Before I start I should probably point out that I donโt actually do the whole school run: Misery Guts does the morning trip on his way to work and I do the afternoon one. But even so I hate it. And weโre only three months in to a journey thatโs going to take place every week day during term time for the next 12 years. Or 15 years if you take Little B into account.
The main problem is the journey: Iโm on foot and the school is only partially on a bus route so itโs a 90-minute round trip from door to door. But there are other reasons I hate the school run too:
1. It cuts the afternoon in half. Why do schools finish at 3pm? 4pm or later would be so much better, especially for working parents. I leave at around 2pm and we get back at about 3.45. Thatโs more than an hour and a half spent collecting. Itโs often 4pm before Iโm able to sit down at my computer and able to work, except Iโve then got both kids to entertain too.
2. It puts everyone in a bad mood. Parents honking their horns in a bid to get as close to the school gates as possible, mums on foot dragging pre-schoolers who donโt want to walk behind them and the ones who are always late. Every day I see the same mum sprinting up the hill with a look of alarm on her face as Iโm walking back down having already collected BB. Why doesnโt she just leave 5 minutes earlier? Probably because of number one.
3. It involves packing a picnic. Ok that might be a slight exaggeration, but when BB comes out of the classroom the first thing she asks for is a snack. All her classmates do โ thereโs a chorus of โwhat can I have to eat?โ โIโm hungryโ and โwhat did you bring for my snack?โ It makes me question the portion sizes at lunch. The food produced from handbags at our school gate amounts to a veritable feast and some days I feel like Iโm laying on a constant buffet between the school run and bed time.
4. I hate the journey there. The first part is flat but after that itโs a steady gradient up a steep hill. I know this is probably good for my bum but when youโre pushing an increasingly heavy toddler in a pushchair up it and then the increasingly heavy toddler and an increasingly heavy four-year-old on a buggy board down it enjoyable isnโt the word. Add to that the torrential rain and howling wind weโve been having lately and Iโve found myself actually dreading the trip.
Of course BB loves it. I should take a leaf out of her book. The walk home is like a mini adventure for her โ weโve spotted ladybirds, collected conkers, smelt flowers and thereโs a big stick she found one day about a month ago and โhidโ by a tree which she looks out for every day.
Despite that Iโve been entering those competitions ITV run in daytime to win a car. You know the sort, where you get a brand new shiny 4×4 and lots of cash. Even though a 4×4 isnโt me at all, and if I were to win a 4×4ย the best course of action would be to sell it.
Am I alone in hating the school run (even though I actually only do half of it)? Or do you love it?
Linking up with…
You are not alone!! I too hate it (and I have a car!) but dragging the two little siblings along, getting the double buggy in and out of car (we can’t even park near the school, have to walk across the rec) sorting car seats for all children, making sure we aren’t late, multiple times a day…it’s exhausting!! And this is only the first year…roll on the days they can walk themselves to school hey!
It IS exhausting! I’m so glad I only have to do it once a day otherwise it would take about 3 hours!!
I’m totally with you – I do morning and afternoon and I hate the mornings the most as we are always late due to it taking half an hour for them to get their blooming shoes on! Ok a slight exaggeration. In the afternoons, my younger one generally falls asleep about half an hour before we need to leave to pick up, so is really grumpy as I have to wake her up. All in all, stress central! Becky x #bestandworst
Little B always falls asleep in the pushchair on the way which is really annoying at it throws everything else out of sync, and he’s always grumpy when he wakes up too!x
Oh god I have all this to come 2 days a week at least! It doesn’t sound the best but I guess positives. Fresh air. Exercise and your little girl loves it! This is what I will be telling myself when I am stropping about. Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst and see you soon xx
Yes I can’t complain about the fresh air and exercise!x
I’m just starting the school run as well. We are closer to the school and travel on bike but the kids come home for lunch. My husband takes the little one, but I do the lunch pick up, post- lunch drop off and then the afternoon pick up! My little guy tries to get a full nap somewhere in there too. I’m sure it will become part of our schedule soon enough, but I cant even imagine when my little one is in pre-school (next door but on a different schedule) how I’m going to get anything done other then bike between school and home!
Home for lunch sounds like a NIGHTMARE! Poor you!x
I am the rushing mum, not because I don’t set off in time, but my kids FAF all the way there and trying to get out of the door in the 1st place is absolute madness! So this stresses me out and makes me dislike the school run. I dont like having to rush every morning to get ready when some days I just want it to be chilled!
I did enjoy it initially and some days are still pleasant when the weather is actually dry and we can wander and talk at leisure, but mostly its absolute madness x #bestandworst
I can’t wait until summer when hopefully the run will be dry & warm x
I have some years before I have to get on the school run path, but I already feel it won’t be my favourite part of the day. As you say, it cuts the day into shreds, especially if you have to do both morning and afternoon. No more slow mornings… At least I am aware of all this, so I am enjoying long mornings with my toddler – our play groups etc don’t usually start until 10 am.
#whatevertheweather
Make the most of it while you can!!
Oh no, that does sound stressful! Particularly with the school so far away! InbScotland you just go to your local school (unless you pay for private school), so it’s not normally more than a 20 min walk away, not that we have to worry about that yet! At least BB enjoys it though!
Thanks so much for linking up! ๐ x
Our closest school is at the end of our road which would have been so much easier but we went for the Catholic optionx
Another walker of the school run! It can be a nightmare especially if the kiddies are not playing ball but otherwise I actually quite like it. It forces us to go out and spend some one on one time chatting about things where we aren’t distracted and we play games too! (I did a post about it). Good Luck on winning a car though! #KCACOLS
I’ll check out your post! I know I will enjoy it more in the spring and summer but right now it’s a nightmare!
Gosh, that trip does sound like a nightmare! Providing we don’t move the closest school is about 4 mins walk away… but I’m sure I’ll still find something to complain about it for! ๐ #KCACOLS
From all of the comments I don’t think anyone likes the school run!
We haven’t ever experienced a school run yet but I can see why you find them frustrating. It is an odd time of day to collect and I can see why it takes an hour and half. My little brothers and sisters are the same, they always come out of school hungry and I remember from my days at school how manic the gates are. Eeeek! Thank you so, so much for linking to #whatevertheweather xx
I am looking forward to summer and all the things we’ll see on the walk as the seasons change x
That is a long time to be travelling every day! At least the little one enjoys, it would be worse if they hated it too!
Amanda. #kcacols
That’s so true!x
I guess one of the advantages of living in a small town in the middle of nowhere is that I can get anywhere in 5 minutes and I have a car. The only part I hate is that I have 3 different schools to drop 4 kids off at. And getting three kids 5, 4, and 3 years old ready in the morning is not always such a joy either. I feel for your commute….there is never enough hours in the days of us moms. #KCACOLS
I definitely couldn’t cope with 3 different schools – well done!!
Wow, 90 minutes is a long trip! For us, school is down the road but I don’t really like the morning school run because I have kids 1) who eat breakfast so slowly 2)sometimes forget to brush their teeth or 3)can’t find a sock, a book, or forgotten to bring something when we’ve already left the house. Yes, we’re the ones usually rushing to school because we’re late. I like the Pick ups better as then we have time to take a walk and chat. #fartglitter
Luckily I don’t do the morning run too – that would break me! Sounds stressful in your house too!x
Oh gosh no you’re not alone in your hatred for the school run. With it getting colder and wetter I find myself dreading the school run, especially now the hubby no longer does the morning ones. I also find by the time I get to the school gates in this cold weather a certain little madam has dozed off grrr. This is not good especially with it being so late in the afternoon. Xx #KCACOLS
Little B does exactly the same and then is still awake at 9pm…so annoying!x
My little one is only 10 month’s so I have a few years before I have to do this daily, but I’m already not looking forward to it. You drop them off and before you know it it’s time to collect them. Hoping this journey gets easier for you, at least your little one is enjoying this part of her life! #KCACOLS
Enjoy the preschool years is all I can say!
Jeez a 90 minute journey! With a toddler…fair play! Here’s hoping you wiin that daytime TV competition. #fartglitter
It would be sooo good if I did!!
Ugh, sounds dreadful. That’s a heck of a walk for you with two kids. We’re lucky enough to just have a short drive. Bangkok traffic means it’s a bit longer than it should be but still beats such a long wintery walk.
Thanks for linking up to #fartglitter x
I’m trying to stay positive but so want a car!!
I hate the school run so much, when my daughter was in half days we lived a half hour walk away and I hated it, now we are 7 minute walk away and I still hate it Good luck with the competitions I would love a 4×4 #KCACOLS
When we move it’s definitely going to be closer to the school – I’m already sounding out the surrounding roads!
I love this post and yes I am with you, i hate the school run! I only started it in September yet I feel like i have been doing it all my life. It is such an inconvenience – haha! It also always rains on the school run, it could be dry all day and then 3pm will come and it will start raining – drives me mad!! x
I was saying exactly the same to another mum today – the heavens open at 3am!
Ooh this is something I am so not looking forward to! I have a few years yet but I know I’ll hate it – I imagine the afternoon pick up comes around so fast! It sounds a little like the dog walks I have to do currently (minus the honking horns and hungry children) so hopefully that will help to ease me into it! You never know, you might win the car! Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS. Hope you come again next Sunday x
I feel cheated that no-one told me how inconvenient it would be! Enjoy the preschool years x
I also walk on the school run, but thankfully only have 10 mins there and back. I quite like it, but then it might be because as I work part-time I only get to do it properly once a week. The other mornings I have to leave too early – I’m a teacher so I have to make sure I am in work before the kids arrive, and then my girl has to go into after school club after school because i can’t pick her up at 3 due to teaching then after school clubs, meetings etc.
Definitely very grateful that I don’t have a 90min round trip though.
Thanks for linking up to #SundayStars
It’s all such a juggle with work etc too isn’t it!x
I have 2 different schools to bring my kids to, 9am and 9:15am drop off, pick preschooler up at 12:15, then 9 year old up at 3pm, and I hate it, all the other momโs donโt seem to hate it as much as I do, so thanks for this post,
OMG no you are not alone! I hate them too!! I agree with you in all you points!! I used to deal with it every day last year when my daughter was at Reception and I hated it with passion!!! LOL This year things have changed as luckily one of the teachers live in front of us so now she takes Bella every morning to school. This is a bless for us!! The mornings are the busiest ones so I so glad to have that help now. Bella has after clubs Mondays to Thursdays so she finishes at 4:45 pm those days. This gives us a little bit more time and also you don’t have the afternoon traffic anymore so it is actually better. Since last week this teacher is also bringing back Bella from school Tuesdays & Thursdays so it is heaven for me. And to make things even better, Mondays and Wednesdays I have some one who helps me for 3 hours with my little one (15 months) and also picks up my eldest from school so now I only have to deal with the picking ups on Friday but I still hate it LOL. Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I’m so happy to have you here for the first time. I hope you enjoyed it and that you would like to join me again! ๐ x
You are very lucky! I’m going to look into after school clubs for next term as that will make it a later pick up!x
My goodness that is a serious journey! I am praying that when Zach starts school that he gets into the one that is in our back garden (literally!). I am also praying that I don’t still work full time and that the other half doesn’t have an hour and a half commute. Because I have no idea how we’ll do it!! You do definitely need to win that car! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
We did have closer options but really wanted the Catholic school…she’s so happy there I know we made the right choice despite the journey. Don’t worry – you’ll make it work when the time comes x
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