I think it depends on the parents, I have found it hard to create good conversations with some parents but I think that’s just because they are shy and sometimes I just want other parents to start the conversation first, it shouldn’t always be me. I think the effort needs to come both ways and if it doesn’t then oh well, move on, they aren’t worth your time. Some parents I haven’t ever met or just don’t make eye contact and that is perfectly fine too.

I dunno – I quite like having the chance to nod at other parents or say hi.

So interesting how many people hate pleasantries. I could talk paint off the walls so can’t see myself loathing these interactions.

I lived so far away from the school so my kids caught the bus. I didnt have to deal with this at all.

I always used to mingle. Currently I pick my youngest up from the gate before everyone else is out. She has special needs and doesn’t do well in the crowds, she’s a runner too so rather dangerous.. As soon as In pick her up from the gate we get in the car and wait there till my other kids arrive. I keep the doors from the car open and am happy to chat with any and everyone

Being kind and setting an example for kids is certainly very important.

I do a bit of both

I am actually surprised there are so many mums who apparently avoid picking up their own kids like the plague.
When I did school pick up, I liked getting there early and seeing various people and chatting to them and finding how they were going (and for the record, I am NOT in any way or form outgoing). My kids are at a small school and so yes this does mean less parents… but still up to 200 with the whole school being counted.
I now work at my kids school, so I’m there all day. My kids find me when they leave their classrooms and then run off to play with the rest of the staff kids until it’s time for us to go home.

I hate talking to other mums, I avoid it also.

Always give yourself extra time schools are never a place you want to rush

Sometimes it’s really hard to crack into groups of mums who already know each other. But I agree, I park far away and walk slowly haha

I time it so i get to the classroom just as the bell rings so I pick up and go.

It never bothered me although it doesn’t surprise me that some mums can be bitchy. Our school has strict pickup guidelines that don’t encourage mingling (due to the pandemic)

People shouldn’t feel so intimidated. I used to rock up and wait outside the classroom, nod, smile, say hello and wait but never mingle, why should I? Those other mums weren’t my family or friends and I’m not into clicky little groups and back biting gossip but we all have as much right to be there to collect our children as the next person no matter who they think they are or whatever gossipy behaviours they have and our children’s school is our school as well.

Yay for the school bus, I never had to worry about school pick up and drop off. Is it really this bad?!

I wait in the car and the kids walk to my car. Absolutely hate school pickup and the way parents cluster is horrible. It’s easier to sit in the car and wait.

I wait in the car and she walks down to where I parked. Much easier and quicker. She will walk with a friend if there friend’s parents parked our way.

if you have the time,it is a nice way to have a quick social moment.

I miss those days of school pick up and drop offs it was a good place to meet other mums from the class when the kids were young. A really good support group.

I don’t really like the idea of meeting new people, and at the end of last year it was hard. My child started school in term four and I had a child at another school also. For the first little while nobody really acknowledged me, which was fair enough I was new and they had known each other for a year. Then my child was invited to birthday parties and they kinda realised I was the parent of a child in their child’s class and now we chat. But back to my having another child at a different school there also really wasn’t any time to get to meet the other parents as it was grab my child from that school rush to the car and drive the 10 mins to my other child’s school and hope to make it close to the bell ringing so my still young child wasn’t left worrying about where I was. I was lucky enough to have amazing friends who would hang around with my child (unasked) until I arrived. I don’t know how I would have managed without the friends I made at school and absolutely love that they could have just rushed home with their kids but chose to stay behind and hep out. I really am quite lucky to know them!