Have you ever forgotten to pick up your child from school?

[Ellerehj]

DSD has now forgotten to pick up our son 3 times.

I live closer to his school than he does and luckily I've been on hand each time to go get him otherwise he would have been sat there for another 20 minutes or so.

He said he just lost track of time because he's working at home. I don't think that's a good enough excuse?! AIBU to be totally pissed off.

If it’s your DS’s father’s day to collect, then school should be contacting him. Do they, or do they call you?

He’s behaving appallingly irresponsibly.

No, though once his after school club forgot to collect him! Luckily the secretary is a friend and he was ok hanging out in the office with her while she called them, and they turned round to get him. I was furious when I was told.

No but I’m the only one who does the school run for my children so wouldn’t forget as I do it every time.

Weaponised incompetence

Once in seven years. I was mortified! The school were very nice about it.

Three times is too many, why doesn't he have an alarm set?

@Longcovid21

Weaponised incompetence

Seems that way. Quite pathetic, regardless if the reasons why.

No, but I have forgotten to drop them off.

Never.
To be forgotten would be upsetting for child, and very inconvenient for staff.

Yes. Kind of.

DD very first full day at school aged 4. I was 9mths pregnant and accidently fell asleep sitting up on the sofa.

A friend called and stayed with her so I was about 10-15mins late.

Once - didn't exactly forget them but I had missed a message saying an after school club was cancelled.

I have a weekday alarm on phone just in case I ever lose track of time.

To be honest, I haven't. I've been late o' plenty but no, I haven't forgotten.
Pregnant mums get a free pass! Once that nap hits you, it hits hard!

Forgetting 3 x is just... well, there's a reason he's an ex, eh? Unless! He works nights and is chronically underslept (but even then, he should tell you he's struggling with collection so that you can both agree on a different arrangement).

Just the once. I was working from home, had started some new medication and had had about 3 hours sleep in a week. I blinked at 2pm and opened my eyes at 4pm in an absolute blind panic!!! Thankfully her best friends mum had taken her home with her. Never ever felt more like a shit parent though.

Eek! Yes 😳
I was always an early leaver to make sure I picked up on time and to catch up with other mums.

On this particular day, I saw my neighbour , with similar aged children, leave about 45 minutes earlier than usual. Thought nothing of it, she may have had an errand.

I saw her come back just as I was getting ready to leave and thought it odd. I was just leaving when my phone went. I'd have ignored it but thought I'd just say that I'd call back later ( this was before I ever had a mobile!) but it was the Deputy Head , wondering where I was!!!

It was the last day before the Easter Holidays and the school finished earlier than usual.

Strangely enough the school stopped finishing earlier on the last day of ( the old) term after that term.

No, but I have a recurring anxiety dream about doing exactly that, so I am very familiar with the feeling of panic and horror.

Once from the cm. I thought dh was picking up, he thought I was.

I worked at a summercamp in the states. Kids were dropped off on a sunday and picked up 13 days later on a saturday. At the end of the last session there was a brother and sister still sitting on the bench ....

I certainly never forgot my son, but there were a couple of occasions where there was confusion around after school activities which were not running that day and I didn't realise and I have been late due to traffic coming back from work .

It's easy to do this once, especially if the kids are out early for a change, or there's some other change of usual routine.

Three times, without any reasonable excuse, is really bad though. How is he forgetting??

I have a daily alarm because I work nightshifts. I have never forgotten to get him. Wouldnt be the first time I have been 2 minutes late getting distracted on the way out the door with the baby but I have a good school mum friend who takes him then and I do the same for her.

On the odd occasion I need to pick up DSD I set an alarm as I’m terrified of being deep in my work and forgetting. Surely that’s the normal thing to do if you have any fear of forgetting an important appointment.

My father forgot to pick me up twice from school (slept in) and it was humiliating - and dangerous - as one time I had to walk some way to a store and ask for their telephone, and the other time I waited into the freezing cold for two hours before a teacher spotted me on the way home. I still carry those horrible memories, albeit not as vivid as they used to be, 37 years later.

There was a miscommunication once when DD was ill at school, MIL happened to be working in the office temporarily and so it was her that rang me. I was about 20mins away and MIL said something like "she'll be ok with me but I finish at 12"
I thought MIL said "I'll take her with me as I finish at 12" and so I finished my errands and was on the way to MILs when I got a phone call from the slightly miffed Headteacher that DD was asleep in the reception area and why hadn't I collected her yet.

Yes once forgot DC3 was finishing at lunchtime, I felt awful.

If I’m feeling a bit tired I set an alarm for 2.30 just in case I would never want my children sitting wondering where I was.

He needs to set an alarm. I wfh and have an alarm set for 5 minutes before I need to leave the house.

Forgetting once in your kids lifetime because of exceptional circumstances - fine. Regularly? Poor.

No never. Both have finished school (and uni) now.