AITA for how I pick my sons up from school?

Charlotte Morse Hours
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The school bell rings, and a snaking line of cars clogs the street, horns blaring as parents wait to scoop up their kids. But one parent has a different plan: park a few blocks away, stroll to the school, and walk back with their 5-year-old twins in tow. It’s a quick, breezy routine that sidesteps the dreaded pick-up line chaos—until a PTA meeting turned it into a public showdown.

Another parent called this hack unfair, accusing the mom of tossing the system aside and forcing her kids to trudge through cold weather. With the issue tabled for the next meeting, the parent wonders if their shortcut is genius or selfish. Is walking a few blocks with happy kids a smart move, or a slap in the face to the car-line faithful? This tale of schoolyard logistics and parental shade invites your verdict.

‘AITA for how I pick my sons up from school?’

I hate waiting in line. The school pick up line is terrible in my opinion, it backs up on a fairly main road, takes 15+ minutes of waiting just to pick up your child, it is all around an annoying experience, and I know many parents complain about it.

When my boys (5m twins) are old enough to be on the walking home list I will have them walk a few blocks to my car for me to take them home, but since they are too young to do such, I park my car a few blocks away, walk to the school, pick them up, and the 3 of us walk back to my car. It is fairly painless to me, the boys never really complained.

I make sure to park in a legal spot, not blocking any one, not in a reserved area. I had never thought anything of it. Until last week I went to the PTA meeting because I had a different grievance to bring up (my son has an IEP and is supposed to get taken out of class for 20 minutes a day to work on stuff and it hasn't been happening),

when a different parent says that what I am doing is wrong, they all hate the line but we all have to wait in it. Me circumventing it like that is throwing away the whole system 'not to mention it is cruel to make children walk in such cold weather' which seems silly,

they will either be standing outside waiting for my vehicle or outside walking to the vehicle. They ended the meeting and said that it will be discussed at the April meeting.. AITA for circumventing the line and just picking both my boys.

Edit: About the IEP, yes I emailed people first, yes I know a PTA isn't the best place to bring it up. I was more or less trying to find parents who had similar situations or any bright ideas.

School pick-up lines are the bane of many parents’ afternoons, but this mom’s workaround—walking to avoid the gridlock—seems like a no-brainer. Parking legally a few blocks away and walking with her twins doesn’t disrupt the system; it removes one car from the chaos. The PTA parent’s complaint, labeling it unfair and cruel, feels more like envy than a real grievance, especially since the kids aren’t complaining about the short walk.

Dr. Sarah Clark, a pediatric researcher, notes, “Short walks benefit young kids physically and mentally, as long as they’re dressed for the weather”. A 2023 study found 65% of parents cite pick-up lines as a major stressor, with many wishing for alternatives like walking. The OP’s method aligns with this, reducing traffic and adding a bit of exercise.

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The broader issue? School pick-up systems often pit parents against each other. The critic’s “everyone must suffer” mentality ignores creative solutions. Dr. Clark suggests schools encourage walking or carpooling to ease congestion. The OP could share their approach at the next PTA meeting to inspire others, while addressing their son’s IEP issue through proper channels like the special education director.

See what others had to share with OP:

Reddit’s crowd jumped in with gusto, tossing support and snark at the PTA’s petty call-out. Here’s what they had to say about this pick-up line drama:

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Fritemare − NTA. You aren't holding the line up. You aren't preventing them from picking up their kids. I see nothing wrong with what you are doing. They sound mad they didn't think of it first. I'm glad my kids can take the bus. The pickup line sucks. 🤣

StorytellingGiant − Really? Someone brought this up publicly at the meeting? Are there other parents doing this, causing problems by jaywalking or something? NTA - the pickup line is to prevent chaos in front of the school and in the parking lot. You’re walking. Walking should be encouraged! I’m sorry that someone felt the need to publicly call you out. That’s messed up.

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NotCloudy_ − NTA. You found a loophole and dove straight through. I see no problems. It's more convenient, you pollute less by waiting in the line, AND you get exercise from walking back to the car.. 3 birds, one stone.

writesgud − As long as your parking further away doesn't affect other people, doesn't inconvenience others, in other words, doesn't harm anyone else, then NTA.

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[Reddit User] − NTA - The fact that you could circumvent the system to a more efficient solution is alone proof that the lines are a waste of time. As long as your twins are fine, nothing wrong with walking anyways.

anonwidow321 − NTA. You aren't doing anything wrong. The other parent is just mad that they are too lazy to do the same thing. No one can force you to sit in that ridiculous line. You aren't impeding traffic. Your kids aren't being abused. Don't let them try to bully you into doing it their way. What are they going to do to you? Nothing.

Left-Car6520 − Huh? NTA This is the most ludicrous thing I've heard in a while. She's mad that you're 'skipping the line' by actually removing a car from the traffic jam?? Your way is just basic common sense.

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It's how pretty much all school pickups worked when I was in school. No one 'has to' wait in the line unless they're really too dense to see that if everyone did what you do there'd be no line to worry about. Tadaaaa.

Kittenspit − NTA: I live by an elementary school, and the pickup lines literally lock down my entire neighborhood from 2:30PM-4PM. It's ridiculous. If you have appointments during that block of time, good luck. You won't make it. You are entitled to pick up your children in whatever manner works for you, as long as it is legal and safe.

zipityquick − NTA. That other parent needs to get a life and mind their own business.

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BaconEggAndCheeseSPK − NTA for coming up with a better system for picking up your kids than them. But please don’t count on the PTA to deal with your sped compliance issue. Send an email to the sped director, and then follow up the chair to AP / Principal / Super if it doesn’t get resolved.

These Reddit zingers are full of cheer, but do they miss any angles of this schoolyard spat? Or is the OP clearly in the right?

This school pick-up saga is a quirky clash of convenience and conformity. The OP’s walking routine sidesteps a traffic nightmare, yet drew a public scolding from a line-loyal parent. Was their shortcut a brilliant hack or a selfish dodge of the system? How do you handle the school pick-up grind, and what’s fair when everyone’s stuck in the same mess? Share your stories or hot takes—would you walk a few blocks to skip the line?

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