School run fun - so ludicrous I just had to laugh

[AlwaysAnExcuseForEverything]

DS's primary school is at the end of a lane which has pavement on only one side, and a narrow one at that. There's one stretch just before you get to the school where the pavement gets even narrower and there's only really room for single file traffic. There is an unspoken rule that those who have already dropped off their kids hang back to allow an approaching group of school-bound people to clear this stretch before forging ahead themselves. It's chaotic at the best of times, with all the kids, pushchairs, scooters and bikes barrelling along. Picture the scene, and then imagine a schoolchild riding in a bright green electric toy car down that stretch of pavement, repeatedly ballsing up the steering, bumping into the adjacent wall and causing a massive bottle neck behind him. Meanwhile, mum is slapping along behind him in flip flops, cackling and videoing the whole thing.

The same kid has now acquired a remote controlled toy car (a small one, not a ride-in one) and was allowed to drive that to school the other morning, with similar results.

I get that some kids hate the school run and the parent is probably trying to make it more appealing but this is just ludicrous, surely, or AIBU?

YABU - If it gets them to school, what's the harm? Let the kids have their fun!

YANBU - Remote controlled cars, ride-in or otherwise, don't belong on the school run.

I want to know how the mum gets the car(s) back home again. Surely not parked in the bike shed? Does she drive it whilst cackling and flapping?

PS put your energy into campaigning for a 'School Street', with the road closed during school arrival and dispersal times.

Haha yes I wondered that too. His mum had what looked like a remote control which presumably she was going to use to get it home again.

The school building is higher than street level and there are steps and a ramp up to the playground. Last I saw, the kid was attempting to drive up the ramp in the car. It has a fairly tight bend in it which requires some firm handling of a pushchair so don't know how he fared with that 😂 When he finally got up there, did he then go blazing across the playground? Did teachers have anything to say about it? Would have been kind of curious to see how it panned out but sadly had other places to be.

I don’t know: she clearly is not very self aware and anyone with an ounce of common sense would not let their kid take this vehicle down a narrow entrance.

On the other hand there is a bit of a nasty edge to the way you are talking about it. She probably just didn’t get it: I doubt she set out to be deliberately obstructive.

A minor irritant but I don’t think I would have got exercised enough by it to post on Mumsnet.

Oh no, I agree with you about that - it was thoughtless/childish on her part rather than deliberately obstructive or malicious.

As I said in the title of the post, the sight of it actually made me laugh because it was so ludicrous. I thought she was an absolute muppet but I didn't hate her for it. And I didn't post on here because I felt annoyed and up in arms. I hoped others might find the anecdote amusing and maybe share some other bizarre things they've witnessed on the school run. Shame it hasn't come across in that way.

Don't worry, it did come across that way to most of us ♥️

The car thing fine
But it's a bit nasty to try and get randomers on the internet to laugh at someone for wearing flip flops and enjoying themselves with their kid

Am waiting for one to be dropped off via horse next.

It’s not nasty. It’s life. The woman is entitled and knows exactly what she’s doing. Why is it ‘nasty’ to have an opinion? Cackling seemed a pretty good description to me. My feminist principles are not compromised by that.

Isnt it incredible how its 'nasty' to point out anti social and poor behaviour but not nasty to exhibit same behaviour?

There is a reason humans judge other humans and point or disapprove, its called socialisation and conditioning, its done to ensure the greater good isnt inconvenienced by selfishness.

We have turned so insular and individualistic and developed a concept that judgement is bad, it allows people to go about their business pissing people off left right and centre and our society is the worse for it.

Honestly, I think to most people it has. Your posts have come across to me as quite tongue in cheek and not nasty at all. Youve made me laugh anyway! I think some are in the mood to take offence.

The most unreasonable thing here is the design of pavement on the run up to a school.

No but it does tell you how dumb she is....😂

I have seen some parents wearing flip flops in my school run too. Some even wear two different ones!

🤯

Personally I enjoyed the visual word landscape she beautifully painted with her artful use of onomatopoeia.

This.

I find it a really odd take to pick up the Op on quite mild but amusing language and spin it as ‘nasty’ while failing to spot the entitlement and selfishness of the mum who thinks it’s a-ok to hold up half a school and their parents because little Johnny has to drive his motorised car at that very moment, rather than in the park.

OP I found your description amusing and lighthearted, not nasty. Thank-you.

I think you sound quite juvenile and mean.

School run can be crazy at the best of times.

What are you wearing on the school run? I think its fair game to judge you too.

@SunnyHappyPeopleWhat you wearing on the school run? I think its fair game to judge you too.

I'd better not say too much as it could be outing. Anyone who knows me would immediately recognise my chic, distinctive style 😉

But it's probably safe to tell you that I usually wear ankle boots, Skechers or wellies, depending on the weather. I myself have worn flip flops on occasion but usually regretted it. It's quite a hoof from my house to the school and I need all the ankle support I can get.

I won't be making any further comments about flip flops or other forms of footwear. I think I've said my piece 😂

You know what annoys me? People who insist it's their god-given right to drop their kids right outside school. Either walk the whole way or part of the way if it's that much of a problem, otherwise suck it up.

@HelmholtzWatson, do you mean in a car?

I am pretty sure I saw someone wearing flip flops but having only a sock on the left foot too…

Bare right flip flop footie and sockie left flip flop lucky foot.

May I add… it was minus temp.

🫣🥶❄️❄️❄️🧊

I think you should talk more about it. It is funny and we like it :)

I think the OP was building a picture for everyone, being descriptive . I think you feel that she was being judgemental. Maybe you should let it go now, the point has been made