To have never really done the school run?

[Veeveeoxox]

DD is 8 and in Year 4 for the first time in a long time I am picking her up directly from school. She goes to breakfast club at the local nursery and then after school club they pick her up and drop her off. I love it as there's no waiting for the teacher and no parents there either, my social anxiety loves it. Even if I'm off work I still take her to breakfast club and after-school club I just pick her up earlier. Does anyone else do this just because they loathe the school run ?

@Huy456

I feel so sad for people who get worked up about the school run. I promise no one is looking at you pr judging you, everyone generally is in their own head. I really doubt any dads have ever felt school run anxiety

Men are as likely to suffer from social anxiety as women.

Snort. My DS would do breakfast club and teatime club every day if I let him. It's like a giant playdate where they eat jam sandwiches and talk shite about Pokémon. It's not the orphanage

Haha my DS is the same! It does help as I have no after school club guilt and don't have the pick up chaos.

I never did the school run. The tiny village primary school was about 200 yards from our front door, all the local kids just walked there themselves and the headmistress acted as a sort of lollipop lady on the road outside the school.
Then secondary school was in the town 17 miles away, so the village kids (including mine) just got a pass to use the regular bus. Which stopped about ten yards from my house. My DDs had a key and let themselves in while I was still at work. I wasn’t available to pick them up in any case.

I understand what you are saying but there are some lovely people your missing in meeting at school. I too wasn’t keen on all the clicks and who was meeting for coffee and going to gym etc. But I found some other mums who felt the same and we got on. We were not clicky in that we didn’t see each other o/s school but looked forward to seeing each other on sch runs.

I only do school run once in a blue moon. I work FT and have wonderful family who do it fit me. I am forever grateful! Im pretty sure most of DDs school think she is my sisters middle child but I’m ok with that

It’s just a waste of time, so YANBU.

@TabithaTittlemouse

I’m really sad that I didn’t get to do it often because of work. I was a stranger to other parents at the gate when I did do it. Now they are teens/adults I really wish I had done it more.

Honestly, don't feel sad. It's not all its cracked up to be.

It was the favourite part of my day, when my two were in primary. I looked forward to picking them up and hearing about their day.

I feel so sad for people who get worked up about the school run. I promise no one is looking at you pr judging you, everyone generally is in their own head. I really doubt any dads have ever felt school run anxiety

Yeah, this. I love school run! Wish I actually got to do it more, feel very disconnected by not being able to.

No because I wouldn't be making my child get up earlier or not get home until later unless absolutely necessary. No one will take any notice of you at all whilst waiting for your child.

@Luredbyapomegranate

It’s just a waste of time, so YANBU.

@Luredbyapomegranate - a waste of time??? Jeez 🙄

I can't stand it
The clickyness
Bitchy mums
Ques

It's horrendous
Luckily the kids dad or the childminder does it

It's my idea of hell

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I think it’s sad that your DD still has to do breakfast club and after school club even when you are off work just because you cant face picking her up.

Snort. My DS would do breakfast club and teatime club every day if I let him. It's like a giant playdate where they eat jam sandwiches and talk shite about Pokémon. It's not the orphanage.

Same with mine. She complains when its not an after school club day.

You have described the experience perfectly.

I feel really lucky that for the most part, the parents of DD’s classmates seem like nice, normal people. There’s no drama or cliques, just a fairly friendly bunch of people and enough social interaction to keep me sane, particularly on days when I’ve only had a grumpy baby for company. And on days when I can’t manage small talk, no-one really notices if you just go in, pick up and run.

@Inastatus

Luredbyapomegranate

It’s just a waste of time, so YANBU.

@Luredbyapomegranate - a waste of time??? Jeez 🙄

To me, yes. I’d rather do other things with them, their Dad does that.

It wouldn’t do for us to all be the same, would it?

@EishetChayil

Honest question, as I'm not at this stage yet, but what is so anxiety-inducing about the school run?

I felt physically sick on my ds’s nursery drop off and pick up. The timings were so tight for me getting to work. I actually sought counselling for it- the anxiety dominated every waking moment.

School culture plays a part, too, though. My ds’s primary school has the Head and Deputies on the gates greeting people - really powerful for building a sense of community. That way, the school imposes its values rather than the parents.

This thread is fascinating. DS is at nursery full time, so I'm not there yet.

Does school pickup take a long time or something? I'm confused about how drama and cliques can happen unless you're having about for ages every day?

I had no idea school run was a big deal; with people loving or hating it. Admittedly DS goes to breakfast and after school club most days and I just collect him once a week. It’s fine and pleasant enough: I just make idle chit chat with whatever parent is standing nearest me.

Feelsobad - I'm sure all the other mums love you as well

@allfurcoatnoknickers

This thread is fascinating. DS is at nursery full time, so I'm not there yet.

Does school pickup take a long time or something? I'm confused about how drama and cliques can happen unless you're having about for ages every day?

Same - I had no idea that the school run would be significantly different from the nursery run, which I feel completely indifferent about!

Tbh I don’t think Most people would care if they only had to do it once a week. I do it 5 days a week by bus and yes it’s annoying, maybe better for those whose school is a 2 min walk away or they only do it once a week

Surely everyone who is posting about having social anxiety around having to chat to other parents could just put a pair of headphone on, or be engrossed in their phone etc. There must be something deeper going on for people who get so wound up about the school run.

I have to say after reading similar threads over the years I was dreading my children starting school, but all the parents are perfectly pleasant, some days I chat, some days I don't, it's not a big thing..

I think it’s selfish to leave your kids in child care longer than you need to. I’m a working single mum so of course my kids have had to go to before and after school clubs on the days I work, but when I’m not working I’d always collect them.
OP I guess you’ve never seen the difference in facial expression on the kids as they come out of the class, and some see a parent there to greet them, while some see a member of staff. It’s sad.

@Bagamoyo1

I think it’s selfish to leave your kids in child care longer than you need to. I’m a working single mum so of course my kids have had to go to before and after school clubs on the days I work, but when I’m not working I’d always collect them. OP I guess you’ve never seen the difference in facial expression on the kids as they come out of the class, and some see a parent there to greet them, while some see a member of staff. It’s sad.

You didn't read my thread I said I picked her up directly from school yesterday. Yawn my DD didn't seem arsed it was me there yesterday instead of the after school club leader because she knows she would see me in about 1 hour anyway and she gets to hang out with her friends longer.

Well if you’re so sure you’re right, why start a thread about it?