...to want to read a book in the playground at school run time?

[Spiderhammer]

DH thinks it's anti social and weird.

Would you think it unfriendly and rude if a mum were to do it in your playground?

I don't think it is wierd, it does send off a "leave me alone" vibe, but I don't see anything wrong with that.
But then I am anti-social, so probably not the best person to comment.

I don't see anything wrong with it! I don't see why people have to be sociable all the time!

One mum at our nursery puts one earphone of her ipod in while she waits, I just assumed she was shy rather than unsociable... but if she's being unsociable what's it to me?! Doesn't impact my life!

I don't have a problem with unsociability. Can be quite partial to it myself. Listeing to your ipod - fine. Reading a book during a 5ish min wait - unusual.

i hate waiting at the school gates too. i dont really know anyone and never really know what to say to anyone its not that im anti social just a bit shy. All the other mums always seem impeccably dressed with perfect make up, i dont know how they have time for this as all i can manage in the two hours my son is at school is too rush round trying to clean and tidy up. I always feel to self concious to approach anyone so i often phone someone on my mobile before i get there and talk to them till some one i know turns up lol i know its a bit anti social but hey what can you do lol

I have to catch two buses to get to DD's school and get their about twenty minutes early, so I often take a book, and take DS to the park, when we leave the park, 5 minutes before DD comes out, I do sit in the playground and read my book.
Although if I see someone near me that I usually talk to I look up and smile so they can come over if they want to chat.

I rather love the school run, I have to say.

one off ok

all the time/ipods - just shows lack of social skills rather than cool and busy!

• i also think what message does it give to your kids - that others arent worth talking to? that its not important to be friendly?

its interesting that you say your mum and dad feel the same way - i think the risk is that you will teach your kids to do the same - fine if you think thats the way forward, not fine if you dont

ickle bit antisocial

When I feel as you do Spider, I do one of two things:

1. Sit on a far bench, well away from everyone else or walk around the playground well away from everyone else. I know it looks anti-social, but that is how I feel!

2. Turn up at the last possible minute, pick up my children and walk straight out (there is a culture at our school of staying after school and letting the children play while parents talk - odd I know!)

Taking a book with you does smack of a certain fatalism, as in, no matter who wants to speak to me, I won't find them interesting.

I do this sometimes, but make sure I am lurking away from dds classroom so noone I know sees me. Agree that if you do it all the time it smacks of standoffishness. But our school playground is UBER social and so it would be a two fingers thing to do it all the time.

I have to be dragged out of the playground by dd because I am too busy chatting to all the nice mums and dads.

I think I have the opposite problem!!!