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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not buy a second car we can't afford just to do 0.7 mile school run!

184 replies

Acunningruse · 27/09/2021 12:00

Our second car broke during the first lockdown and we haven't replaced it as DH and I now both do 3days wfh/2 days in office. This means that the parent wfh that day walks the children (9 and 5) to school. We live 0.7 mile away from school and to be honest it's been absolutely lovely over the spring and summer months, having time together on a morning and not fighting for a parking space. However...
This morning was absolutely biblical rain, just torrential. I wrapped kids up as best as I could in waterproof coats, wellies and took ab umbrella (utterly useless in wind!) but we still got soaked. Dd (5) thought splashing in puddles was hilarious but DS (9) was increasingly grumpy, muttering about how 'no-one else' walks (this unfortunately is almost true, 99% families drive) abs then got very upset that his trousers were soaked so now of course I feel horrendously guilty. Not to mention all the playground comments this morning of 'oh goodness, you walked in THIS! You must be soaked!' No shit Sherlock but it's a bit of water I'm not sending them down the mine ffs!!!

AIBU- no, buy another car at once, walking every day will be awful in winter
IANBU- no, buy the kids some waterproofs (where to change them though? School not really set up for it as above no-one else walks far) and tell them when I was a girl I walked to school in rain hail or snow, uphill both ways... Grin

OP posts:
SantiagoSky · 27/09/2021 13:07

Walking is better for your and your children's health and also for the environment.

kakeya97 · 27/09/2021 13:08

By the time you get them in the car, drive and find a space. Just as quick to walk with it being that close. We are about 0.5 miles away from the school and we walk even in the rain cos I find it easier. Coats, umbrellas, wellies are good! Some people live much further away and don't drive and walk in the rain. It won't kill them! The only time I'll drive to school is if I have to go somewhere in a rush straight after dropping them off which is rare. I usually have time to walk home first.

We do have 2 cars but it's because of work and living rurally and no public transport, never for the school run alone.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 27/09/2021 13:10

My kids are very familiar with the statement “you’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt”. Good waterproofs, rain ponchos and a baseball cap to keep rain off the face.

Waterproof gloves and thermal socks in the depths of winter.

Tiramiwho · 27/09/2021 13:10

No don't buy a 2nd car for a half mile school walk! These are precious bonding times that will be over too soon - and yes! It is great fun in all weathers if you dress correctly!

Remember back when nobody had a 2nd car? ( and only rich folks even had the one in the 1970's and beyond ) and everybody walked to school?
Happy days 🙂

Mulhollandmagoo · 27/09/2021 13:11

I don't have school children so I don't know the logistics, so not sure if this would be possible - but could you walk to school in different trousers? maybe a pair of joggers and then change into their school trousers at school?

SuperstarDog · 27/09/2021 13:13

Remember back when nobody had a 2nd car? ( and only rich folks even had the one in the 1970's and beyond ) and everybody walked to school?
Happy days

Rose tinted glasses I think. I was a child in the 80s. Life was bloody hard, I was aware of that even as a primary aged kid.

Nowthisisme · 27/09/2021 13:13

It’s worth tracking how often it actually rains so you have some facts to counter your 9 year old’s grumpiness. (Hopefully the numbers will fall that way!)

politics4me · 27/09/2021 13:14

Try a shop that sells waterproof over clothes for climbing or sailing. These are made with good overlaps and waterproof seams etc.
They will like it..... eventually......probably

noworklifebalance · 27/09/2021 13:15

YANBU for not getting a second car

YABU (and your DH) for not being better prepared for torrential rain if it was already happening before you left the house. Being in wet clothes all day or even in wet socks and shoes is pretty miserable.

TheSockMonster · 27/09/2021 13:15

I walk miles in all weathers and it’s definitely possible to stay warm and dry with the correct clothing and footwear, worn in the correct way (top tips: neoprene muck boots are better, warmer and more comfortable than wellies, knee length waterproof coats with modern rain ponchos over the top pretty much guarantees you’ll be impervious to all weather!)

I think your problem here is lack of decent changing and drying facilities at the school. I’d suggest speaking to the school and seeing if they can offer an area for wet people to come in and change and somewhere to hang very wet waterproofs. A typical primary cloakroom does not work well for this. It could be something as a simple as a corner of the hall and a mobile clothing rack that can be wheeled out when it rains.

If the school could offer this it might encourage others to walk too.

EveningOverRooftops · 27/09/2021 13:19

Buy waterproofs and a travel towel for the kids so they can dry off before class starts. Big water proof poncho for them might be the best option. Have spare dry socks in book bags/PE bag just in case. Carry on walking to school.

My DC walked to school regardless of weather - 2 miles there and 2 miles home. Yes there were days it was grim and on really cold and wet days walking home the promise of hot chocolate or cheese toasties when we got in was enough motivation to keep doing it.

MitheringMytryl · 27/09/2021 13:22

If the weather is really apocalyptic then you need proper wellies and a long waterproof coat. They can change into school shoes once they're inside and keep the their waterproofs in the cloakroom ready for the riverwading journey home Grin

It would be ridiculous to buy a car just for the days that it rains on your under a mile walk to school. Anyone who is shocked that your kids walk such a short distance on a rainy day needs to get a grip.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 27/09/2021 13:23

No way! I live 1 mile from our school and we don't even have one car so we walk everyday, including this morning in the downpour of biblical proportions. DD wears over her uniform waterproof coat, waterproof trousers and wellies (with school shoes in her bag). Yes the outer layers were pretty wet but she was mostly dry underneath and didn't have to sit in the classroom in wet clothes. Decent waterproof clothing will be far far cheaper than a second car which will sit there doing nothing most of the day!

LittleMysSister · 27/09/2021 13:25

I'd just get him wellies and a bit of a longer coat. Waterproofs might be a bit much and draw attention from the other kids.

Rocketpants50 · 27/09/2021 13:26

School run this morning absolutely drenched, discovered my coat is no longer waterproof, work clothes soaked through. 2 mile walk, have spent last hour researching long waterproof coats and just got a pair of winter boots (essential for dog walking to!).

Nothing wrong with walking in the rain. I have a car but we always walk, I think once you have got everyone in car, driven to sch, found car parking space, walk to school ( prob get wet!) There isnt much time saved.

Fink · 27/09/2021 13:27

No way would I get a car for 0.7 miles each way! Until this year we were doing 2.5 miles each way and there were only a few very, very extreme days when we resorted to the bus (not door to door though so still a reasonable walk at one end). You can carry the dry stuff (to ensure it stays dry!) and hand it over at the gate. Surely they can change in the loo and hang the wet stuff up on their peg?

saleorbouy · 27/09/2021 13:28

No such thing as bad weather just bad/incorrect clothing. Buy some good quality breathable waterproof jackets and leggings.
Check out Runcharlie or Sportpursuit I got some great gear for mine there as a good price.
The walk will do them good, we all did it years ago so it won't harm them now. Shame more parents don't do it.

3totheright4totheleft · 27/09/2021 13:30

I think there is a wider problem, especially in secondary, that they only have tiny lockers and nowhere for outerwear to dry. I asked some parents of older children recently what shoes their teenagers wore for when the snow/ice comes.....total blanks, because they mostly drive and the issue never arises!

Doveyouknow · 27/09/2021 13:30

We walk a similar distance in all weathers. I live in London so it would take longer to drive n park than walk. My youngest wears Lidl waterproof trousers in winter and thinner mountain warehouse ones the rest of the yr. My 9yr old has mountain warehouse ones if he wants to wear them. Both just hang them up on their pegs when they get to school. Neither like walking in the rain but they don't like a lot of things I make them do. Does your youngest not have some wet weather gear for school in any case? Early years are out in the playground / forest school whatever the weather at our school, so most kids have wet weather gear and take it home as needed.

CurlyMcCurlFace · 27/09/2021 13:33

Mines 9 - he has a pair of regatta waterproof trousers. He takes them off in the classroom and then hangs them on his peg to dry. If I remember I give him a bag to stuff them in in case they are still wet at home time.

My 5 year old still fits and doesn't mind the cheap, brightly colours waterproof trousers from Lidl. She is in reception and they help her to change in/out of them if necessary.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 27/09/2021 13:33

We walked to school before we moved. The children had full waterproofs. They wore school trousers (both boys) I tucked their trousers into their socks, put the waterproof trousers on, wellies on and then zipped the ankle flaps shut. They also had their own umbrellas, I had and still have a bird cage one. I also had a knee length waterproof Merrel coat and when it was very heavy rain, waterproof trousers.

When we got to school they would lean their back against the wall, I put a pair of school shoes on the floor, pulled down the waterproof trousers to just below the knee, unzipped the ankle of one leg, removed the wellie, pulled the waterproof trouser down the leg and fed the foot into the shoe. Same on the other side. They could un-tuck the trousers easily from the sock themselves. They stayed very dry.

The leaning against a wall helps as they can put their hands on your shoulders to balance. I actually hated it when we moved as we loved walking, but we still parked a 5 minute walk away and still did the waterproof clothing bit.

Teateaandmoretea · 27/09/2021 13:33

YANBU

BUT all the people suggesting cycling have clearly never ridden a bike in torrential rain Hmm

Helenluvsrob · 27/09/2021 13:34

Decent waterproofs - cagoule and trousers and you’ll be fine.
Ask the kids what would Greta do ?

3scape · 27/09/2021 13:35

Spend a bit on some decent waterproofs and you'll still have made a great household saving. School run is a really nice time of day while it lasts, those little chats can mean so much to their day.

trumpisagit · 27/09/2021 13:36

We walked to school almost every day of primary for 2 kids, about 0.65 miles. Downhill on way there.
My kids wore wellies when younger, but chose not to when older.
I don't remember that many biblically wet mornings and largely it was a really good start to the day.