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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

344 replies

PapayaCoconut · 07/11/2019 01:03

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?

OP posts:

SarahTancredi · 07/11/2019 16:09

See I think in alot of ways they are learning less now . The amount of homework they get even from reception makes me wonder what it is they have actually done all day.

Reception is mainly play based so it really shouldn't be tiring to the point they cant get home.

Ginnymweasley · 07/11/2019 16:17

Some people really do not walk anywhere. There is a church at the end of my road that has a playgroup, a woman on my street drives there no matter the weather. It takes less than 2 mins, she spends more time strapping the toddler into the car. The amount of people that drive to the local shop even though we love in a small village.
The thing with people saying that they will only use a car if its raining etc it's just not true. My dd has 20 kids in her class, apart from a couple of kids we live the farthest away but most of the other parents drive everyday. I think people get so used to driving they forget to do anything else.

Vandree · 07/11/2019 16:49

OP I dont even know if you are still reading after some of the mad comments. I was you and I tell you now I gave no f*cks having a new born in the pram and on wet days my 5 year old would jump in the buggy too (Phil&Teds) and I just made sure I had a waterproof warm coat and boots. I used to quite enjoy the walk in the rain in peace with the 2 kids in the pram watching the world go by. When the baby was baby and I felt I had my head together enough to learn to drive I learned in an automatic and bought an automatic 04 Clio and would practice in that as well. Made such a difference in learning and confidence. But for now survive anyway you can, I wouldnt bother with scooters or buggy boards and they are both a pain in the arse, good double buggy and waterproofs are a godsend, no different to all the other kids stuffed into carseats. In fact i would be home in 15 minutes with the buggy while traffic was at a standstill because of the rain. Anyone who was driving their kids too and from school and had an issue with my 5 year old in a buggy on a wet day would get a smart comment back, seriously how is it different from a child in a carseat? And sure if you've good waterproofs for the 5 year old they might want to get out and splash their way home but for now with a newborn do whatever you can to get through the day

Redwinestillfine · 07/11/2019 16:53

Absolutely no reason a 5 year old can't walk that distance twice a day. Buggy board is a good shout if not but check weight requirements

itsgettingweird · 07/11/2019 17:40

What vandree says makes perfect sense. Child in car seat vs buggy isn't actually different. That had never even occurred to me before.

I'd go with all in one for 5yo with wellies and take her a snack for after school. Buggy board or double. Use bus if you need to even though it doesn't speed journey up. Hopefully when spring arrives and bothe are a bit older it won't seem so bad.

Cacacoisfarraige · 07/11/2019 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Elbeagle · 07/11/2019 18:14

In fact i would be home in 15 minutes with the buggy while traffic was at a standstill because of the rain

This is a very good point.
We don’t have much traffic but parking around the school is impossible so people end up parking 5 mins away. Take into account the time it takes to get children into the car seat, and you don’t really save any time. A family 3 doors up from me drive every day while we walk. We leave at the same time as them in the morning, arrive at the school gates at the same time, and get home at the same time after school!

FunInTheSun2019 · 07/11/2019 21:01

I can't believe the comments on here! People looking down their noses at a child walking to and from school everyday! Her DD is 5 and just started full time school!
My DS has the most energy I have ever seen, and yet come a Thursday and Friday the busy week catches up with him and he nods off in the car on the way home from school!

And it's not just about her DD, it's about mum!
She is mentally and physically drained. Every mum of a newborn is!!

ThatMuppetShow · 07/11/2019 21:06

Child in car seat vs buggy isn't actually different.
of course it's not. That's why my kids walk to school.

Waveysnail · 07/11/2019 21:18

Electric bike with child trailer

Tvstar · 07/11/2019 21:26

Of course it's different! In a car there is no choice. In a car you are not pushing them

Tvstar · 07/11/2019 21:32

I really can't believe all these parents condoning this nonsense. Be a parent for God's sake and tell her to walk. It's 20 minutes. No wonder so many kids are fat nowadays.

Drogosnextwife · 07/11/2019 21:35

I was a late driver. Honestly OP it's the best thing I ever did. I was the same as you. Tiny baby, 5 year old at school. I didn't learn to drive until my youngest was 2, I wish I had done it before I had kids.

GenderfreeJoe · 07/11/2019 21:44

I'd get a bike, there's some decent specialist ones. Or a radio flyer to drag kids in.

LeoAugust13 · 07/11/2019 21:48

Any way your DH could drop her off to breakfast club? In my daughters school breakfast club starts at 7am.

IncrediblySadToo · 07/11/2019 21:52

I wouldn’t drive that distance for the school run anyway & not because I’m a virtuous eco warrior, but simply because it’s just more hassle than it’s worth!

School traffic is hudious, Parking is a nightmare. You have to get them both
In & out of the car, then the baby back in & out again! NO wearing coats in car seats!! so faffing with coats, car seats etc it’s all just far easier to walk it

I’d put the baby in a sling & get DD used to the distance then by the time the baby is heavy to carry DD will be able to scooter it without needing help

She’s verging on being too big for a buggy board & personally I find them very difficult once the child is bigger -possibly not helped by the fact that I’m short and reaching around them and trying to see past them is just a nightmare.

At 5 scooting home really shouldn’t be beyond her. Stick or carrot.

Plus it’s really good to get the kids into the mind set of walking being part of life, it being the default - the car only being taken when it’s definitely too far to walk. It’s a much healthier way to live and so much easier when that’s their default

They build up stamina quickly - she’ll be zooming home before you know it - just make sure she’s wearing hi viz and isn’t zooming across driveways!!

Tvstar · 07/11/2019 22:09

Buggy boards are for toddlers!

CorBlimeyGovenor · 07/11/2019 22:13

Ok, well learning to drive is not ideal timing with a tiny baby. But if you do want to go down that route, you could consider learning in a week in an automatic car. My friend did that. She took an intensive short course.

TowelNumber42 · 07/11/2019 22:29

Remember the parenting mantra This too shall pass. DD will get stronger. Tiny baby breastfeeding will end. Summer will come. It will be fine eventually. Honest.

In the meantime, the bus might not be quicker but it avoids the dragging them around unwillingly. I would have the baby in a sling, no pram, get the bus, carry umbrellas.

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