AIBU.. Reactions to walking to primary school?

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Due to a house move, we had a hard time getting a suitable primary school place for DS in September. Thankfully we've now managed to secure one which is 1.3 miles from our new address.

I have a car but I fully intend on walking to school with him. We currently walk to nursery which is about half the distance, and I love our walks and chats together.

The thing that has really surprised me is the amount of negative reactions from other parents about our plans to walk. 'What about in the winter! What if it's raining! They will be so exhausted!' Some of them so dramatic like I'm commiting an awful act against my DS!

We are an outdoorsy family and have plenty of warm winter gear, decent waterproofs, scooters (with pull along strap if needed) and even a bike with large seat if he's really struggling in the first term.

Also it's a big school with absolutely notorious issues for parking/ driving at school run time so I plan to avoid the stress of that! And I will still have my car if there is an emergency/illness etc, but don't plan to use it otherwise.

AIBU to be a bit miffed at everyone's reactions?

Care less about other people’s opinions would be my advice. You are clear why you want to do it, you have a car incase you need it so 🤷‍♀️. Many people who drive to school need to because they’re then trying to get to work so people driving a short distance is often necessity rather than being lazy in my experience.

Well personally I wouldn’t miffed at this 😂😂 but I walk both my kids to school and nursery on the days I’m not at work. You can’t drive up the road the school is on at certain times so I think it’s just easier to walk. Although sometimes in the middle of winter I could cry 😂😂

I always walked to school both at primary and grammar schools. That was from the age of 5 to 18. In both cases it was about ¾mile and done without adult supervision. As kids we didn't worry about the distance, it just was.

In The OPs case they are choosing to accompany their child it's hardly an issue in my view. Plus they have alternative modes of transport if required.

Posts like this make me really sad that, that is someone’s attitude to someone walking somewhere, some people are like robots walking to their car automatically without thinking about any alternatives. Of course there are various reasons why some people need to use car (heading straight to work, disability etc) but the fact someone who chooses to walk gets vilified is absolutely bonkers. I used to walk my children to school about a mile away (walk themselves now) and people would pass in car and we would arrive at same time due to parking struggles. There are so many cars on the road now it seems some have lost the capacity to think could that journey be done any other way.

Society has become lazier as time has gone on. I have Raynaud's, and winter sucks big time yet I used to walk 3 miles from school (even if sometimes my hands would feel like they'd been rapped with a ruler!). I see parents now drive from round the corner to take their kids on poor weather days! My mentality is there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, but it still won't stop me moaning when it's freezing and I hurt! Lol. I work for a bus and coach company and the amount of parents who will have their child wait in the car at the bus stop and expect the driver to be psychic that they want to get on as well, it's like they refuse to let kids be out in anything but glorious sunshine! I fear for humans future, because I have always walked my kids to school..sometimes it's been a 5 minute walk but in the past with eldest 2s school it was 20mins each way. Carry on what you are doing, the time to catch up on the day on a walk and get some exercise is what should happen more often in my eyes.

I can imagine in a few hundred years humans will be fat little things with useless arms and legs like in the film Wall-E. Wheeled or hovering around everywhere and morbidly obese.

No one's being vilified for walking, it's being suggested to OP that get attitude to those who drive may have been misinterpreted.

Also, I agree with you that it would be better if people walked more, but I'm guessing if you surveyed parents driving walkable distances on the school run, most would be doing so because they're time poor rather than out of laziness. Not all, but most.

My earlier post was my experience and you posted an arsey reply.

I doubt it very much. The fitness industry is massive. Plenty of people play sport, many competitively. You don't have to walk to school to keep weight down!

The OP has no issue with other people's choices.

I do.

See the thread about children who cannot run 200 metres on sports day, for example.

My goodness, I can't understand that sort of negativity! Fresh air, walking and chatting is the best way to start any day. I'm sure you, like me, just prepare for the weather 😏 My Mum walked 3 of us to 2 different schools and back, boots in winter, raincoat when it rains...

But she is being vilified, she gives examples ‘they will be exhausted’ ‘what if it’s raining’ it’s making her feel like choosing to walk is absurd. Also I referenced there being other reasons like ‘being time poor’ needing to head to work or have mobility issues, this isn’t what the post is about, it is about people’s bizarre attitude towards OP for choosing to walk.

From my years of teaching my experience is that children who walk have time to transition from home to school and to physically warm up. They generally arrive at school in a happier mood, calmer and are ready to settle to work.
Often, children who come by car arrive feeling stressed or over stimulated because they have felt rushed to get ready and have not had the opportunity to mentally and emotionally prepare for the day. Walking is good!

Fat lazy fucks can't want 100m.

Walk your kid then let him walk alone.

Do it! We’ve always walked to school, and now my daughter doesn’t question walking anywhere. She once did 20k in one day, aged 7 wandering around London. The friends I was with were astounded but to her that’s normal.

Yanbu but be prepared for:

• your DC being much tireder than you expect
• them walking quite a bit slower than you expect/are used to and so it taking a long time
• it being harder in the middle of winter when its starting going dark as you approach 4pm

Oh my, the memories I still have about walking to Primary- my favourite things was knowing all the dogs along the way that were being walked, puddles, picking flowers, standing under cherry blossom trees as the wind blew, climbing up steps/ kerbs and jumping off them.. we were a busy house so I loved that time alone with DM, I’m sure I chattered all the way. It’ll be something you’ll both love.

We walk/cycle a lot as I don’t drive and DH tries to avoid driving short distances. We walked 1 mile for nursery school (3yo cycled) but I have to say it did become a bit of a drag both ways, particularly when i was commuting to work but even on maternity leave it took a decent chuck out of each day. I do prefer now we are in a much closer school as with work and activities and 2 children time is tight. So for me 1.3 miles would probably be the top end I’d walk in thIs situation. It’s great you are viewing it positively and i hope your nice chats continue

It's a brilliant idea (we used to walk around that far to and from school), parking around schools is usually a nightmare, you'll not have the stress of trying to find a space and you won't be adding to the problem. It'll be fine in the winter, just dress accordingly.

Live life how you want the people criticising seem to be in a rush to get somewhere…

The government/education authority expects children in reception and years 1 and 2 to walk 2 miles to school and older children to walk 3 miles.

The Tories brought that rule in the early 80s to avoid paying for school buses. Nobody thought it reasonable for children to walk that distance at the time especially in rural areas where there often no pavements.

How else would they get to school with no bus service if parents don't drive. I did call our council and they said have to walk

Or cycle

There were school buses In the 70s and early 80s for children unless they were very near.