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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is school run on a scooter really that embarrassing ?

278 replies

Confuseeeeed25 · 03/11/2020 21:21

Talking about what I wanted for Xmas and my upcoming birthday ( big 30 😭😭😭)
I asked for a scooter with very odd reactions from my DP and DS 🤣
I wanted it because mY DC ride their scooters to school and so thought I would join them !
They think it’s embarrassing for me and DC 🤣
Are they right ?

OP posts:
Bluewavescrashing · 04/11/2020 04:24

I see parents riding their kids' scooters home from the school run quite often.

Derelictwreck · 04/11/2020 04:41

@Qwertywerty3

Not embarrassing at all. I live in London and scooting adults are extremely common.
Disagree. I live in London and you see a few, but everyone makes fun of people who do it. Not to mention the fact that you're really in the way on the pavement.
Bikingbear · 04/11/2020 04:43

Go for it!

You might look silly, some might laugh, some might have envy, but do you really care? If you have fun, let's you keep up with DS, then why not.

You could end up being the cool mum with the scooter.

I'm not sure why people are suggesting bikes, not all schools have bike racks which is a pain to bring the bike home alone. Not to mention its hard for kids to keep up with an adult bike.

WouldBeGood · 04/11/2020 04:46

Just be aware that my ds and his school pals calm the scooting parent “Cool Dad”. Cutting 😂

WouldBeGood · 04/11/2020 04:46

Call

choosername1234 · 04/11/2020 04:54

I got one for Christmas the 2018 & then was the only parent on a scooter on the school run. There are now 7or8 parents scooting to our school every day (I like to think I started a trend)!
Beware though DS now prefers my "adult" scooter to his (totally age & size appropriate) scooter. Humph!

IHaveBrilloHair · 04/11/2020 05:04

I'm tempted to get one and I'm in my 40's with a grown up child.
At the age of your kids though my mere existence was horrifying to her, so please don't if it bothers them

AlternativePerspective · 04/11/2020 05:12

I think that what other adults think is less important than what the kids think.

I think it is actually important not to deliberately embarrass your kids or set them up for potential bullying or teasing. And before anyone says that if they’re bullied it’s the bully’s fault, of course it is but it isn’t quite as simple as that. As a parent you don’t deliberately do things which could lead to your kids being bullied, and this potentially could.

People think adults on scooters look ridiculous, even when those people think they are actually smiling at them. Quite a few people started using them in London a few years ago and my eXH said then that they looked ridiculous and that this was the general thought (he works in London.)

Also adults on pavements on bikes/scooters are generally a menace and take up too much space/expect people to get out of their way.

NeonGenesis · 04/11/2020 05:15

Yes it's embarrassing and yes you should get one

jessstan1 · 04/11/2020 05:23

You will be a mod, Confuseeeed. Very retro but currently fashionable.

nomdeplume2019 · 04/11/2020 05:27

Why care what people think?
If it works for you do it
Just don't run people over and be considerate

Goatinthegarden · 04/11/2020 05:33

I saw an adult on a scooter yesterday, was a bit taken aback because it was an unusual sight, then suddenly realised it looked like lots of fun.

I think people saying they laugh at adults on scooters are miserable and mean. As long as you are not endangering anyone, I don’t see the problem. As for PPs getting worked up about the child’s reaction - your child’s friends might say something, but if they can shrug it off and not care, it won’t become a problem. For goodness sake, op shouldn’t restrict her life because the child is embarrassed by her - plenty of children are embarrassed by every move their parents make, they need to learn to deal with it.

seayork2020 · 04/11/2020 05:34

@nomdeplume2019

Why care what people think? If it works for you do it Just don't run people over and be considerate
I believe the OP's children are embarrassed? if so no I would not do this same as I would not wear by dressing gown to do the school run, wear a clown costume, turn up in a pink stretch limo, etc.

I do not care what the random public think about my choices and within reason I do try not to deliberately embarrass my child

cariadlet · 04/11/2020 05:34

It shouldn't be embarrassing but if your dc say they would be embarrassed then I think that you should respect their feelings.

dalmatianmad · 04/11/2020 05:43

Haven't read the whole thread, do you mean an electric scooter?
My teenage DS has one and I love going on it, deffo get an electric one.

nannybeach · 04/11/2020 05:50

I am 70, have often taken the DGKs to school, one cycles, the other a scooter, I used to carry the scooter home, nearly killed me! So I stared riding it, its manuel, mostly through a park, not in anyone's way, not causing a danger to anyone else, and no-one batted an eyelid. My GKD's thought it was great and "cool". I don't know how old your DCs are, or if they are old enough to take themselves to school. I had forgotten how much legwork is required to "scoot", so I am sure I got a good workout. My DH commented the other day about school run Mum using scooters, thought it was weird, yet, you see them all the time where we live (no-where London) I had already told him about me scooting home. Trouble is, you get the idiots here, who think they "own" the pavements in Town

DrManhattan · 04/11/2020 05:51

Get a skateboard as well

Allthegoodnamesweretakenalread · 04/11/2020 06:07

I've got an adult scooter and it's so much fun! Makes it so much faster and easier to get kids to school. I'm always considerate of other pedestrians.

We don't have space for bikes in our house and no storage outside and scooters take up very little room.

As you can easily carry them they are less of a theft risk than a bike too. We regularly have bikes stolen from our office garage but I can fold up a scooter and bring it in with me.

I think the more people get used to seeing adults on scooters the less it will seem odd.

Go for it!

Wiredforsound · 04/11/2020 06:14

Very common at my kids school. They’re awesome, fun, and great exercise. Totally go for it. All the people saying it’s ridiculous have obviously never tried it.

TheAirbender · 04/11/2020 06:15

Adult scooters are very normal on my school run (dubai). Finding all the resistance / embarrassment on here very weird and very British! It’s just a mode of transport.

BreathyVoix · 04/11/2020 06:49

Ugh. They are illegal on the road and a pain on the pavement. Around the school at pick up and drop offs will be very busy. It's bad enough children scooting around clumsily and dangerously, now adults, too? I'd look and think: knob.

flaviaritt · 04/11/2020 06:52

How old are your DC? I think adults on scooters look ridiculous. But I wouldn’t care what my DH thought. Wouldn’t embarrass my kids, though.

Gaoth · 04/11/2020 06:56

There are a few scooting parents as well as lots of parents who cycle with their children at my son’s mildly hippy city centre primary school.

LittleMissBrainy · 04/11/2020 07:06

We got our 4 year old a ‘big girl’ 2 wheeled schooler that adults can also ride. I walk to school while she scoots, then I scoot it back. Mainly because it’s a pain to carry but it’s also fun and I get back a lot quicker. I get some funny looks but that could be because I’m 12 stone and most people of my size wouldn’t do that.
The looks don’t really bother me, it more baffles me that other people don’t ride them home (assuming from this thread) because of what they look like.

Oysterbabe · 04/11/2020 07:09

I almost get wiped out on the pavements often enough without full grown adults barrelling along on scooters too.