Aussie mum asks the question we're all thinking at school pick up

"There's a crap load of parents here at 3:15..." she begins in her viral clip.

For many working mums, the school pick-up time is a logistical nightmare. 

Office jobs typically run from 9-5, making the 3:15pm school pickup a challenge.

This leaves many parents scrambling to juggle their work and their children’s schedules, which often requires negotiating flexible working hours, after-school care, or help from family and friends.

Aussie mum Kat Scholfield, known as @katsholfield6 on TikTok, recently shared her frustrations about this issue in a candid video.

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The school pick-up conundrum

In the clip, Kat asks: “What job do you have where you can pick your kids up from school at 3:15 pm?

“I’m genuinely curious. Every job I know is 9-5 or 8-4, but there is a crapload of parents picking their kids up at 3:15 at school.”

She captioned the post: “Whatever it is, I'd be keen!”

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"I pick my hours"

Kat's video quickly went viral, sparking a range of responses from parents who shared what their jobs are.

One commenter wrote, “I'm a mortgage broker admin 9:30am to 2pm. The school-hour jobs are rare but definitely out there. You have to be one of the first to apply because they come up and go very quickly.”

Another viewer said: “I can list what my school mum friends do that makes them available at pick up: Lawyer (own practice), tech start-up, two marketing managers, architect, CRT teacher, photographer, nurse and bookkeeper.”

The comments went on... “Hospital cleaner. 6am -2:30pm,” one user shared. Another replied, “Support worker. I pick my hours.”

Image: TikTok

It's all about the business

Then, some parents said it comes down to working for businesses that offer flexibility.

“Don’t work for a company that isn’t flexible. Set a standard now” was one comment.

“It's not the job it's the employer. I work hybrid,” one person echoed.

“Work from home, duck out to pick up kids, go home and back to work,” another mum advised.

And for those in childcare, early shifts can be a solution: “Childcare open shift, 6:30am to 2:30pm.”

Despite the varied responses, the struggle was still real for a lot of parents who agreed with Kat.

“The amount of parents able to drop off and pick up absolutely astounds me!" said this mum. "Yeah it’s hard. I’m a nurse, and it’s not school-friendly ."

Originally published as Aussie mum asks the question we're all thinking at school pick up