for you.

Crystal87 · 03/09/2019 18:47

There's nothing I particularly enjoy or don't enjoy about it. It's taking my kid to and from school, not the highlight of my day.

MsVestibule · 03/09/2019 19:02

I've done 100s (1000s?) of school runs and have never experienced this. Maybe I'm the cliquey bitch 🤔?

I've made good friends and some friendly acquaintances. Just like every other area of life (school, university, work etc) there are some I like, some I avoid. It's only a few minutes a day and unless somebody is being actively unpleasant, it's really not worth getting worked up about.

Notsure1978 · 03/09/2019 19:07

At my daughters old school I really enjoyed the school run and made loads of friends, I just feel awkward at her new school

Original poster
Constance17 · 03/09/2019 19:17

My older DC is and was a lot easier. All the mums are great! Just the younger child...

I sympathise with anyone who feels the same as me!! Thank you all for sharing wise words

Some Gin to get over the trauma Gin

OP posts:
BarrenFieldofFucks · 03/09/2019 19:21

Mum's are just people, like you, who happen to have had children. Nothing tends to unite them more than that.