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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think I should be able to park near the school?

218 replies

zagazig · 02/05/2025 15:19

Got a call from the school. DD had vomited so they asked me to come and pick her up. Got there about 2.30pm and had to park several streets away because so many parents had already taken the prime parkin spaces. Many of them were in their cars already with some younger children in the bank. Also quite a few with their engines idling to keep the AC on as it is warm.

Are parents really parking up an hour before to get the best nearest spaces? I had to walk poor DD several streets away to get her to the car. I normally walk her to school and walk back but I took the car as I was coming from work and she was unwell.

OP posts:
Jacarandill · 02/05/2025 17:29

SilverButton · 02/05/2025 15:52

I mean YANBU to find this annoying, but what are you suggesting as a solution?

Um, that people get off their lazy arses and walk?

Americano75 · 02/05/2025 17:31

In a few short weeks I will be done forever with the primary school run after 16 unbroken years of it and I can't wait. I park about 5 minutes walk away and avoid the car park like the plague!

GRex · 02/05/2025 17:31

I had to walk poor DD several streets away
Well there you go, your " because reasons" meets their "because reasons". I can't understand the enthusiastic parkers, it's much nicer for kids to get some fresh air where possible and average primary commute is still only 1.6 miles where it isn't possible, so it's hardly a lengthy drive. Especially if sick, she won't have wanted to be put in a car. How many miles is it you have to travel?

Shetlands · 02/05/2025 17:33

HappiestSleeping · 02/05/2025 16:27

How times change. When I was at school, there was a sick room. We didn't get sent home. And we all walked to school from primary onwards.

No parking issues then. Mind you there were less than half the people on the planet then, and car ownership was significantly less.

Same for me and they couldn't call your parents to collect you because none of the parents at my school had a phone back then! You just had to wait until home time and then walk home with your friends while vomiting or shivering with fever, even if it was blowing a gale and lashing with rain. Nobody was ever picked up by car, mainly because very few Dads (and no Mums) had a car and if they did, they'd be at work anyway.

My own children had a very different experience in the 80s as we lived rurally so they were transported (car / school bus).

Noideaaboutcats · 02/05/2025 17:33

We live really close to 2 schools, I’ve seen some parents waiting at 1.45 at the secondary and they don’t come out until 3!
It’s always carnage at pick up time. Fact is a lot of people drive that don’t need to and are lazy, I’ve got at least 2 neighbours who drive every single day for the school run, (primary is a 5-7 minute walk, nice walk) secondary is about 3 bloody minutes! And no they are not disabled/hidden disability.
I have no idea why so many people feel the need to park as close as humanly possible to schools, it’s dangerous they are often blocking view of kids crossing etc, we have a a couple of big car parks and a pub that allows use for school pick up, and they are often nearly empty.

Digdongdoo · 02/05/2025 17:33

Yes parents park up an hour or so before school finished. I think it's mad. Wish I had that much free time to be honest.

Pyjamatimenow · 02/05/2025 17:34

Yes our local primary has parents and lots of grandparents parked up from 2pm.

PercyFredGeorge · 02/05/2025 17:34

Strangeworldtoday · 02/05/2025 16:22

I would be getting some cones for sure!

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I would have a sudden need to wash my car with my hosepipe

well… seriously I would park my car in such a way on my drive they could not get on as a more practical solution.

SunnySideDeepDown · 02/05/2025 17:34

I’m guessing they have to pick up younger siblings from nursery and have to get parked?

Most parents are in the same position. No one WANTS to sit in a car park for an hour.

SnoozingFox · 02/05/2025 17:36

I live very near a school and yes, parents do arrive ridiculously early to get a prime spot. Irrespective of the fact there is a large car park 3 minutes up the road, and it's a lovely afternoon today. God forbid their precious child has to use their legs and walk! (This is also a perfect justification for blocking in local residents or parking over drives - she's only 5!!!) FFS.

Bunnycat101 · 02/05/2025 17:36

Wahsingday · 02/05/2025 16:12

Yep. On my driveway, not just blocking it.

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You need some strategically placed traffic cones on your drive. You should have to put up with that.

Shodan · 02/05/2025 17:37

I live a couple of hundred yards from a junior school and the parking can be atrocious.

Some people absolutely arrive nearly an hour before. In winter they have their engines running to keep warm. In summer, to keep cool.

And yes, my dropped kerb/driveway is sometimes considered a bonus parking space. Only last week some bloke parked across my and my neighbour's driveway and sauntered up to the school. Unfortunately for him DP was waiting for him by his car when he returned and gave him a piece of his mind. I don't think that particular man will park there again, but others will.

Upside is that during school holidays the road is wonderfully quiet and empty.

SquigglePigs · 02/05/2025 17:37

noworklifebalance · 02/05/2025 16:44

I thought state school catchment areas were really small. If coming from work that early surely you would drive home, have a cuppa and the walk to school?

Some are but not all children go to their catchment school. My DD's school is a 45-50 min walk away either along a disused canal which is lethal in winter or along a 60 mph road that I wouldn't feel safe walking DD along. Plus I can't afford that sort of time twice a day, each way. That would be 3.5hrs out of my day once you include standing on the playground time!

Many parents park stupidly (and early!) at our school too but the Parish Council open their car park to parents and it's a 6-7 min walk to school, so I park there and walk in, along with parents of some of DD's friends.

For the OP though, if there's a staff car park you should have parked there to pick your DD up. I've done that before when I've had to pick DD up when she was ill.

BlueandWhitePorcelain · 02/05/2025 17:37

Jacarandill · 02/05/2025 17:29

Um, that people get off their lazy arses and walk?

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What 20 miles? Occasionally DS asks me to pick DGC up from school. It’s 10 miles each way. I have no intention of walking that far, and I doubt I could. As I only work part time, I do have time to wait half an hour in the car.

QuickPeachPoet · 02/05/2025 17:38

If only I had an hour of free time to spend sat in the car before school pick up…
but yes, people do that. Crazy.
Get well son DD

LMBWSS · 02/05/2025 17:44

Wahsingday · 02/05/2025 17:22

They are always sat in the cars so usually if i indicate in and often toot the horn because they are engrossed in their phones and haven’t seen me the reluctantly move…

I want to sell my house so don’t really fancy bollards or anything that indicates that I have a CF infestation.

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Why on earth haven’t you told them to get off your drive????

GRex · 02/05/2025 17:44

Shodan · 02/05/2025 17:37

I live a couple of hundred yards from a junior school and the parking can be atrocious.

Some people absolutely arrive nearly an hour before. In winter they have their engines running to keep warm. In summer, to keep cool.

And yes, my dropped kerb/driveway is sometimes considered a bonus parking space. Only last week some bloke parked across my and my neighbour's driveway and sauntered up to the school. Unfortunately for him DP was waiting for him by his car when he returned and gave him a piece of his mind. I don't think that particular man will park there again, but others will.

Upside is that during school holidays the road is wonderfully quiet and empty.

Get the local parking warden on the phone, they check you're the owner then are happy to pop out and ticket someone when you call.

MayMadness2025 · 02/05/2025 17:44

twilightcafe · 02/05/2025 15:50

Yep. I live v close to a primary school. Parents parking near the school starts before 2pm.

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They do here too. You'd imagine they'd have things to do rather than sit from 2 pm (or sometimes earlier) until 3.20 pm here just to avoid walking from a few streets away! Strange behaviour

LMBWSS · 02/05/2025 17:47

I have to drive to school - it’s 5 miles away, with very limited parking as it’s a very touristy village. I finish work at 2pm and I’m there from 2.20pm. School finishes at 3.20pm. There are no “other streets” to park down because the village is in the middle of nowhere. There is a main road in and out of the village but you’re not allowed to park on it.

Lorlorlorikeet · 02/05/2025 17:48

CopperWhite · 02/05/2025 15:52

Yes, this has happened at every school I’ve worked in. Bonkers.

Do they not have anything better to do? Mad twats.

Wahsingday · 02/05/2025 17:49

LMBWSS · 02/05/2025 17:44

Why on earth haven’t you told them to get off your drive????

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Because I live alone and I tried that once and I just got a load of verbal back.

Theunamedcat · 02/05/2025 17:51

zagazig · 02/05/2025 15:19

Got a call from the school. DD had vomited so they asked me to come and pick her up. Got there about 2.30pm and had to park several streets away because so many parents had already taken the prime parkin spaces. Many of them were in their cars already with some younger children in the bank. Also quite a few with their engines idling to keep the AC on as it is warm.

Are parents really parking up an hour before to get the best nearest spaces? I had to walk poor DD several streets away to get her to the car. I normally walk her to school and walk back but I took the car as I was coming from work and she was unwell.

My ex inlaws used to collect their grandchild from school they woukd park up around 12/1pm and nap in the car set the alarm on their phone to wake up in time

Fucking bizarre behaviour tbh

(Not my child but my child's school so I would regularly pass them while I walked snoozing away)

sunshineandrain82 · 02/05/2025 17:53

Yes our old home parents were parking from 1pm to get a parking space. Same roads were used for a large secondary school plus a primary school and a nursery all on the same stretch of street.

saying that though parking wardens were always about.

Lillers · 02/05/2025 17:57

I live near a primary school and there’s a woman who parks opposite my house from about 2pm every day. She was standing outside the car the other day (presumably to get some air) and she was wearing a lanyard, so I want to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she’s coming from work and it’s more time efficient to wait for an hour than to go home and come back. I can’t imagine that’ll be the case for everyone though.

Spaghettihair · 02/05/2025 17:58

Joinedinhistory · 02/05/2025 16:39

I would take great joy in going out to move my car ( quick 5 minute drive around the block) every single day. She would have to move twice each time!

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I would leave my drive empty, Walt until they go to pick up and then park across it…