The swishy blonde ponytail mums and others

[Doeshethinkhesinpeakyblinders]

Just started school run for the first time with my dc, interesting to observe the different mums.
The type of mum I want to be the most is one of the bouncy, swishy blonde ponytails ones wearing gym gear. I also saw the well put together, professional ones in the suits…perfect make up and jewellery..reeking of class and top organisational skills.
Then we have the mums with more than one, usually juggling the bags with the tiny baby or errant toddler, slightly stressy looking or just gone-completely dead tired.
As it happens I’m the fairly inconspicuous one who shuffles past-jeans and converse, never really late but almost always just about to be…one dc but still fairly stressy, not bouncy, not well polished…but off home to clean up dog poo.

Which are you?

I quite like to see the other parents - of course there are cliques but they're not really people I'd like to talk to anyway so it doesn't bother me. All the friendly nice folk are happy to chat and if they're already talking to someone, I'm quite happy to stand alone.

I'd be the wildlife mum, following a flock of goldfinches up the lane or staring up into the sky at a Marsh harrier.

Why’s everyone so touchy? Hilarious. Half of these people wouldn’t say boo to anyone on the playground yet here they are quick to cause offence behind their screens.

I'm all three in a mix, blonde but don't wear a pony tail, professional but don't need to wear a suit, on time/almost late don't have dogs. Not sure if I look stressy lol but have not much interest in what anyone else is doing.

Another reason I’m glad we used breakfast club - I never did the school run/school gates!

I was the “just off night shift, needs a shower mum” dropping off and the “just out of bed, not yet awake mum” picking up.

I am each of these every week (other than the dog poo bit!). Some days I look very well put together and other days we’re 5 minutes late all day and I don’t even put my contacts in.

I'm usually the one stood there looking furious that I'm 6 years into the bullshit of playground stereotypes and got another 7 years to go. I dont even speak to the new reception Mums now, ice queen it out all the way.

I know exactly what you mean OP. I love looking at the school mums and categorising them. When it was me I was the scruffy one with the bad hair and the shit car. I was surrounded by rich mummies who were off to tennis straight after drop off and all drove massive 4x4s even though they lived in a city. Takes all sorts.

Suit wearing professional here - but didn't drop the kids off as my childcare provider did. On the rare Friday I could pick them up I never noticed what parents were wearing as I was too much in a rush (and not interested in others and their hair/clothes etc)

I’ve been all of the above. I’ve even been the paint-splattered-utility-trousers-with-lots-of-pockets mum. Although mostly the jeans and converse

I haven’t been the dropping-off-in-pyjamas mum. It’s very usual along some of our mums. But now DD goes on the bus, I am definitely the wave-them-off-in-pjs-and-sneak-back-to-bed-for-a-bit mum. Some days.

I’m guessing you’re talking about private schools?

Apparently I’m the “mistaken for big sister” mum.

Just ignore all of these killjoys! It's an excellent idea for a post. I sometimes arrive looking super smart and professional and other times arrive with really greasy hair and gym clothes. I know the bouncy pony tail mums..... I know exactly what you mean, always fresh looking and energetic. I also want to be like that!!
Ps. Jeans and converse rock

We don't have these groups at our school. Most parents wear a uniform of some sort. Very deprived area where over 50% receive pupil premium, and the children who don't are barely above the limit for it.

@Poppasocks 🤣Brilliant.

I haven’t even ventured enough into things to know about the PTA wankers 🙈

Again, not meaning to offend at all, just my quiet observations of all different types of mums and all good in their own way.
The ponytail, gym gear mums do stand out to me though as they look so happy and bouncy 🤷🏻‍♀️

I must wash my hair tonight for another morning of it tomorrow 😫tired!

I'm the one who's work gear shows I work in a very male oriented profession (construction/joinery) and get completely ignored by all but 3 of the other mums despite my very best efforts to talk to them. I find it very strange.

At one point when my DS had a scooter, I’d arrive at school on that in a mini dress and full makeup🙂

This thread reminds me of those cringey listicles that used to be in magazines like Cosmopolitan back in the early 2000s "Take our quiz to find out which Mum you are!!! "

Having said that, I didn't realise pick-ups and drop-offs were such fraught social occasions till I joined mumsnet.

Comparison is the thief of joy OP.

Don't put women in boxes.

I could be any of the above on any given day, including the picking up dog shit bit

Oh also the very stylish/trendy mum, just very cool, good trainers..but not to work out, clothes hanging off them-the effortless thing, the kids are equally trendy and gorgeous looking.

Not private school, but nice area and good school with many parents who could put their children in private school, but haven’t…not sure how else to describe it

@Radishspadish Do you mean you will literally say "hello" in volume they can obviously hear yet the act as though you aren't standing there!? That's outrageous - surely everyone can muster a 'good morning' and move on if they aren't up for a chat.

@VladmirsPoutine It wasn’t intended to be like that…

Professional mum who is super smart at drop off but on any collection days has her shirt hanging out, flat shoes she’s dragging along and terrible hair. And then let’s her 5 yo son wee behind the Porsches just out of sight of the school because he’s so desperate. We all have our own lives …..

*lets of course :)