to think parents should greet their child with a smile at least, at primary school pick up?

[MamaG]

I am very nosy observant and notice SO many mums and dads just carry on their convo with barely a glance at their offspring, then they just slug off home.

Can understand not wanting to interrupt a convo, but an eye-meet, smile, hair ruffle, ANYTHING other than a quick glance and a grab of bookbag!

I'm not suggesting we all sob with relief when our precious child emerges from school, but come on, a bloody smile isn't too much to ask is it?

I'm not feeling guilty, just a bit exasperated by the pettiness of your observations.

I think it goes without saying that you should greet your child with a smile or hug, and I do. I just don't notice these other neglectful parents, I'm obviously too wrapped up in my own world.

I do have to admit that I may have on occasion said "I've had enough of you today" within 5 minutes of leaving the school. Usually when ds the mischievous imp that he is has decided he wants to run up the hill in the opposite direction to home and I'm in no fit state to chase him at the moment, especially as I'm usually laden down with 100 cornflake boxes, I mean rocket launchers. My phone always rings when I'm in the playground but I never answer it as I'm slightly peeved that people have chosen the most inconvienent time to ring me. Why do people do that?

I didn't mention anything about a social life

My actual sentence in OP was "I'm not suggesting we all sob with relief when our precious child emerges from school..." which is obviously tongue in cheek

...and I actually meant the habitual ignorers, there are some who do it day after day

Has anyone thought that the people not wanting to interupt their conversations feel that way because this is the only time all day that they get to talk to a grown up?

Lots of children work hard to be good all day at school and then as soon as they come out all that naughtines spills out at Mummy so much so that 5 mins feels like a long time.

Not greeting child with great big hug is not the worst thing in the world, children should know that the world doesn't always stop for them.

catwalker you haven't touched a raw nerve, I just think this kind of sad competitive fault-finding is really, really pathetic and it makes me groan.

I don't need to search out potential deficits in other people's parenting, to be secure of my own.

It makes me groan when I see threads like this, with people queuing up to say: "see, see me, look, I'm a good parent too, aren't I, validate me, validate me! Stare and point at her, but validate me!!!"

It's all a bit too netmums for me.

I actually said that I understood not wanting to interrupt a convo, but a quick smile at your child won't shatter the earth will it

I always sob with relief actually MamaG.

I think anyone who doesn't is a Bad Mother.

I don't care that the school has got an injunction out against me...

well I do try to smile at DS2 when he comes out of school - not sure he's had many the last few weeks. I must apologise to the parents looking at me thinking what a shite mum I am that things are shite.

And besides - normally I often don't see him come out - he shoves his book bag in my hand and runs off to play.

Mine hug me cling to me giving thanks that they're back in the bosom of my... um... bosom, would it be?

OK I'm overdoing it now, aren't I?

I should thik so too HerB, maybe you should mention to other mums have neglected their children will be feeling?

"competitive fault-finding?!" Actually, the reason I'm interested in this thread is that I'm very involved in my son's primary and am accutely aware that the area where our youngest children are weakest is in "speaking and listening". I think the fact that so many parents practically ignore their children as they pick them up is extremely relevant to this. And no I'm not talking about parents having a chat but still acknowledging their child, I'm talking about the habitual offenders - mums who don't even look to see if their (often very young) children are still following them as they are so involved in their phone conversation.

But how do you know who they are?

Do you honestly notice what everyone else is doing all the time?

LOL yes MamaG I smile pityingly at them and give them that knowing "look" - you know the one that says "I am a considerably better moother than yow"

Er... because I stand at the school gates every afternoon?

With a clipboard ticking off who gets good mother points and who doesn't?

I always say hello and they also pass me their bookbag and ask if they can go on the climbing frame.
I may look heartless in fact its my children who are

Intriguing HerB that you think it's OK to make generalisations about people posting on this thread, but I'm not allowed to make a general observation about the people I see coming out of school every day

Lol at Her Beatitude and the clipboard. So, are the non smiling parents always the same ones???

", I'm talking about the habitual offenders - mums who don't even look to see if their (often very young) children are still following them as they are so involved in their phone conversation."

sorry your theory doesn't add - 3 DS's, all habitually ignored, all talk for bloody England and listen very well (nothing to do with me obviousl just born like that ) well except for DS3.........but he's only 2.4 so is "age appropriate" for his talking and listening.

I know a mum who NEVER smiles! not to anyone, I have often wondered if she is really very sad or if she has some sort of physical impossibility to smile. I wouldn't know where to start to ask her if there is anything I could do to help (if she indeed is very sad/depressed)

I know a woman who looks absolutely fierce. She sort of glares at you as if she's utterly furious.

I don't know why. I expect it's because she's a murderer.

Or maybe it's just her face. Maybe her habitual expression tells me nothing about her private life.

But are facial expressions not usually at least a little "give away" of the person's feelings.

I can look dead fierce sometimes if I am angry, or look rather smiley if I am happy or look neither but too never change expression I must say I have only ever seen it in that person, probably why I find it puzzling?

aibu to think dds could greet me with hello, how are you, how was your day. rather than "can I go and play at Ermintrude's house?", "can Tallulah come for tea?", "Can we have a horse/pet pig/rabbit?", "have you brought the car?", "why did you cycle? I hate it when you cycle", "You're late", "Can you hold my bag/jumper/skipping rope?"

ooooo I love it.