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?

Actually, decided I want to be the trendy/cool mum, I’ll never be the ponytail one as I’m not organised enough etc…the cool one is possibly v fun and interesting..I’d need to lose weight though

This is only *My experience, what I’ve observed, don’t know about others 🤷🏻‍♀️
In terms of dads, I honestly haven’t seen that many, or haven’t noticed in the same way I have the mums…no idea why!

The one usually juggling the bags with the tiny baby or errant toddler, slightly stressy looking or just gone-completely dead tired.
This is the perfect description of me on the school run! 😂Today, I literally had DD2 sit in the middle of the playground screaming because she didn't want to go, whilst I tried to carry her through the crowd and hold my DD4's bags and coat and hold her hand. I seem to be the only mum like this though... How do you control your toddlers at pick-up? I need tips!

I'm the one who throws the kid out of the moving car (I do slow down) so that nobody notices I'm still in my pjamas.

@VladmirsPoutine yes, quite often! Or I'll just get a quick smile.

I'm not overly bothered, I'm used to be treated differently because of my job...I get 'doing a bit of DIY love?' when I go to suppliers very often!

What is the difference between a clique and people that are friends? I never understood the difference!

I'm the (accidental) resting bitch face one in gym leggings but not necessarily going to the gym

@Poppasocks 🤣

Gender and generally othering.
Men are friends, not cliquey.
On mumsnet I might be with my group of friends, if other women are with their friends they are cliquey.

I’m the one who’s husband/nanny does the school run.

I'm the one trying to read work emails while mumbling "ffs" as I realise I've forgotten a big meeting at work and then x 200 when I realise I've also forgotten the right bag for dd, the right shoes for DS, lunch boxes, the kit for their clubs etc etc.

I also look edgy (in a maniac way not a cool dress style way) as I'm desperate to get them through the gate as I have a 9am meeting on Teams to get to.

At pick up I’m the one on the bicycle, in skinny jeans, converse and a vaguely stylish shirt. I work a professional job, am always organized but work for a company in the outdoor industry where dresses and heels would get you some serious side eye. If I‘m in work out gear it’s because I just finished a run/swim or row.

Hey, I do the childcare run every morning before work, the only exception being 1-2 mornings a month when I have to travel. We're not all deadbeats/have sticks up our arses with our own self importance.

Mind you I can think of more than a few of my mates who wouldn't be seen dead doing the childcare run. So you're probably right

Haven't read the whole thread but think it was a fun idea!
I have teenagers now but back in the day I was a scruffy bohemian with a baby on the tit whilst walking down the road, couple of lurchers, pushchair with a couple of childminded toddlers in slightly harassed 20 something.

Looking back, i wish i knew then the value of decent timekeeping. I was always rushing my son as he tried to walk along little walls or make an obstacle course of our school route.

This feels like the character prep for your novel OP

I'm the one with lots of kids looking stressed, though I do have a swishy blonde ponytail and I do sometimes wear active wear (haven't visited the gym since 2014), I have a professional job but you'd never think it looking at me. I do love to people watch too.

The one who is at work.

is it just me who finds these type of posts inherently sexist? Yes I know people work different hours to 9-5 etc… but there is this assumption all the time when talking about schools runs that all women/ mothers do is the school run then fart around all day at the gym or in the playground.

Most families I know have two working parents at home.

Haha I’m definitely the one with jeans and converse, no make up, slightly stressy 😂. But I have 2DC. On mat leave now but work from home so won’t be any more ‘put together’ when I’m back at work, just in more of a hurry. You’ve made me feel a bit self conscious, maybe I should put make up on and straighten my hair so my ponytail ‘swishes?’

My hair doesn't swish.
It just is!!

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.

I’m this one. Definitely.

I'm none of these.

I’m the one who says hello to all the teachers, probably comes across as queen bee style because I know a lot of people but actually I just know them because I’ve been taking at least one child to that school for the last 10 years (only the youngest of 4 dc now at that school and he’s in year 6).

Instantly made me think of Motherland. It’s funny and a stereo-type but funny because we all spot some truth in it.

OP, just remember what people on here have said and that looks can be deceiving. Don’t worry about what you look like or judge others by what they look like. Get to know some of them and let yourself be known.

I'm the professional mum of 3, who often turns up on the school run without even brushing my hair, with joggers and trainers on.

I scrub up good if I've office bound, but wfh has enabled my blissful scruffy self to appear more often and you know what, I'm most comfortable in that look.

I'm the mum with a high-flying job, expensive clothes and perfume, but who still looks like a bag of bricks, and often remembers I haven't brushed my teeth about half the way to school.

Do I fit into a box?

(note: I always brush my teeth in the morning, just sometimes after 8.15am drop off).

You are the try hard mum with a kid in reception, who is desparate to impress all the other mums with your witty humour.

The mums who have kids in years above are kinda cynical and know the other mums - which ones are utterly disfunctional but look good, which ones have a drink problem and leave their kid screaming whilst they chat to their mates, which ones have a little gobshite who bullies your kid, which unassuming mum is actually famous but manages to keep a low profile, which mum dresses like shite but is fucking loaded because she runs her own business from home.

Honestly, trying to box the other parents lasts about 5 minutes. Then the birthday parties start and you just learn which ones you want to avoid like the plague cos they are bloody awful conversation and to hell with what they are wearing.