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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School run with a toddler is fucking awful

85 replies

collectspples · 30/11/2023 08:34

I'm so fed up with my toddler just being a total nightmare on drop off and pick up. Makes me so stressed out.

Any tips. He's two so I imagine it's just a waiting game

OP posts:
onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 30/11/2023 08:38

Awful in what way?

Original poster
collectspples · 30/11/2023 08:39

Doesn't want to be carried to and from the car, wants to walk in the wrong direction, cries in the car because he wants to stay out etc etc

OP posts:
iwantavuvezela · 30/11/2023 08:41

It is awful OP - it will get better

When pushed I would resort to bribery!

The thing that always worked was if I made a game in the car, sang, did something funny, (however I certainly did not always have the energy for this, but when I did, it smoothed out the tantrums and difficult behaviour).

Mystero · 30/11/2023 08:44

Yup. Buggy, a consistent routine, ideally a run around built in somewhere eg park after drop off.

savoycabbage · 30/11/2023 08:46

My youngest started hanging round with the other toddlers on the school run and eventually started enjoying going.

I think leaving plenty of time to do it helps. Makes it less stressful if you aren't rushing.

Maybe take a pull along toy or keep a couple of toy trucks or something in your coat pocket. School runs are the worst.

Needmorelego · 30/11/2023 08:50

Put him in a buggy.

JeezWhatNext · 30/11/2023 08:52

Feed him something extra in the car and try to make the journey a good time.

WhatNoRaisins · 30/11/2023 09:09

I feel your pain. On occasion I've just had to drag the younger sibling screaming his head off on the school run.

Muchonachomiamigo · 30/11/2023 09:11

Put him in a push chair or buggy. He'll have to get used to school runs.

florafoxtrot · 30/11/2023 09:11

I've not had to deal with this - yet! But one of the school mums gives her boy a small tupperware box of cheerios in his buggy to keep him amused.

Outwiththenorm · 30/11/2023 09:11

Snack bribery? Favourite music playing in car? It does get better.

Ihaterhymingrabbit · 30/11/2023 09:14

JeezWhatNext · 30/11/2023 08:52

Feed him something extra in the car and try to make the journey a good time.

.mis read comment so edited

Original poster
collectspples · 30/11/2023 09:16

Needmorelego · 30/11/2023 08:50

Put him in a buggy.

Sounds simple but that's not the answer!

OP posts:
Yesaswell · 30/11/2023 09:17

This was the worst bit of the day for me and although I have a difficult time with Sen dc the fact that both dh and I no longer work means I never have to do the school run again as I hated it

Needmorelego · 30/11/2023 09:18

@collectspples the buggy gets you from A -B (or rather car to school gate).
He can whinge/cry/yell all he wants - but ignore him and just push where you need to go.

MuggleMe · 30/11/2023 09:18

Would he accept one of those trike thingys rather than the buggy?

snazzychair · 30/11/2023 09:19

Get a trike - or push him him in a scooter or take some food along with you or a toy. I feel your pain

gotmychristmasmiracle · 30/11/2023 09:20

Oh I see other mums having to do this 😏 just expect it's going to take extra time and keep breathing 😮‍💨 your doing a great job Xx

Original poster
collectspples · 30/11/2023 09:20

Needmorelego · 30/11/2023 09:18

@collectspples the buggy gets you from A -B (or rather car to school gate).
He can whinge/cry/yell all he wants - but ignore him and just push where you need to go.

Easier to carry him then, otherwise it's more straps to fight about.

I just wish he wasn't so strong willed! It's horrendous

OP posts:
Original poster
collectspples · 30/11/2023 09:21

I see other mum's with toddlers and they seem well behaved! Like my eldest I suppose.

Second one is an utter joy when he's being nice. Big personality I think

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 30/11/2023 09:22

Breakfast, or part there of, in the car.
Sing songs in car.
Give him his own pack back, sometimes a gift (a stick, flower, drawing) for his sibling's friend.
Can he help his sibling? Carry the school hat etc.
Strap him into the push chair.
Make a routine of greeting lollypop person or any regular dogs.
Keep one special fluffy toy in the car seat that can go to school gate too.
Come home to make craft with a leaf from school etc.
It gets better but brain storm and employ left of field thinking.

Mariposista · 30/11/2023 09:29

Any chance you could swap it so that you pick the toddler up from nursery after you collect the older child from school?

Muchonachomiamigo · 30/11/2023 09:45

Put him in the buggy, knee between his legs so he can't do the 'toddler rigid banana' thing and strap him in. Push him where you need to go.

I wouldn't carry a tantrumming toddler. Especially if they flail their arms and scream like tantrumming toddlers do.
Surely thats more stressful?

How about reins so he can't run off?

SugarLatte · 30/11/2023 09:54

Put him in a buggy, least you know he’s contained for his screaming tantrum rather than running off or you having to hold him during it. You are the adult, you have to do the school run, who cares if he’s screaming in it or kicks off at the straps, gentle knee in between his legs so he can’t escape as you do the straps, we’ve all had to do it. I’ve have a lot of children, so many years of school runs, never let any of them walk until they would stay next to me and not run off, far safer and easier strapped in a buggy, even if that meant they were 3 1/2 - 4 and still in one, I’ve got enough to do without chasing a toddler around!

Screamingabdabz · 30/11/2023 10:01

SugarLatte · 30/11/2023 09:54

Put him in a buggy, least you know he’s contained for his screaming tantrum rather than running off or you having to hold him during it. You are the adult, you have to do the school run, who cares if he’s screaming in it or kicks off at the straps, gentle knee in between his legs so he can’t escape as you do the straps, we’ve all had to do it. I’ve have a lot of children, so many years of school runs, never let any of them walk until they would stay next to me and not run off, far safer and easier strapped in a buggy, even if that meant they were 3 1/2 - 4 and still in one, I’ve got enough to do without chasing a toddler around!

Edited

Exactly. You don’t pander to what a toddler wants to do when you’ve got adult priorities.