Anyone else hate the school run?

code-a-holic

I have found my best friends at the school gates! I am one of a group of 8 very close girl friends and we have children of all different ages accross the school and we are each others emergency numbers and emergency chidcare. I'd be very lonely without them! My children now go on a school bus since we moved so I dont get to stand out in all weathers very often but always enjoy meeting up when there. Our school are a friendly bunch!

onlyroz

*Jelly_Tots* wrote: »

What I have learnt from this thread is that some people think wearing make-up, straightening your hair and looking smart is a bad thing. I NEVER EVER EVER EVER leave the house without make-up or straightening my hair.

It's not a bad thing, but it is a sign of insecurity. So you'd put make-up on if you were just popping out for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk? Astounding.

poet123

onlyroz wrote: »

It's not a bad thing, but it is a sign of insecurity. So you'd put make-up on if you were just popping out for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk? Astounding.

Why is it a sign of insecurity? You could equally say that not caring what you look like or taking pride in your appearance is slobbish behaviour. I wouldn't, but it is as valid as your comment.

I put make up on as part of my morning routine, just like I clean my teeth and shower, I wear make up whether I am going out or am at home, because I want to, because I enjoy it. I accept that is an anathema to some but it certainly doesn't make me insecure.

Person_one

poet123 wrote: »

Why is it a sign of insecurity? You could equally say that not caring what you look like or taking pride in your appearance is slobbish behaviour. I wouldn't, but it is as valid as your comment.

I put make up on as part of my morning routine, just like I clean my teeth and shower, I wear make up whether I am going out or am at home, because I want to, because I enjoy it. I accept that is an anathema to some but it certainly doesn't make me insecure.

As long as you're clean and have the right bits covered with clean clothes, that's all that's really needed.

Makeup does bother me, I want to know what's wrong with our faces as they are! I try to take pride in my behaviour generally as that's more important, my appearance is just random genetics.

Abbafan1972

Yeah I hate the school run.

I work 2 days a week, so they go to school club Monday AM/PM and Thursday AM. Thursday PM they are collected by my parents and go there for tea. The rest of the week I drop them off/pick up.

We walk to and from school, it takes about 15 mins.

I usually leave it till the very last minute in the afternoon, as the playground is really open and it gets so cold waiting there.

There are a lot of clicky groups too. I am particularly friendly with the one parent there, her DD is in the same class my eldest DD and we live round the corner from each other.

bestpud

I've never been a fan of the school run either!

I was snubbed at dd's school gate after turning down a Christmas meal for £30 a head and a cheese and wine evening!

I did not have £60 for DH and I to join the Christmas meal so that was out from the start.

I hate wine with a passion and I'm no cheese lover either, so I really had no interest in that at all.

After that, I was snubbed by many of the parents in dd's class - they would look away rather than make eye contact and if I made a point of saying 'hello' anyway, they would feign surprise at 'seeing' me and mutter 'hi' before scuttling off. They would also change direction, or 'forget' something from their car if it looked like they may have to walk with me!

They didn't just do this to me - there was 4 of us (out of a class of 16 children) who were treated the same, just because we didn't want to join the social scene!

Sooo, I'm afraid there is such a thing as playground politics and there is some very nasty mothers out there! It has nothing to do with being stand offish or failing to speak and I find that suggestion offensive tbh!

I did make friends with some parents - mainly those outside the 'circle' and enjoyed chatting with them and there was usually someone stood alone who welcomed a chat, thank goodness!

I'm also happy to say none of the awful parents treated dd any differently, but I still feel a bit upset at the way they were towards me.

Oh, and when I volunteered at events, I was always stuck out of the way and/or given the jobs nobody else wanted to do! And they wondered why people from outside the clique only volunteered once!

Abbafan1972

Oh and I've witnessed one or two rows in the playground too between parents! What an experience they were I can tell you.

Birdy12

I don't mind the school run. Most afternoons I wait for DD in the same place and find the same group there (including a couple of grans!) so will exchange pleasantries. It's normally about the weather, whether we can get back in time to get the washing in before it chucks it down or why our kids take SO long walking down to meet us.

Having said that, my DD (and youngest child) will start secondary in 2 years and I won't miss the standing around. Between my DS and DD, I'll have done 9 years of standing around at the school, so I feel I've done my time!

Birdy

Birdy12

Gillyx wrote: »

I'd have said "I work every day so can't be here to collect my child unfortunately" Smug face

Have to say I'm with pinkmami on this, what's the smug face for? Is it because you have a job? So do lots of other people.

*Jelly_Tots*

onlyroz wrote: »

It's not a bad thing, but it is a sign of insecurity. So you'd put make-up on if you were just popping out for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk? Astounding.

So you have gleaned enough information about me to state as fact that 'it is a sign of insecurity'? Do you know me? Do you know my history or possible reasons I might wear make-up all the time? Acne scars? Rosacea? Psoriasis? Burn scars? None of the above actually, but that is what I call judgemental, and the sort of attitude which lies at the root of the problems at the school gates. You mustn't have seen much in your life to find a bit of lippy and mascara 'astounding' lol.

The definition of 'Judgemental' is: "an attitude in which judgments about other people's conduct are made", e.g. "you wear make-up all the time so you are insecure".

Yes, maybe it is possibly a little sign of insecurity. And probably not that rare (or 'astounding' lol). But hey, that's me. I think it's more of a sign of self-respect - I like to feel nice and clean and tidy. There's nothing better than walking out of the house feeling smart and great and confident, because I'm worth it . I suppose the same reason some people (not me) want nice cars or nicely decorated living rooms - it just makes them feel nice.

However, it takes more than someone's appearance to 'astound' me these days. I'm not 'astounded' when my best friend turns up at the school gates with greasy hair, baby sick down her shoulder and crumpled old jeans. I don't really notice. I just say "Hi" and have a bit of a chat. I'm like that. You should try it.