Pushed for time or just lazy?

Never mind the school run, round where I live I keep seeing people walking around in dressing gown and slippers in the middle of the afternoon!

It's all about standards really, either you have them or you haven't .. clearly people who choose to go out in public in their pjs don't have any!!! It takes a couple of minutes to throw on some clothes ... no excuse.

A rather unpleasant afterthought... the fact that they're still in pyjamas suggests that they're neither washed nor showered.... after all, who climbs back into night attire after their ablutions? Also begs the question as to whether the children are washed too.. It all boils down to standards of personal hygiene, and some people are sadly lacking. What hope for their children with such an example, eh? :-)

Most of the mums on the school run near me do get dressed, even if they drive there. But on this council estate, I see so many women coming out of their houses/flats still in slippers and jimjams quite late in the day to go to the local shops, which shocks me, even though I have been known in the evening to dash down in my relaxing "onesie" (albeit covered by coat and wearing shoes), before the corner shop closes! But overall I do get dressed first thing before doing my paper round. Just the way we were dragged up in my young day!

It's the old old thing of if no one "minds" it becomes the norm. Wouldn't have done it myself on the school run (when young and a lot more beautiful than now lol!) But sad to say all standards have slipped ..still can't believe the asda shopper tho!

When I was a registered childminder years ago I was up at ungodly hours. I often pulled on track suits & jogging bottoms for the school run & day's work. It took 3 minutes to get dressed. My clothes may have even resembled pyjamas... But they weren't.
It's good that the children make it in to school at all, better a parent in pyjamas than a child unescorted or a no-show, but it should be a one - off event, if it happens.

I was always washed and dressed when I gave them breakfast, full make up too once I became a working mum. Why do people think it is alright to go shopping or to school in PJs and slippers?

Quite frankly, the images of Mothers at the school gates wearing pyjamas etc. puts me in mind of those cringingly bad taste images of "Wallmart People" in the States. Check them out if you haven't seen them... but not immediately before a meal... What happened to self-respect? And as for "role model", please don't get me started. Oh, and an afterthought... all the reaction to date refers to Mothers in night attire. I wonder what the response would be if it was Fathers at the school gates in their pyjamas...

I didn't read the article because I do not read the DM. I don't wear PJ's to bed so wouldn't dream of wearing them out

I would'nt even answer the door in pyjamas let alone go out in them!

I can j-u-s-t understand a mum wearing a onsie IF her child was old enough to walk the distance from the car to the school gate, without crossing a road. However, wearing slippers and PJs out of the car or worse walking like that to school I would have thought it embarrassing for the child. More importantly, it is sets a bad example.

I must be old fashioned; when necessary, we still drive our GS to school, normally dressed, but then we usually stop for our breakfast on our way home.

Years ago, I'd driven my DH to the airport rail station in PJ bottoms, slippers with jumper and jacket (in winter) on top, when my car also stalled, twice.

Wonder what these mums do when they get back home?

Dash around cleaning the house, shower, dress and off to work/shop or flop down in front of the TV for a well earned rest

I couldn't help laughing about the teeth either.

Well, I personally wouldn't go anywhere in my jims but I'm not sure what right the Head had to dictate to the parents what they can and can't wear outside the school gates.

Inside the gates or the school? Fair enough.

And although wearing jims in public is supposed to be a "thing", I've never actually seen anyone do it! Sheltered life, me.

Think it is very lazy and sets a bad example to children, also lack of respect to the other parents and the school.How long does it take to get ready? Get out of bed that bit earlier and get dressed. Think it tells you a lot about a person that they would go out of the house in their pj's. I never wear nightwear so it would never have been an option unless I'd have gone out nude, but I have always enjoyed clothes and make up and wouldn't go out unless I felt I looked the best I could. There is the odd exception when there is a panic on, but I would pull on jeans and a top, splash my face and comb my hair. 5 minutes top, and go.

I and many of my friends admit we often do the housework in our dressing gowns and I do potter in the garden and take a drink outside. I would not venture outside the gate.

I use to wear a sweatshirt and bottoms with trainers to take the children to school like many others. You can buy cheap, easily pulled on clothes and slip on shoes in the supermarket that look tidy and could be kept for this situation. Untidy hair, wear a hat or scarf.

I think it's really lazy, I wouldn't dream of going out in the mornings without a shower and fully dressed. When the children were small I got myself ready and one child to school one to nursery and with a baby in a pram and we walked not drove. All out of the house by 8.40 and older children had breakfast and baby fed and changed. What is the matter with these parents if they can't get organised enough to start the day properly?

that bags I do agree that occasionally some dubious decisions are made by rogue headteachers! I agree with the head who is trying to dissuade parents from regularly choosing not to get dressed before bringing children to school but not with comments made because a child wears a jumper two days running! I was never into policing clothing/uniform.. preferred to focus on the learning. Only if a child , especially if I knew them to be vulnerable, was dressed inappropriately (e.g.no socks /coat in winter/truly grimy) would I investigate a bit further to see what needed to be done. Usually finding a spare pair of socks!

They don't think they need an excuse. They're 'entitled' to dress as they like - which of course they are, strictly speaking.

How many of them then go on to work in their pyjamas?

I know a lot of people work shifts so do not start work until later, but I do feel that if mothers who go on to work from the school gate can get both themselves and their children up, dressed and sorted and into school on time, there are very few excuses for other mothers to use.

I couldn't help noticing the large 4x4 outside the house and I wonder how far away the school is.....just around the corner?

I think this is horrendous are we to assume they have not washed or showered? What example is that for the children l do hope the children are washed and fed breakfast. When my children were small I walked them to school a mile each way far too cold up north not to be dressed in several layers. ( gosh I sound really old always swore I would never say "in my day")

Should that be plane?

Been up since 0400. Brain beginning to zzzz.

There's silly and there's silly, pen. I'm often silly too but not the kind of silly that thinks there's something untoward about a child wearing an item of clothing for two days' running, nor to think as a headteacher that it is my job to notice such a thing, let alone comment on it.

That is on a completely different, and totally bizarre, plain from the pj thing.

My father in law used to go out in his pj's with his trousers over the top I had to walk my sons to school when they first started and didn't wear pyjamas back then so would never have thought of going out in nightie and slippers! I don't wear anything in bed now and put pjs on only when I get up. I usually end up putting the bin and recycling box out in my dressing gown but that's generally about 6am so no one sees me! Life seems so much more hectic for families these days but I still don't know why some mothers feel they can't get washed and dressed before doing the school run and no one should go to the supermarket in their dressing gown and slippers.

It's been a growing "fashion" over a few years, to wear "going out pyjamas" seems to be almost a badge of honour in some places.

I'm with the majority here, and the head teacher. It's lazy and set's a dreadful example for children. Setting a good example and helping children learn the value of routines is a basic part of parenting - isn't it? You get up in the morning, wash your hands and face/or get in the shower, clean your teeth, get dressed, clean underwear and socks. Have some breakfast and set off on your day.

I haven't looked at mumsnet but I can imagine their are many 'furious of folkestone' type posts.