To be absolutely delighted - school runs are almost over for me for GOOD!

[PokerFaceGrace]

After exactly 20 years (oldest started school in 2001)!

Youngest DC will be moving to secondary school in September. He will travel independently. There will be the odd day he’ll need a lift but there will be no more hanging at the school gate, having to make small talk, being blanked/bitched about by alpha mums! My DC have been in 3 different primaries and I seem to have been extraordinarily unlucky in that there were bitchy women at all of them. The worst was my SN DC’s school. They got together behind my back to write letters to the Head to have him removed from the class! With my youngest, the mother of a boy who bullied and injured him on multiple occasions, took umbrage at me complaining to the school and so turned other mums against me.

I used to have massive anxiety about the school gate! Going in for school productions/sports days etc.

Obviously due to covid that hasn’t been an issue so much recently but I am so delighted that in 3 weeks it will all be officially over!

Anyone else?

It truly is a great feeling. I very occasionally pine for our nice walks to school on a sunny June morning but quickly remember the rainy, cold, traffic congested, no parking, forgotten pe kit, running for tube experiences and my rose tinted glasses are gone.

Congratulations!

I remember nothing but relief at DS2's primary school leavers assembly, while everyone around me was sobbing. I was so glad to be leaving all that behind.

Well done! I only have one child, but it was a great day when we left primary school gate politics behind. I cannot imagine having to cope with it for as long as you have!

Oh yes! Know exactly how you feel. Hated school runs. Especially when your child comes up to you at the end of school with some random child asking if Tarquin can come for tea 'no, not today darling ' and not ever

I can't wait eldest started school nursery in 1995 and smallest will reach year 6 in 2025 so a very long time 😂

It is very freeing, for sure, but I do find myself missing those morning walks with little hands in mine (sentimental old thing, me). I even miss the rainy and cold ones.

I absolutely dreaded the school run! Even though I had some friends amongst the Mums, I hated waiting outside in a big crowd ( DD’s primary was quite a large one) & often used to plan what I was going to talk about. Waiting for the afternoon pick up often spoilt whatever I was doing as I felt I couldn’t relax. I do suffer from anxiety though.

I am so incredibly jealous. I've got 13 years to go 😭 I won't do them every day and it will get less and less but still! 13 years.

I’m less than a year away from never doing school runs again, and I’m so excited!

DS17 is in 6th form and I’m currently having to drive him. So when he leaves school next year I will have a party to celebrate no more school runs

Yes, I totally get what you are saying! My youngest is starting secondary in September and my oldest is getting ready to fly the nest. I feel relieved rather than sad that they are becoming more independent.

Yup. One week to push then goodbye school gates, WhatsApp groups, teachers collections, charity bakes, lost PE kit messages. Good bye, good riddance.

Me too, when DS moved to secondary, the sight of the school bus stopping 5m from our front door filled me with joy!

I can't wait. Ds is going to secondary next September. From this September he can walk himself and the gate is 20 yards from the front door.

So I am pretty much done. But can't wait til next year and I have only been doing them since 2008.

Congratulations OP!!

DS went to secondary school last September which ended the 10y + twice daily slog school run.

I haven't missed any of my so-called friends...so-called because I was dropped like a hot potato once term finished. I haven't minded in the slightest as I always thought they were a two-faced bunch. Give me office politics over playground politics any day.

Good luck OP - enjoy your freedom!

I can’t wait!! Four weeks left then secondary school in September & they can get themselves to!

Been doing primary school runs for 15 years!!! I won’t miss it :)

I like the chance to chat to my DC and miss it now my eldest takes herself to secondary, but I’m lucky enough to have a nice 10 minute walk to primary. And either the other mums are perfectly nice to say ‘hi’ to or I’m completely oblivious to nasty undercurrents.

I did think I’d like the lie-ins when they’re both at secondary, but it turns out that secondary age DC likes a cup of tea and a chat before leaving for school, so I get up anyway.

Being able to do whatever you’re doing then go straight home rather than a detour to school is most excellent. I can even buy a takeaway coffee for the bus ride back.

Enjoy every minute. And if the alpha mums as you describe them speak to you on the last day, perhaps say that you hope they will be as glad not to meet you again as you are not to meet them.

Nope. I liked the school run when I was able to do it.
Our village is friendly and I made some great friends over the years.

I've worked from home for years which gives me great flexibility and allowed me to be more involved with the school, and also ensured I saw other people. Now I sometimes go a whole working day w/o speaking to anyone.

Granted, the extra time it gives me to work and follow my own interests (mainly sport) is welcome, but I do miss being part of it all.

Yes I don't miss school run in the least. Ds started going by bike two years ago and will go by bus to college in September. I hated going in the car in all weathers in the winter. I think my d s went by car for far too long but it was half an hour walk home.

Been doing the school run for 14 years so far and my youngest won't start secondary until 2030.

That's 23 years I'll have to do it for