I can't cope with the school run anymore!!

[PapayaCoconut]

I don't drive. (Have a tiny breastfeeding baby, so won't be able to learn until she's older.) DH works looong hours. DD (5) just started school 20-25 minutes walk away.

I just can't do it anymore! DD is so tired some days I have to drag her scooter with one arm and push her sister's pram with the other. In the rain if I'm unlucky.

I'm seriously thinking about hiring a taxi to take us every day... 😖 AIBU?

OlaEliza, I don’t believe anyone is saying it’s unfathomable, or anyone is likely to expire from being in the rain, but it’s okay to say, actually this is a struggle, how can we make it easier?

Do whatever you can to make your life easier, could you taxi to school and walk back then walk to school pm and taxi home

I would just go for the double buggy or single buggy and sling until the bad weather's over. It's not worth the stress.

I look back on the school run I did with an 8 year old, 4 year old and baby and wonder why I made it so hard for myself. Obviously 8 year old could walk fine but the 4 year old was knackered and slow and generally couldn't be arsed. I thought she'd learn eventually to buck up and walk but she didn't and it was a grim year of the 8 year old miles ahead and the four year old miles behind and me shouting at both of them to hurry up or slow down.

I had a buggy board and it was a massive arse-ache leaning over her and she didn't like as had to stand at funny angle. So I wish I'd gone whole hog and let her sit in a double buggy. At the time I'd have thought four years old was too old. Now, all I remember is how miserable we all were and wish I had shoved her in with a book to look at.

I'm all for doing whatever you can for an easy life. If she wants to do buggy board for 20 minutes and walk for 5 who cares? It's not going to bring about the end of civilisation. School run is miserable enough without everyone crying.

I feel your pain, I strongly dislike the school run and I drive it!
If your little one has just started school then they are always so tired and will adjust eventually. I often walk in the rain as I like it but it helps to get the kids cute umbrellas and suits etc, then they love it. Could you make it into a game or lets see if we can spot this and this etc... the school run is tiring, and you are always clock watching. Is there another mum nearby that you could take it in turns to do the school runs 1 day each or something ? The winter will likely bit be fun so make sure you get yourself decent coat, boots etc.

I'd just get a decent proper waterproof for yourself and your 5 year old and waterproof footwear and walk,Its only a mile or so and a five year old should be able to manage that o.k.
Once she starts walking it she'll get used to it and there wont be a problem .I walked this at 5.

Get some good supportive comfy trainers. Get a buggyboard (5 is not old) 20 - 25 min walk isn't too bad.

As for driving try to do two lessons a week and book the theory test and practical test early so you have a deadline to learn towards. It's worse if you keep doing it for months with only one lesson a week or so. I managed to do 2 x 2hour lessons a week and then pass both my tests in 2/3months. Maybe wait until baby is BF because its better to get momentum !

5 years old isn't too old for a buggy board :) You'd probably find that the journey is quicker as well if your older child is on a buggy board rather than walking/on her scooter. On a recent family holiday my niece (5 next month) had a buggy due to all the walking we were doing. So a buggy board would be fine. As others have said you could still get a taxi on rainy days until you get round to doing your driving lessons.

I spent £120 on a buggyboard when my son was born and my really tall almost three year old couldn't fit in double pushchairs. It was horrible. I had it on a mamas and papas pram. It was really hard for me to push and my short legs meant o tripped over it alot. So whilst I agree they are great for lots of people go and try it out properly in a shop first and see how it works on your pushchair. I used mine about 3 times and I could cry at what I paid for it.

NationMcKinley I have read your post and I still think it was absolutely ridiculous, and I replied.

@ThatMuppetShow it’s called irony

If it makes you feel better I used to get my childminder to sit my 5 year old in a pushchair after school for a 10/15minute walk as he would be so tired after school and I felt bad for his little legs as they do get so tired during the school day when it's all new to them. You could do a crash course if you have the money for driving lessons and get it done in a matter of weeks

Some taxi companies will do a deal if its regular journeys.

I would short term get a buggy board - not to old and can be used in combo with scooter.

Check the map for short cuts

Check for a bus route

Taxi occasionally will be a problem at that time of day as many are contracted to schools same for the pm unless its a major city

Start some lessons - they come and get you and drop you back so it is just 1 hr at a time.

Invest in the right clothes for rainy weather (and shoes/boots)

Well, we don't really know much about the OP's situation. So, it's not worth people getting so wound up about it.

It's weird people are commenting on the weather when they have no idea where she lives. In the Highlands it a long hard winter. In the South, not so much.

In the city, you don't really need a car to get about. In the countryside, it can be really essential.

I think the OP has had a slew of suggestions to work through, so hopefully she can find something that works well for her and her family.

Have you got a friend who could take your eldest child?
Definitely a crash course of driving lessons pardon the pun.

I have every sympathy. At one point I had three children under four and when the eldest started school first few months were absolutely horrific. I nearly had a nervous breakdown. It’s getting easier now he’s in year 1 and the other two are settling down. If I hadn’t been able to drive with a car at my disposal 24/7 I would have collapsed.

@Mumof21989 I also hated buggy boards and could not walk with it on any of my three buggies at all.

If you are tall and the design of your buggy is not that accommodating they are more of a hindrance.

Definitely go for double buggy and maybe ask around if any other Mum could help with a lift if they are close by . Ignore the posters who are so bloody capable...we are all different and phased by different situations in life !

Learn to drive - though this isn't an instant fix and may take longer than you think (and the school run may take longer than you think in a car!) In the meantime invest in some decent waterproofs and get a buggy your five-year-old can sit in and is easy to push if she's too tired/you need to hurry. Put the baby in a sling for the time being. Your DD will soon be out of the buggy (especially when she sees others her age walking), the buggy will still be useful for transporting books, PE kits and all the other associated clobber backwards and forwards and eventually your new baby will grow into it. It doesn't feel like it at the moment, but this is a short term problem. As the school year goes by you may find someone to share the school run with or someone may offer to drop off/pick up your DD some days. The school run feels like a relentless PITAS however you do it - however I must confess I actually missed it when it was over. Viewed from afar (as a parent of teenagers) it was a magical one-on-one time that gave a rhythm to the day. We all have fond memories of it.

I'd get good waterproof clothes for all and a buggy board (even one with a little seat if you can afford it). I don't think 5 is too old and even if it was i'd just say fuck it, you've got to do what you've got to do.

I'm in exactly the same boat, I tend to use the sling for the baby and older one either cycles (luckily we pushed learning to pedal so can pedal nicely now) or scoots. Or I use a pram and buggyboard. In the rain we just get togged up in puddle suits/umbrellas etc.

Crucially, I listen to audiobooks once I've dropped her off so the whole thing seems less of an ordeal and becomes a bit of quiet time for me as little one tends to sleep especially if in the sling

Every school I know of is clogged with traffic and plagued with parking problems and trying to encourage children to walk to school/introduce walking buses/all kind of measures because the congestion and subsequent dangerous traffic/air quality is a massive problem.

Trust me, I know the school run is a pain because I’ve been doing the same walk most school days for the last ten years and I have at least another three years still to do, and with several different combinations of breastfed newborn/toddler/school children/dropping at different schools/onward journey to work. I have never used the car because of the above, because the schools are besieged by cars and it is dangerous for the children, and because buckling a newborn and older children into a car then driving to somewhere near the school, fighting through ridiculous parking arrangements and traffic, no stopping zones etc. Need to put the car several streets away anyway then get the children out of the car and put all their raincoats on then the baby out of the car seat and into the sling then get our waterproof stuff on so we can start the 5/10 minute walk from where we have managed to put the car anyway then get into school and do all the bookbags, name on the board, fruit in the drawer, homework in the tray, lunchbox in the hall ridiculousness....then do the same in reverse....takes longer and is harder than just walking in the first place. Plus when walking I could feed the baby as I went, in the car the baby would often just cry to be fed and make everything even more stressful.

I feel you, I do, but I don’t think a car is a magical answer, maybe if you were three/four miles away it would be but even now one of my DC is at a school nearly 2 miles off legs have always proved the best option here. Taxis would surely costs a fortune.

Is there anyone who walks the same way as you or nearby? The best suggestion I have is team up - get on the schools Facebook group or whathaveyou and start simple - I’ll take your dc one week you take my dc the next week - or alternate days, or a walking bus, or a childminder who will drop an extra one....

Yabu

A 5 year old should well be able to cope with walking 25 minutes and the exercise is really good for them.

I walked 30 minutes every day with my 4 year old son to school. It was a lovely chance to chat and be out in the fresh air. He complained the first few times, but 4 years later he’s fine there and back.

No scooter. That’s just asking for trouble they will just give up and make you carry it there and back.

Also, please do think of the environment. Listen to Greta! Please don’t get a car just for school.

Children adapt to walking very quickly when they do it every day. And yes I have done it. When my eldest DD started school I had 2 toddlers as well. We had an approximately 30 min walk.Dropped DD off and then DS at nursery (different school 10 mins away? Then walked back home and repeated in the afternoon. I had a double buggy but mostly used a single with a buggy board and they took it in turns walking, riding and sitting. Within a matter of weeks the buggy had lunch boxes, book bags and shopping in it whilst they all walked. We did it every day for primary school and they happily walked to senior school every day and now happily walk to college/work every day. They are fit and healthy and also now feel they are helping the environment.