Its nothing new but In my observations, it’s not uncommon, that on the children’s school pick up, there doesn’t tend to be many dads, whether we admit it or not Mums etc… still outnumber dads by a lot. There are various reasons of course and many different scenarios to why, and I’m not debating it at all, whether its right or wrong, gotten better over the years? or just simply a fact, it’s just what I have noticed.
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It feels a bit Odd…
But over the months while waiting for both Tigger and Piglet at separate classroom entrances, I often look around and see whos picking kids up (let’s are honest we all do!), and to know one’s surprise there isn’t many of those dad type figures picking their kids up. There are interestingly more on the morning school run, and there is some of the afternoon one but many of them are also with Women, partners wives, who knows…
As a dad it does feel a bit weird at times, there’s often little clicks or groups of mums together talking, there’s some that are entertaining other kids, there’s some that DO NOT seem approachable, you may even see the odd grandparent, and the odd dad hanging around.
For those who haven’t done it, or mums that are used to being around other women and mums there, its a bit odd, it feels a little uncomfortable, I know its a little in my own head, and I shouldn’t let affect me or let me worry but it’s difficult to explain if you haven’t been in that situation, I do enjoy picking the kids up.
An Island…
But you do feel a little be like your on an island, and like I mentioned earlier, people looking at you even perhaps judging (I’m sure they’re not), but in reality its years and years of stereotyping, films,books, TV Papers, sp many example of it, and for many we are still growing up with this mindset, so when Dads are that parent that pick there kids up on an evening there will be some that perhaps think as I do, and there may be some that think, why is here? or that’s odd a dad is here? etc..
But things may be changing in the future but I don’t think quite yet, certainly not in my mind, but I hope there re many out there that this doesn’t affect, and they have no examples like this, I’m pleased for them and proud they have the mental strength and the confidence to be fine with it.
A daily occurance for me, drop off in a morning and pick up on an afternoon. The same with my 4 year olds preschool/nursery.
Know what you mean about the various groups, clicks and un approachable. There’s alot at my daughters school.
Daily school run for almost a year now and only a few mums, dad’s or grandparents that I have become friendly with. A few dads around but it looks a case of finished work early to pick them up and don’t see them again for a week or two.
I have to agree it does tend to be mums who collect children from school. Our school had a right old mixture and you get to recognise people over time. I seriously wouldn’t be bothered by it, to be honest, it’s probably best to stay away from all the little groups. If they are anything like those at our school, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing! 😉 Sim
I think there are quite a mixture at my youngests school, which is very different to when my eldest was in primary. Granted, there are probably more Mums, but definitely a lot of Dads too.
I feel you with the cliques – I tend to keep my head down and arrive as they’re opening the door nowadays haha, no time for drama here! 🙂
It’s so nice that you are so proud picking your children from school. I suppose that there are more women because they feel like it’s their job to pick up the children from school. But I don’t have children, so I wouldn’t know. Nobody picked me up from school when I was title, both my parents worked so they have me the key, showed me the way and that was it.
Very rarely see Dad’s picking up at our school unless with their wives/partners. We do see plenty at drop off though!
I don’t have children but I can only imagine what it must be like with cliquey parents; I bet that can be tricky to deal with but try not to let it get to you <3
When my Daughter was in Primary it was mainly Mums who did the school pick up, my husband only did it if I was ill x
I do the morning drop off and my husband does the school pick up everyday and in our school there seems to be a pretty even 50/50 split to be fair. When my daughter was younger (she is 19) there was certainly very few Dad on the school run
My mummy hates the antics of the playground. Quite a lot of dads dropping off in the mornings (they seem to be the friendliest bunch) but a lot of cliquey mums. She just keeps her head down and doesn’t get involved.
I agree, I do the kids pick up and see mostly mums, there are the occasional dads but you can basically count the numbers. Hope that does not put you off doing the school runs.
There are loads of Dad’s on the school run at our school. My husband always does drop off in the morning – I love that we can both be involved in school life.
I’ve been doing the school run (with rare exceptions) twice a day since my kids started school. I can’t say I feel judged, but I’ll tell you this. It;s the grandparents and those that don’t speak English as a first language that speak to you first. As a stay / work from home dad you come way down the pecking order.
My other hald said this when he went to Tumble Tots with our eldest. He was the only dad there. I suppose there’s lot’s of different reasons, but I’d always think it was normal and would’t bat an eyelid.