Updated: Jan. 18, 2023
Originally Published: Feb. 2, 2020
Recently, while picking up my children from school, I noticed the principal standing by the exit, handing out copies of a newly printed letter. “Please read and sign,” she said, distributing her memo to each parent as they left the building.
“Absolutely,” I replied, juggling toddlers along with their backpacks and lunchboxes. As I received my copy, I caught the headline: Car Line Guidelines.
Oh great, here we go again.
Honestly, it astonishes me that these memos are even needed. The concept of a car line isn’t complicated, and there should be no need for an adult to require a detailed list on how not to be inconsiderate. Yet here we are.
Once I got home and settled in, I read the rest of the letter: “Please refrain from texting and driving in the parking lot. Do not exit your vehicle if you are using the car line. If your children need some time to regroup, please find a parking space and escort them into the building.”
Please this. Please that. Please, please, please.
Our principal is a gem, truly, but she’s showing an impressive amount of patience that I honestly feel is unwarranted. This marks her third memo of the year, yet she still takes the diplomatic approach. I admire her composure, but it’s time we stop tiptoeing around the issue. Adults should not require polite reminders to act like, well, adults in a car line.
These are straightforward guidelines—not rocket science—and I’m beyond tired of the inconsiderate drivers making this experience miserable for everyone else.
So, let’s get real, folks. For the last time, stop being an inconsiderate jerk in school car lines. I don’t care if you’re running low on caffeine; the world isn’t asking too much of you. Just put on your listening ears, adhere to some basic rules, and at least pretend to have your act together between 7:00 and 8:00 am. That’s all we’re asking.
One hour. After that, you can revert back to your usual chaotic self, chatting on the phone and holding up lines all over town, acting like you’re the center of the universe.
Is that really the case? Do you think the world revolves around you?
I can’t fathom any other reason an adult would struggle with this simple process. My preschooler could explain it to you, and it’s as easy as 1-2-3:
- Drive up
- Drop off
- Drive away
It’s that simple.
If you need to check whether your child’s lunchbox still contains yesterday’s banana, please find a parking space. If you can’t recall if your child’s backpack has something you need to sign, grab a spot. If WWIII breaks out in your backseat on the way to school, find somewhere to park and deal with it there.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT screw this up for the rest of us.
Parenting is tough. I get it. We all have days when the ease of a car line feels out of reach, and those days are challenging. I’ve had those moments where the thought of parking, unloading everything, and walking my kids into school feels overwhelming.
But let’s be honest here. If parking and walking your kids into the building is the worst thing that happens to you today, the world will not end. However, if you choose to disrupt everyone else’s experience because you couldn’t get it together, we all know what that makes you: an inconsiderate jerk.
Yes, I said it. These rules aren’t complicated, and you’ve seen them multiple times. If, after all this, you’re still inconsiderate of others, you’re simply being selfish.
If you text and drive, you might as well wear a crown that says “Queen of the Selfish.” It’s time to cut that out.
Spoiler alert: Nobody enjoys dealing with a selfish person. If you can’t follow simple, straightforward instructions meant to make life easier and safer for everyone, please find a different way to transport your kids.
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In summary, let’s all strive to be more considerate in the car line. It takes minimal effort to follow a few straightforward rules and ensures that everyone has a smoother experience.