Share your stories of disastrous school runs in the car with Direct Line - £300 voucher prize draw!NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Direct Line have asked us to find out Mumsnetters’ stories from the school run.

Here’s what they say: “We recently found a fifth of drivers didn’t know if their motor insurance policy entitled them to a hire or courtesy car following an accident or theft. Yet 77 per cent said one was either critical or important to them.”

We know that the school run can be a pretty stressful part of the day and with this in mind, we’d like you to share your most horrific or funny stories from your school run with your family. What kinds of things have happened to you whilst on the school run? Maybe you’ve been in an accident on the way to school? What happened and how did you continue your journey? Or you might have driven off with your handbag on the roof, perhaps you've even forgotten to bring a child home?! Whatever your stories are we’d love to hear them!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Doing the school run now is a nightmare due to lots of kids being dropped off and no space around the school for parking or dropping off. Worst day was when a kid ran straight in front of us across the road without looking and a car was speeding towards him from the opposite direction. How it missed him I don't know - and he sprinted into school as if nothing had happened.

For a change I was able to get a parking space that day so I did go into school and report the lad to one of the teachers at the gate, who was able to figure out who I meant by my description of coat and bag, so he was going to talk to them to make them realise how close he had come to being run over and to hopefully make him better at crossing the road from then on.

We're not quite a school yet but when my daughter was 5 weeks old we had a hospital appointment. Obviously a new mother and scared to be driving so far with my little girl on my own. I got to the traffic lights and some stupid lady drove into the back of my car! Luckily it wasn't that badly damaged but it needed a new bumper.

I was so proud of myself for not turning into a blubbering mess, but as soon as I drove off I was sobbing down the phone to hubby! hehe

DD knew I had to wait for her, no matter how late she was as we live in a rural area with no buses. One morning after grinding my teeth for more than 5 minutes, (Seemed SO much longer!) I had a major meltdown and started ranting about how irresponsible and selfish her behaviour was as she opened the back door to climb in. Then I noticed the postie who had a parcel.....

I haven't experienced a school run yet, but my friend told me a funny one the other day. She was just getting ready to leave the house when her 8 month old son puked all over her, all in her hair. As she would have got fined for being late to take her 5 year old to school, she had no choice but to turn up covered in sick!!!

I smugly parked in a tiny space near school to drop DS off.

Sadly my parking was better than my driving. Once I'd dropped him off I tried to get out of the space and scratched a nice straight line into the side of the car in front of me...... which belonged to DS's teacher.

Oh the shame of having to tell her, I'm cringing just writing about it!!

My most disastrous school run in the car was a couple of years ago, when DS1 was in Reception & DS3 was newborn. I'd had a call to pick DS1 up, as he was feeling ill, although he hadn't yet been sick. Of course, he was sick in the car, leaving a pile of laundry for me & a lasting aroma

I'm lucky that we're close enough to walk each day, but my son recently did a course of swimming lessons that started at 4pm. I had to be super slick so I would pop out at 1pm before my daughters nap and get my car as close to the school as I could, walk back home, got back out again at 3.20, collect my son, run to the car and then try and get ahead of the traffic to get to swimming on time. It was the most stressful 10 weeks ever!

No memorable school runs to report I'm afraid. However, as of next year I will no longer have to do the school run and I cannot wait.

I have been back and forth to the same school every school day since 1999. I can't believe that for the first time in 15 years my life will not be dominated by the 3.10 bell!

We ended up with a 45 minute school run for 12 months due to complicated house moves. The primary school is worth it, but it was a long trip. Particularly for DD2 (then 5). One morning, in terrible traffic, I heard "Mummy, I need a wee!" We were on a dual carriageway with nowhere to stop, and her bladder was incapable of tolerating the wait. She wet herself, and soaked the car. Poor thing was absolutely devastated. I assured her that it wasn't her fault, and that we'd fix it. Now I just needed a plan! Luckily, DD3 was newborn, and we were equipped with nappies and various absorbent materials. The interior was leather, so DD1 (then 9) was able to mop up the worst of the flood, whilst I aimed for the nearest supermarket. I then took the two older ones into a toilet cubicle to wait for me (luckily near the entrance). Then I took the baby through the store, purchasing new uniforms, and loads of baby wipes! Whilst changing them I called the school secretary and explained the situation. Luckily it's a tiny school, and they knew the situation. They were brilliant. The children arrived squeaky clean, and only 15 minutes late. After that there were no more drinks allowed on the way to school!!

My worst was when I was in a rush and my little one threw up a little bit of his breakfast on my sleeve as I was getting him out of the car. I had no time to go home and change so ended up just washing it off, I spent the whole day at work with a slight aroma of toddler sick about me!

Once when looking after my friend's kids, the 3 year old was sick in the car. Which would be bad enough, except she was sick ON the baby. I had to get them both in the bath pretty quick.

On one of my eldests first days I was running a bit late so I decided to take the car. Only took me twice as long as well as having to park ages away!! Never again!!

We were in a nasty accident and whilst the car was away for repairs were provided with a courtesy car from the garage. Unfortunately upon our cars return we had to send it back as they had not finished it. There was me with a nasty back injury - took me 30 mins just to walk to the damn car....and they dropped off a car with no petrol in it for me to drive.

Luckily the kids school were fab and dropped them off at home for me!

The most memorable are when they all have some sort of club to go to with different kit/guitars/ etc normally the also have a letter or two each, reading books and library books, some frigging costume, or special item to bring in, homework etc so leaving the house is fun. then they decide they can't carry any of it. So I end up looking like a packhorse, trailing bits of stuff behind me.

We've just moved. So new schools for both the kids.
System round here is the school bus will pick them up from a junction nearby. One in nursery, one in primary, so different busses, as different start times....

DS1's bus doesn't turn up. I ring them, and they have forgotten him..... I have to call DH back from work, as only taxi numbers I can find don't start til 9. So, pack DS2 off on his bus, jump in car with DS1 and DH, and manage to get him there as doors are closing. Visit bus company, who apologised, and promised to bring him home. Except they dropped him off in the wrong place, so he wasn't on the bus when I went to meet it (he's 6) and we had to go looking for him.....
Thankfully it has baan a bit smoother since then..

We had the morning of I have tummy ache, I feel sick, but our daughter had been saying this since she started back in the September. She wasn't really liking her new teacher or class, so I just said its fine get ready and if you feel worse later tell the teachers. Well maybe I should think twice next time, we all got in the car and began driving next thing I new was sick being catapulted to the front of the car. Well I wont go into detail but lets say we turned around and all had showers.

Partners 2 charmers back seat drivng and I lost the plot and made them walk the last half mile to school in the heaviest rain I've seen in a long time. Partner not impressed.

We usually walked, but on the very first day of a new term I overslept, and woke to our neighbours knocking on the door as usual to walk down with us. Luckily my v sensible then 5 year old had already got himself dressed, so it was a matter of throwing some clothes on his toddler brother and myself, bread in the toaster and grabbing a carton of juice each for them. Backseat breakfast was a (sticky) hit, but DS1 told me off for allowing him to go to school 'without even brushing, Mummy'. However, we made it to the playground as the bell went! Hurrah for the car!

I was in such a rush we were going to be late, the roads were full and there was nowhere to park, I parked over some-ones driveway thinking I would only be 5 minutes "what harm could I do" When I got back to the car there was a note on my windscreen saying..... "Your lucky I didn't need to go out because you blocked me in - please don't park here again and if you want your dust caps back feel free to knock and ask" I let them keep the dust caps and I have never parked over a drive since.

I am forever driving to school only to realise I have left book bag or lunch box at home. I also am always forgetting where I have left the car. x

Before having kids I worked for a boss who had to do the school run leaving the office on most days in a mad rush to collect his kids. One particularly stressful day I left the office after work to go to my car and found a mangled briefcase on the floor of the carpark. Poor guy had put in down and forgot about it so reversed over it. At the time I thought how could he be so absent minded and not realise what he'd done. Now having experienced the joys of the mad school run pick up I totally get it!

School run on a Friday in September. Children in the back, one of which was my best friends daughter. Left the house at around 8.20 giving me plenty of time to get to the school with time to spare so all was calm :) I started driving up towards the end of my road when Sophie my friends 6 year old daughter began crying and my daughter started squealing that Sophie had pooped herself. I thought they were joking but the smell soon made me realise that poor Sophie was poorly. Problem was finding somewhere to pull over in the midst of rush hour traffic. I was getting frantic because the girls were arguing now as my daughter wasn't exactly being understanding. Sophie was crying for her mother and my daughter shouting that there was poop on the seat and down Sophies leg. It was manic. As i neared the school and managed to pull over I tried to comfort the poor girl and assured her it wasn't her fault and that i would take her home to her mummy and she would be fine. I don't know what she'd had to eat the night before but it was like and explosion had happened. I told her to stay in the car while i took my daughter and into the breakfast club early. Pulled my daughter from the car still whining and complaining and went to undo my 8 year old sons seatbelt when i realised he wasn't even in the car. I'd left without him and hadn't noticed through the entire journey. The girls hadnt mentioned it either. I though i was being so calm and organised. My husband hadn't telephoned because i'd left my phone at home. So my calm trip to school turned into only 1 out of 3 of the children making it on time and my car needing a thorough scrubbing out. The ribbing from my husband and my sons shouts of its too late to go now i might as well stay home' didn't help. I was so stressed for the rest of the day.

I drove into the back of a car and just so happens a police car was passing so decided to stop and help out!! Both my kids were wailing thinking we're being taken to jail.

We live very close to the school, but not close enough for DH! It was drizzling a few days ago and so he decided to take the car to drop DS off. He couldn't find a parking any where near the school and ended up coming home to park the car, then walk DS to school. But that stage they were running late and in foul moods. Teach him to be lazy!

Well, we were taking my step daughter to an educational day at the theatre (pre being able to take kids out for educational outings/holidays) but my hubby managed to lock our car keys in the boot of the car - it was horrendous - he felt terrible, i was trying to be sympathetic but i was a bit mad because we couldn't get her to school even! It took ages for someone to come out... :( Very stressful! Knew the Mom would blame it on me (evil step mom!) which she did!