Why do mums get all dolled up for the school run???

[YellowFeathers]

I never thought in a million years I would be saying this
but why??????????

Its probably the fact that I'm sleep deprived because of ds but I cannot muster the energy to dress up, style my hair like a model out of Vogue and get all my slap on, just to walk 5 mins around the corner to drop my dd at school then come home.

Is it just me or is there secret rules that I need to learn about the school run?

Most of the women who are "dolled up" at our school gates are going straight to work after.

I'm taking DS1 to toddlers in a mo. I will look smart, clean and made-up. Why would anyone want to go out looking slovenly? [genuinely puzzled]

Oh, I've been out looking slovenly, but I didn't want to - it was at the depths of sleep deprivation and depression that I did it. But I always felt better when I made an effort.

Nice and judgey this thread - bit of monster thrown in for good measure, eh?

I am the same as lou, always have a bit of make-up on & brush my hair or put it up whatever, but i don't go to town on myself, i just don't have the time

I know if I'm particularly done up, say going to meet mates etc. in town I get the glares from the Waynettas Not that there are many, most of us are normal or smart. I'm normal IMO.

Maybe they aren't going straight back home to clean the loo, hoover and tackle the giant pile of washing up like I am....

But if you only ever look "nice" when you're going somewhere "special" you're selling yourself short, IMO.

Seashells, that's what I should do

Am of you for doing it. Though house is looking almost tidy and I did lots of gardening yesterday whilst wearing Prada

lol, i've come back, had a cup of tea, looked online for a bit, replied to emails , and now i am off for a nap before getting dd1 to go to the orthodontist!

What you having done Lou?

Getting your teeth bleached?

I do get 'dolled' up ( although to look at me, you wouldnt think it!!) most mornings as I go straight to work. Today however is my day off and I cant see the point in getting all made up to walk to school only to come back and put scruffy clothes on to blitz the house.

If it makes you feel good then why not?

Ooo hec!
I can understand mums who go to work .
It was more of a how the hell do you manage it question really.

Just been having another look this morning and they are very well groomed
I feel like I'm showing myself up. I look like a bag of crap!

dd1 not me!

her brace needs adjusting

then i have to take the kitten to the vet for 2pm for his second shots

i have 2 extra kids after school as well today

I don't wear make-up ever, so I'm certainly not going to wear it for the school run. I make sure my hair is brushed, my teeth are clean and I look reasonably neat. But I'm generally not very interested in clothes, so, although I prefer looking nice, I hate shopping/buying/choosing clothes. A lot of my clothes, though clean and ironed, are rather old now.

hunker !!!
PERSONALLY - i would feel more miserable going to school looking a wreck than ' dolled up' so I do tidy myself up.
Its a very judgmental place the school yard and I - for one- do not want to be the subject of peoples bad mouthing!

Yes if I'm off somewhere else afterwards I get 'dolled up' but more often than not I'm heading back home to clean up, so don't make too much effort, although I'll still sort out my hair, put abit of mascara on minimum.

I'm dolled up in the morning b/c I have to go to work.

OK, how you manage it - only have presentable clothes in your wardrobe (except for one or two gardening/painting with the children ensembles), MAKE yourself get up five minutes earlier to do your make-up.

i feel like a bag of poo if i dont make an effort

Why the NAO?

I agree that it makes you feel nice when you do make the effort. I think there was a day where I wouldn't dream of stepping out the house with no make up on and my hair done and all I can manage now is to scrape it back and slap a bit of moisturiser on, if I'm lucky.

I have my hair cut every 4-5 weeks and it's fairly short. So it's not hard to maintain.

I have my clothes chosen from the night before.

You just manage it somehow b/c, for me, personally, it's not a choice.

I have to go to work, and therefore, have to look presentable at work.

Only got about 4 hours of sleep Sun./Mon. night.

Too bad. Had to get up and get moving.

What hunker said

Glam I'm not (jeans and a black top today) but I am clean, my hair is washed, I've had a shower and I have make-up and jewellery on. Would feel hideous all day if not. And I was "going on to work" after dropping off at school but, as I work from home, no-one is going to see me - doesn't matter - I feel better. It's for me: not to make anyone else feel inadequate; not to try and pull a dad at the school gate; not to make me feel better about my sad and pitiful life.

No secret rule, just get up earlier keep a strict routine and feel better about yourself. If you dont care then dont worry about it just admire the fashion show

Spag mine reasons would be that I am a bit of a perfectionist so higher standards and a 45 and gorgeous could be a bit of a yummy mummy in a mature kind of way

Looking at the posts here, the common problem is not getting ready the night before. Leaving you just to feed em, wash and dress em (if they cant do it themselves)and get out that door. I find the two minutes before they get up to grab a shower is the best, then whilst they eat I put me make up on and while they get dressed I get dressed. Grab the reading book and saunter in a model type of way to the school

I always try and look presentable but have been known to do the school run with wet hair (after a shower) apparently a heinous mumsnet crime.