LIFE

'I'm a school-run mum and this is why I'm deliberately late to pick up my child'

Last modified on Wednesday 21 February 2024

The TikToker shared how she avoids 'gossipy mums' at the school gates and viewers have added their own tactics to keep them at bay

A Mum has admitted she is deliberately late to pick her child up from school – and after explaining why, other parents say they agree.

Speaking to her followers, Kara, who goes by @lifeofmrsabstract on TikTok said she will do anything to avoid 'gossipy mums' at the school gates – and if that means being late for her child? So be it.

The mum shared her story to TikTok where fellow parents agreed with her tactic.

'Leave me alone'

In a TikTok, Kara shared her routine for picking up her children from school – and the issues she faces in dodging the dreaded 'gossipy mums'.

Each day, she arrives at school at 3.10 pm, 20 minutes before her kids finish.

'I get here early for parking,' she explained.

But at quarter past three, the mums arrive, 'piling outside the gate talking talking', Kara said.

'Leave me, leave me alone, pretend you can't see me!' she begged.

'I will purposely make myself late for the school run just to avoid any type of small talk with these gossipy mums,' she said.

'School run mums stress me out'

Due to the other parents turning up to the school gates so promptly, Kara can't just quickly jump in and grab her kids as soon as they come out, she explained.

'They're there trying to say "hi hi hi!"' she said of the other parents.

So instead, Kara has resorted to another option.

'I'll purposely go in at 3.33, two or three minutes late, to get my child.'

She said that sometimes she'll give her fellow parents an awkward smile but that is all.

'That's all you'll get out of me at the school run,' Kara said, before adding that there are two mums that she does get on well with who she knows from outside of school.

Explaining her reasoning in the video's caption, she said: 'School run mums stress me out πŸ˜‚' and stated she 'can't be bothered with it.'

@lifeofmrsabstract School run mums stress me out πŸ˜‚ #fyp #schoolrun #mumsoftiktok #schoolrunmum ♬ original sound - LifeOfKara

'Avoid the yipper yappering'

In the video's comments, many agreed to Kara's sentiment.

'I just be like you alright and keep it moving πŸ˜‚,' one comment reads.

Another stated: 'I purposely book breakfast and after school club to avoid the yipper yappering 😩.'

A third said: 'They are like a different breed of mums πŸ˜‚'

While some parents thought Kara seemed a more toned down mum to some of the others.

'You seem super cool and also pretty. I would try and make friends with you on school run lol!' a comment read.

Kara replied: 'That is funny .. thank you maybe I'm a bit harsh but some of these mums just want to talk about nothing.'

'They stand there gossiping and putting down teachers'

Other parents pointed out that being late is not great for the child. A viewer stated: 'I do this but then feel guilty when my child asks why I’m always late to pick her up πŸ₯².'

And Kara replied: 'Don't be as late πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ I am either the first to walk in or im walking is as the other mums are walking out'

While another argued: 'Id rather people thought I was busy than stuck up and unapproachable.'

Kara replied: 'That does not make me stuck up' and then added: 'The people i avoid are not the type of people i would want to know. They stand there gossiping and putting down teachers.'

Some parents divulged their own tactics: 'I just keep my AirPods in sorry on teams meeting πŸ€£πŸ˜‚'

And another said: 'Pretend you’re on the phone.'

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