Just that really..
I walk my DD to school then have to head off straight to work for a prompt 9am start. This leaves me with about 10-15 minutes at the most. It's a 10 minute walk to the store where I work.
On the school run I'm always dressed in work uniform and ID lanyard, so it's obvious that I'm heading to work... but I still struggle getting away from other mums who want to stop for a chat.
I usually walk briskly and just said "hi" "bye" kind of things whilst walking, to let them know politely I'm in a hurry and can't stop.
Yesterday one of them kept me talking about basically nothing for 10 minutes, moaning about the weather, her garden and so on... I tried all my usual prompts to get away but she wasn't picking up on them at all. A few of them are similar, especially the mums who don't have to rush off to get to work for a set time straight after school drop off.
Any tips? I struggle with assertiveness and obviously don't want to upset people or some across rude or ignorant in being unable to stop for a chat.
Other working mums have this issue?