Preschool drop-off is unlike regular school drop-off. We don’t get to pull up and let them out at the curb or send them on a bus. For our preschool, we have to park our car, walk them into the building, scan them in, walk them to their class, sign them in and leave. Same goes for pick up.
(PS. if you’re mornings are as crazy and chaotic as mine, you’ve gotta check out Make Over Your Mornings.)
It’s been nine short months since my first preschool drop-off and in doing this routine three days a week I’ve gotten to stitch together bits and pieces of the other mom’s lives. Although I can only barely scratch the surface of who they are individually, I can quickly group them into my list of mom categories.
The 5 Types of Moms You See at Preschool Drop-Off
1. Perfectly Perfect SAHM. It’s 8:15am and not only is her little girl dressed in an adorable, unwrinkled outfit complete with combed hair and a bow, she is as well. She is dressed in real clothes, her hair has clearly been blow dried and she is wearing makeup. And a smile. And do you know what else? She’s pushing a double stroller with twins in it.
2. Frantic SAHM. She walks into school in pajamas holding the hand of a little boy with a bad case of bed head. He threw a fit when she tried to brush his hair that morning and then threw another one on the walk from the car to the front door. She doesn’t understand how Perfectly Perfect SAHM does it and secretly hates her.
3. Working Mom. She’s got herself pulled together just enough so that she is compliant with the business casual standards at the office. And no one ever said you have to brush your hair. Her little one ate breakfast in the car and she forgot to put extra pants in his backpack. She’s got a big mug of coffee and a long to-do list.
4. Sporty Mom. She is invariably on her way to the gym. Each time you see her she is in a Champion tank top, sneakers and those weird spandex capri pant things. You wonder if she really goes to the gym at all or just wears the clothes because they’re comfy.
5. Dad. Yes, dads take care of preschool drop-off, too. It’s a ratio of probably 15:1 but that’s OK. He is surprisingly punctual and appears care-free. I never see a dad dealing with a fit-thrower. Coincidence?
I joke, but here is the awesome thing about people and especially about motherhood… Each of these broad characterizations I have made have nothing to do with their ability and their love for their children. One mom may bake while another one fishes and both of them are their child’s perfect mother.
All “types” of parents are awesome parents.
Funny Books For Moms
Scary Mommy | Moms Who Drink And Swear | Raising the Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation | I Heart My Little A-Holes
More Good Stuff
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Beth Anne says
My mom was totally #2 and I remember her talking about #1 all the time! HAHA
Liz says
That’s so funny! I wish I was a #1. 🙂
Alicia says
I’m definitely #2, but with #1’s kid. I’m in PJs rushing in with undeniable bedhead, but my girl is always done up complete with bow. Can I be considered #1 1/2? Haha 🙂
Novie says
I am also a “1 & 1/2” I usually look like I just got out of bed but my daughter is always dressed well and hair done with bow!
Noel Victor Comley says
Thank you from a ‘Mr Mum.” for including dads.My youngest is now nearly 19 but I can still remember the days of child care, kinder and school drop offs,
Inese says
You are absolutely right about dads. Didn’t think about it before. I just wondering – how do they do it????
Laura says
Mums get the children fed and dressed before they leave the house! Haha
Topher says
Not in my case. “Mum” is at work way before my son wakes up.
Suzanne says
You all need to come to Sweden then… dads drop off almost as much as the moms… and the children throw just as many fits with them… sometimes more… depends on the day, on the dad, on the children… well pretty much the same rules applies as the moms…
Toher says
My wife works 90+ hours and we have a 3 year old. I handle everything around the house from cooking, laundry, bath time, etc. What I think it is, is that I don’t react to the fit throwing. It NEVER works with me, so my son gave up. He still throws the occasional fit when he’s tired, but it NEVER gets him what he wants. If he throws a fit I will put him in the truck and take him home without hesistation or reacting. I calmly tell him his behavior is unacceptable and his play time (or whatever he’s wanting) is done. Of course, every kid is different and what works for one may not work for another.
Amanda says
My husband drops off at pre-school but I get my daughter dressed, fed, etc., he just takes her there and picks up.
Aaron says
We do it the same way moms do it. 🙂
Inese says
And also… I am mum nr 3. 🙂
Kristy @ Chocolate Slopes says
This blog is SPOT ON! I’m in my 2nd year of preschool drop-offs and its so true. I fall into the sporty mom I guess, while wearing yoga pants to drop off, planning on going for a run with my younger two, which sometimes happens and sometimes doesn’t 🙂
mary says
I worked as a 2 year OLD TEACHER AND I APPLAUD THESE PARENTS FOR GETTING THEIR CHILDREN THERE FOR BREAKFAST AND NOT DROPPING AND RUNNING. STAYJUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THE CHILDREN ARE READY TO SETTLE IN FOR THE DAY. I LOVE WHERE PARENTS ARE ABLE TO COME AND GO ALL DAY WHEN THEY CAN. CHILDREN ARE VERY SPECIAL AND THEIR PARENTS FOR THE MOST PART ARE DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN. LOVED MY JOB DEARLY.
sus says
I rarely get to drop off or pickup my child my mother in law does it!
Mike says
I’m a dad of 3 young boys. I handle the preschool drop-offs each morning on my way to work and definitely see these categories of parents. At our preschool, though, the dad to mom ratio is probably more like 1 dad to every 4 moms (as opposed to 1 per 15 as in the post above). You are right though, the dads do seem to be a little more carefree for some reason.
As for never seeing a dad with a fit-thrower, I’ll admit that our first boy was a terrible fit-thrower when it came to preschool drop-offs (he’s now in kindergarten and doing great!). It was very embarrassing. I think the teachers took pity on me because I was a dad and they were great about taking special care to calm him down and letting me get out the door. My two younger boys are easy as pie and drop-offs are a breeze with them – so in my experience, the fit-thrower thing is definitely kid specific and not necessarily parent specific!
Chantelle says
My mom and now me as a mom 99% of the times NR 4. Go to gym at 5am, drop of kids at 7 / 7h30. I’m a work at home mom 🙂
Chantelle says
FYI … not wearing weird Spandex lol and definitely and work-out very hard. So I don’t look so good when dropping of kids hehe
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jill says
This is too funny!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Amy says
This is so true at our preschool. My daughter’s best friend is a boy, but his mom is absolutely mom number 1, who just had another baby 2 weeks ago, and I am mom number 2 – or 4, depending on my work schedules (work 2 jobs with varying hours).
tahoegrandma says
And you all DO KNOW that the little girl with the perfect bow/braids/pigtails, etc.in her hair USUALLY pulls it out about 5 mins. are her parent leaves, right??
momoftwins says
As a mom of twins and a singleton, I can tell you that the #1 is smiling because she’s dropping off the kiddos and gets a break. ☺ And her kids probably sleep in their clothes so she doesn’t have to dress them. (Wrinkle release works!).
Workmom#3 says
That is too funny! I’ve totally figured that little trick out of having them sleep in their cloths. My son used to have fits about getting ready in the morning so instead of fighting to get him dressed I put clean cloths on him before bed and that saved at least one morning fit. LOL. Luckily he grew out of it and now can wear PJs again. (I noticed this usually happened when he fought going to sleep and didn’t get enough rest, and being 3 yrs. old).
Micah Graves says
this made my day and is 100% perfect. I am working mom and I think i forget something daily!! so glad i am not the only one!!!
julz says
Im a working mom who has a 3 a half year old daughter who has mixed days and curls. I dont hate or envy anyone. Im a single mom. I do my best. I give props to all the moms
EDD 2006 says
This brought a smile to my face. THANK YOU. Now I’m convinced it’s not just me.
Mary Ellen says
As a longtime preschool teacher – trust me, I have seen many a dad with a fit-thrower who is screaming, “But mom always says/does……this way!”
Fun list.
vickie says
you forgot to add grandmothers and I think I am a 1 and 1/2 also with my granddaughter and 3 grandsons all set and ready and grandma hardly able to get dressed some mornings…lol
sherry says
Wonder if dad’s seem more carefree at drop off because they don’t have the same insecurities as mom’s and the same pressures. You have the number 2 mom worried about number 1 mom judging her and and putting herself down for not being number 1 mom or even the sporty mom. If child tantrums or doesn’t look right mom feels judged and inadequate.
Dad’s just go drop off and are done. Dad’s usually don’t care what the other mom’s think so when child tantrums they respond more logically, if child hair isn’t perfect the other mom’s won’t say anything because dad was in charge. It’s different standards.
Teri says
I was blessed to be a K3 teacher at the same kindergarten my children went to, so I saw all of these types at drop off. I was definitely #3 and saw plenty of 1 1/2 s. Always thought #1s must’ve had some kind of help or some kind of super power lol
Amanda says
I’m the working mom and you better believe I have a huge cup of coffee!!! Something I never wanted to do was feed my child in the car and it probably happens three times a week (ps we secretly hate perfectly perfect SAHM too heheh)
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Jelly says
Bahaha! I had to laugh at this, (obviously from my first word!) I just started taking my oldest to “stepping into preschool,” a class offered by ECFE. I most definitely see all of these moms and of course dads! I would have to say my kids (usually) look like #1 mom’s kid, however, I look like #2 mom! I’m so busy in the am, I usually forget to put makeup on and I literally throw whatever clothes are in the clean clothes basket on! I get delighted when I see other sahm’s looking the same as me! I like my sleep too much to get up before my children and get myself all perfect, yes, sorry, selfish of myself!
Sammi says
Uh oh, I am now wondering which mom I am….I fall into a few categories depending on the morning. I want to say I will miss the days of dropping off and picking up preschoolers, but I am not sure I will. I love the days when I can drop off just the grade schooler in my pajamas and no one is any of the wiser 😉 Such a great post! I will definitely be sharing this on our FB page!
Liz Nieman says
Thanks!! 🙂
Christine Gallagher says
I am probably a little bit of each of these depending on what day it is lol
Thanks for sharing
Herchel S says
hey! What do you have against “sporty mom?” I am usually frantic mom in the mornings and sporty mom at pick up! I either go to the gym before I get them or after 🙂
Liz Nieman says
I have nothing against sporty mom! Promise. 🙂
Rose says
I’m a pre school teacher and I see lots of the above plus other types. I try not roll my eyes when some parents leave and just concentrate on the yummy children.
SAHM says
What’s the yummy children?
Adrienne says
Hey, I am Sporty Mom, and I really am going to the gym, it’s my only chance when they are in school! 😉
Tiffany says
Forgot the work from home mom. She’s the cross between sporty and working mom. Typically seen with baggy lounge or yoga pants, a headband or pony and no makeup. Lady who is also seen at times picking up kid while listening to a conference call.
Shaun says
I would like to know what the Dad dropping the kids off with little fussing finished with a coincidence comment actually means? Can someone clarify please? Maybe the OP?
I can take this in a couple ways…some are a “hit” to moms while the other is to dads. Being a Dad that drops off AND picks up every day, I would like to know.
SAHM says
I’m neither of the SAHMs. I don’t hate any mom or dad. It’s sad that we are put in a box this way.
Stacey says
My husband does drop off and he is late pretty much every time and he rarely combs our son’s hair in the morning. On the rare mornings he cannot do drop off I am a cross between frantic mom and working mom. Hair typically in a pony and wearing jeans because my office is casual. Life is fun and always interesting.
Kelly says
Were in our second year of school and we must take our children in to class and there are the same types of mums just more all their little groups. Reminds me of high school.
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