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MNHQ

Talk to Allianz about school run stress and you could win a £250 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

309 replies

AngelieMumsnet · 29/08/2014 12:27

The team at Allianz would like to hear about Mumsnetters' experiences with school run stress,

Here's what Allianz have to say: "The school run is an important component of every day family life and we are keen to help families across the UK make the process as enjoyable as possible."

So, which factors cause the highest stress levels on the school run? Maybe it starts with getting everyone out of bed on time? Or perhaps it's getting everyone out of the house on time?
Do you have any tips for making the school run a smoother and less stressful experience? If a stressful school run is unavoidable, how does it affect the rest of your day?

Whatever your experiences of school run stress, Allianz would love to hear about it.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Please note your comments may be included on Allianz's social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

OP posts:
mickess · 07/09/2014 07:00

The school run really stersses me out as I live opposite the school and suffer the school run daily! Parents in a hurry! I hate them! Arrive early or walk if you can, much less stressful.

misdee · 07/09/2014 07:09

My daughters are at a new school the other side of town. The parking situation is so bad that I'm considering renting a council garage nearby to guarantee a parking spot daily.

frowner · 07/09/2014 07:26

The parking situation at school is the biggest cause of stress. We are 3 miles from school so walking is not an option, both due to the time it would take and having no safe walking route.

BizziLiz · 07/09/2014 07:49

It's always timekeeping - dawdling over getting dressed, eating breakfast - you name it!

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 07/09/2014 08:34

So, which factors cause the highest stress levels on the school run?
For me, it's the people walking their children out in front of cars, ignoring the crossing where it's safe to cross. Not only is it dangerous (and makes it incredibly stressful for drivers) but it teaches the children dangerous habits as well. I'm not horribly keen on people who park up on the kerb either, so the children have no choice but to walk in the street to get into the school.

Maybe it starts with getting everyone out of bed on time?
My children are generally up by 5am anyway, so getting everyone up isn't a problem.

Or perhaps it's getting everyone out of the house on time?
This can sometimes be a problem. I try to make sure the backpacks are ready to go the night before. I put together the fruit snack for one child in the morning and fill up the water bottles in the morning. But in the morning, if I've done all that, and the children move things around or drink the water before we've left, then it's a mad dash into the kitchen to fill up the water bottle again, which then throws off the routine a bit and makes me more likely to forget something else.

Do you have any tips for making the school run a smoother and less stressful experience?
I think, like most mums, it's just a matter of doing what you can the night before, making sure you stick to routine, and trying to be flexible when things fall apart at the last minute. Obviously, my most stressful part is the driving part - I can't change that, as I have 2 children that go to two different schools - too much distance apart to walk in a timely manner and it would wear out my 5yo as he would have to walk the entire way (while I'd have to push my 8yo in his wheelchair). I can't do anything about parents walking their children out in front of cars, other than be super vigilant when I drive and watch out for them.

If a stressful school run is unavoidable, how does it affect the rest of your day?
It can really be stressful daily, so I have to just put it behind me and move on with my day. If I dwell on it, I just get irritable and there's really no point.

kerryv · 07/09/2014 09:10

My son and daughter have the same school bag. It causes chaos in the morning when we're rushing to school!

sscrase · 07/09/2014 10:14

Biggest stress for me isn't the school run for me as that's fine. It's all the other parents who feel it's perfectly fine to completely block my driveway meaning I then can't get out to go to work.

jodiecrossley1 · 07/09/2014 10:31

I know it's a pain but get everything ready the night before!

Marg2k8 · 07/09/2014 10:40

I have never found the school run stresssful. If we were running late, I would say things like "Race you to the next lamp-post and it would turn into a fun game.

elho · 07/09/2014 11:18

Having moved house I now have to take my son to school by car. The trip there is ok as he is in the car with me but on the way to pick him up I constantly worry that I won't get there in time and he will be the only one left standing at the door waiting for me!

happysouls · 07/09/2014 11:45

Hard to get organised first thing when you're really tired! Its good to have a routine and be as organised as possible the night before!

BL0SS0M · 07/09/2014 14:09

best way to avoid school run stress is to pick a school within walking distance and miss the traffic and road rage!

CrewElla · 07/09/2014 15:10

Highest stress levels are probably caused by my husband not pitching in to help get everyone ready and out the door!

I find things go a lot more smoothly when my husband and I take time the night before to get the bags ready and pick out the clothes for the next day. Unfortunately we're usually too shattered at night to plan ahead.

daisyduck123 · 07/09/2014 17:10

The only stress we have is all the cars dropping off children blocking the road. Much less stressful to walk , and better for us too

becks2134 · 07/09/2014 20:15

This is the first week of the school run I've ever had to do and as I live over half hour drive away from the school (London), and in the opposite direction to work, I found finding my daughter a school in the first place stressful and now I'm finding the parking and travelling in traffic the most stressful, it's such a shame that I couldn't get my daughter into a school closer to home but what can you do when there's not enough schools to go round!

jimmijam · 07/09/2014 20:23

1st- getting them out of bed when they just want to sleep 'mummy you're so horrible'.

2nd- getting them to brush their teeth for more than 30 seconds.

3rd- getting them to put their shoes on.

4th- the walk to school 'I don't want to walk, I'm too tired, my legs hurt' it's only around the corner...

They're 8 & 6, my almost 3 year old is easy to get up and out in the morning.

BeCool · 07/09/2014 20:39

Our school is a very short walk away and DD1 is back on school dinners, so life is pretty much a breeze. We even managed to get to school before the bell every day last week. :)

School lunches never took too much time but the less there is to do in the morning the better.

DD has to be dressed and ready before she does ANYTHING else - and then she can do as she pleases - which means loom bands.

I often get her to do her reading to me while I lay in the bath.

DD2 is starting FT at nursery (at the school) very soon, but she will also be on school dinners, and no uniform, so our mornings won't change much.

We still end up scrabbling around with minutes to go, and I'll forget my phone of DD1 will forget her drink etc, but most of the time it is plain sailing.

I drop them off, chat to other Mums/School admin, and then drive to work.

ItsNotEasyBeingGreen · 07/09/2014 21:07

The school run terrifies me... I'm one of those people who is early for everything. So on the morning we are always far too early and waiting at the gate for far too long. In the afternoon I feel I need to be early but am reliant in the trains and therefore live in fear I will be late. I'm hoping that with time I will get used to it and become less anxious about it.

sarah861421 · 07/09/2014 21:13

the last five minutes before leaving the house. Thats the worst bit, and that still applies when they are 16!

Ethan260908 · 07/09/2014 21:27

At first taking my son to school was stressful (SAHD), but now I just go with the flow, examning mole hills, criters [sic] and splashing in puddles (way home only) can lead to the 5 mins walk taking almost 50 minutes, however, it palls into insignificance when we arrive both at school ad at home in one piece!

MadJo · 07/09/2014 21:47

The biggest stress is the length of time it takes trying to get three children to put their shoes on! Even if we are 10 minutes ahead of schedule, you can guarantee by the time the shoes are located and put on the correct feet, we'll be at least 10 minutes late leaving the house.
I try and reduce the stress by laying out each child's shoe and asking them to put their shoes on 20 minutes before we actually have to leave the house (which usually means we leave just about on time).

kaycm25 · 07/09/2014 21:57

I have three to get ready and be out the door for 8.45 but lately my 6 mth old has taken to dirtying her nappies right before we need to leave the house. Her timing is great in the morning.

chloe1705 · 07/09/2014 21:59

We used to have a stressful morning but after way to many we changed this by waking up earlier, having no tv on until we are dressed and ready to go and I let them choose from a selection of cereals or toast. The only thing that stresses me now is how badly parents park outside the school.

worriedmum46 · 07/09/2014 22:08

We used to have very stressful mornings. They have been improved slightly by

  1. Homework has to be finished before TV can go on the night before - amazingly with a big of focus it can all be done quite quickly.
  2. Bags are packed and left by the front door before bed.
  3. TV can only go on in morning once everyone fed, washed and dressed ( gives me a few mins to get my make up on!!

We leave in good time to get to school, find a parking spot and meet up with friends to walk in with. The new regime is generally a success and we have far fewer meltdowns then in the past.

ukbliss2012 · 07/09/2014 22:42

Getting out of bed, breakfast dramas, who's sitting where ("it's my turn in the front." "No it's Not!!!" hysterical crying ensues, playing mediator. The list really is endless.