To think this isn't what these groups are for.

[Themumoneiuse]

I'd like to preface this by stating that yes, I am luteal, so likely highly irritable.

Son's year WhatsApp group (for parents). My. GOD.
The drivel!!!
For context, my son is in school nursery, so has only been in this class 6 months. I do not know these parents from Adam, don't know their names, don't know their children. I work full time so very rarely get a chance to do the school run (fortunately/unfortunately), so have never spoken to these people.
These parents (60 members the group has, as it's the whole year one and not class!) think it's appropriate to share mundane stories about their kids and what they shoved up their nose, broke a glass, reset their iPhone (AGAIN?!). They even have taken to posting about political things and petitions for the local area - albeit things NOT linked to school.
I cannot take it. Yes, I know I could leave. But honestly I've found my daughter's one (year 3) very helpful. No one posts irrelevant shite in that, it is information pertinent to school, the class, and the children, and has been a nice way to have links to other parents, without all the unnecessary nonsense.
The self restraint it is taking to not to message 'NO ONE GIVES A SHIT', or on a good day 'can we keep this relevant to school please'. I know I'll look the twat. I have the chat muted but obviously don't want to miss messages that are actually important so have to read through this crock of shite daily.
It's like Motherland, but sadly it is reality.
Anyway, just had to rant!

I think you, in fact, might be luteal 😉

😅 I’m not, by the little diagram I’m follicular. But I also don’t think I’m wrong, it sounds a little more twee than PMS but it certainly wouldn’t carry any less stigma once people no what it means. But anyway, that’s enough derailing from me! Enjoy your luteal!

I found this at nursery age, but by yrR it drops off the intensity

You need a Kevin from Motherland to set up categories! 😆

I’m long past the days of parents groups - in fact, WhatsApp wasn’t even a thing when my kids were little but a few months ago I was added to a school reunion group that was very similar. In the end the reunion didn’t happen because after months of inane chatter no-one could actually be arsed to organise one. It was mainly men contributing to that though - probably why nothing was actually arranged!

My youngest child's class whatsapp is like this and I keep it muted. I think because he's my 4th I'm probably one of the older mums so it's not my first rodeo and I find the messages annoying.

😆😂

Could you send a message saying you’re struggling to find the important school messages amongst all the chat and would it be possible to set up a separate WhatsApp for just school information?
It would drive me crazy.

I know some people are suggesting you write a polite message asking for it to be kept to important/school related chat, but that may get some backs up obviously if there’s that many messages of ridiculous tales, a lot of them are clearly enjoying it, so you attempting to dictate what type of chat happens on the group may not go down well with these people, who clearly enjoy it. As annoying as it may be! So perhaps instead you could write a friendly-worded message, asking if anyone fancies joining a sub group that’s just for important info. Then hopefully you can have a smaller group with necessary info; similar to the one you have for your daughters year group, and just mute the other one without worrying you’ll miss something. It would drive me mad too!

Sounds horrendous

I found that sub groups popped up after a while, usually stemming from birthday parties. Fewer responses usually kills off class group bores.

Worth saying something. You could argue that keeping it relevant ensures people take notice of the information.

I completely disagree with suggesting people ‘keep it to school stuff only’ you can’t police what people say or post. Some people like the general chit chat. Stay in the group or don’t if you prefer not to, but it’s unfair to tell people what they can and can’t talk about.

Oh, I feel your pain, OP!

In reception there were random pictures of kids I didn't know eating x,y,z or doing whatever and all other kinds of stuff I did not want to see. It has eased off a lot over the years (yes, years!!). A few parents left the group quite early on and now we're down to one main offender.

Even she took the hint a little when I suggested she'd posted something to the wrong group chat with a laughing emoji. Horribly passive aggressive of me, but I was sick of the chat being abused and useful information getting lost amidst reams of self indulgent and ultimately useless shite!

There was a dad on ours who posted so much irrelevant crap, his ex wife gave him a couple of warnings, then as an admin, removed him from the group. That was cool.

I added my exH to the chat because if I had to endure that shit, so did he!

Just leave the group - there were no WhatsApp groups when my kids were at school and we managed fine! Surely the school will email directly about anything important?

So patronising

I agree, some of you sound really miserable. You really don't need to be checking WhatsApp for every message. Just scroll through whenever it suits you and pick out anything important.

It's hardly "horrendous" or "feel your pain" etc it's hardly the biggest hardship.
And why not suggest drinks and get to know these people better, perhaps you won't find their messages so annoying if you've met them.

People always think they're better than the "school mums". Then you get the same people probably, posting that they have no friends at all, no one to ask a favour from or they don't know anyone in the world who can sign their DC passport application, which has come up recently.

I work, I don't have a lot of time, I only drop off and pick up a couple of times a week but I make an effort and I've made friends.

I agree. I'm just in very business like WhatsApp groups for school classes and they're really boring. I'd much rather hear about what others are up to!

Why on earth would I want to go for drinks with these insufferable bores who think their children are special? 😂
Still no period, luteal phase continues...

You do you, OP. Luteal and all

Can your dh join the group in stead of you, if he's not already in it?

To be fair, he's in it. So I might as well leave !

I was on one WhatsApp, one time, for about a month before I left and, when added to others, or Facebook groups, left each time.
The mind rotting shite posted by others was just not worth it.
I never missed a daytime event or school notification because they would send the newsletter by email and I had the function to attach all dates to my calendar on my phone. Problem solved.

The final straw was a dad who posted that his son was being bullied (awful and sadly a huge issue at the school) so he was voting UKIP at the local election because then the boys involved would be sent "home". FFS. Yes there was an issue with a gang of boys from a community but that was apparently his best answer to it. And "home" was our town as they'd all been born at the local hospital!

That was game over for me. Peace prevailed!

Message the group admin and ask them to remind parents to stick to relevant info and questions about school otherwise important messages may get ignored or lost in all the noise.