IS your dressing gown getting you a dressing down?

This week we told how Ayresome Primary School, in Middlesbrough, warned parents to “dress appropriately” on the school run in a Facebook post.

And one local mum lashed out at the mums and dads for scaring her children with their PJs.

Mum-of-two Uzma Khatoon, 32, told The Sun: “If parents are in their pyjamas I wouldn’t let my children be friends with their children outside of school.”

“Sometimes my children get scared of the people dressed like that.”

Ayresome's head teacher Charlotte Haylock admitted that while the "vast majority" of parents support the school's stance, there won't be any consequences for those that don't adhere to the message.

Now night-wear loving mums are hitting back at claims they are lazy.

From school gate nighties to exhausting late shifts, these mums aren’t going to take PJ bans lying down.

'I'd rather wear PJs than be seen without makeup'

Mum-of-two Helen Chapman, 43, refuses to be criticised for wearing pyjamas and even a dressing gown on the occasional school run.

Call centre operator Helen, from Stevenage, Herts, always ensures her hair and makeup is perfect and isn’t bothered what other people think if she occasionally shows up in PJs.

She said: “Almost every parent I know has worn pyjamas to drop off or pick up at some point in their life.

“It’s part of being a mum, dad or care-giver.

“When my two kids – Tim, 13 and Alfie, 16 – were in nursery and primary school I’d often find myself dropping them off wearing wellies, a night dress and an overcoat.

“Other times, I’d wear my pyjama onesie with a dressing gown on the school run.

“Ensuring the kids were ready to learn and on time is what tops my priority list.

“If that means I show up in a dressing gown to pick up or drop off I am not that bothered.

I like to use the threat of showing up at pick up in my dressing gown to ensure they clean their rooms and do their homework

“I always do my hair and makeup first thing. I’d rather wear pyjamas to school then be seen without my full face of makeup on.

“That doesn’t make me vain. It makes me feel confident enough to carry off any outfit well.

“The kids now walk to school by themselves and have banned me wearing my pyjamas as they are in high school.

“They tell me I am embarrassing.

“I like to use the threat of showing up at pick up in my dressing gown to ensure they clean their rooms and do their homework.

"I didn’t care if I got the few odd looks or people gossiped. 

“I’d never judge someone for doing it. I’d consider them real people who just like me occasionally find themselves juggling work, kids and school run chaos

"People who judge and parent shame you for occasionally donning a ‘dressing gown’ are just not worth your time.” 

"As for me a full face and nice hair can carry any outfit off including my pyjamas on the school run."

'PJs and loungewear merged into one during lockdown'

Childcare assistant Chelle Lopez, 37, regularly does the school run in her pyjamas and isn’t scared to admit there are times she wears her dressing gown.

The mum-of-two, from Wimbledon, south west London says she needs to focus on getting her five-year-old Christopher ready and looking smart for school.

She said: “I often work very late shifts. I also have problems sleeping.

“In the morning my daughter Isabella, 15, walks herself to school.

“My youngest Christopher takes longer to get ready and getting him to school on time with all his kit, a proper breakfast and home-made lunch is my major concern.

“If I work late then ensuring that children are cared for in the morning is what matters, not whether I am catwalk ready.

“In lockdown pyjamas and loungewear merged into one.

“When school started up again, I’d keep my pyjamas on, brush my hair, put on some lippy and put a coat over my nightwear to drop him to school.

“Some days I’ll still have my dressing gown on and instead of running late I’ll walk him the ten minutes to school.

“I’ve seen other parents do it and frankly we are all human.

“If I have a night shift, I’ll go back to bed and get up to collect my son from school before my husband gets home.

I’ve seen other parents do it and frankly we are all human

"I am a hard-working mum and in the busy after-school pick up no one cares what you’re wearing.

“I wash my pyjamas daily and dressing gown weekly.

“We’re all human and I’d never judge another parent for doing it.

“I’ve seen mums pick up their kids in smelly, revealing gym kit, or outfits better suited to a nightclub and I don’t judge them.

“Most of the time I wear jeans and a jacket but when I can’t my son and family love me just the same.

“It’s wrong to shame parents who occasionally wear pyjamas to school.”

'My children must look nice for school – I come last'

Widow Ann-Marie English takes her two children to Cheriton Primary School, in Kent, in her sleepwear.

She says back pain makes it difficult for to get dressed in the morning.

The 45-year-old said: “Parents are taking their kids to school and that’s the aim of the game, isn’t it?

“If the kids are at school it doesn’t matter how you get them there as long as they’re there on time.

“I suffer from quite severe back problems and I struggle to get out of bed, it’s quite challenging for me. If I’m having to help my children get dressed, the last thing I worry about is myself.

“I have four children, my nine and ten year old sometimes won’t get dressed.

“I’m not one to get up at five in the morning and make myself pristine. I don’t have a judgement against those who do, but looks don’t bother me.

“I want to make sure my children are looking nice for school, so I come last.

“I lost my children’s father at Christmas time last year and for a long time I didn’t want to get out of bed or dressed.

“Things like that can affect people. You shouldn’t judge people by what they’re wearing, people shouldn’t be so quick to judge, they don’t know their circumstances.

“It’s unjust that people can be nasty or rude about people, it’s not because they can’t be bothered to get dressed.

“To tell your child ‘don’t be friends with that person because their parent wears pyjamas to school’ is bad morals.”

'A dressing gown is just a coat by another name'

Divorced mum-of-one Alley Einstein, 48, reckons anyone who criticises a parent for wearing pyjamas or a dressing gown on the school run is guilty of mum shaming.

Single parent and journalist Alley, from Falmouth, Cornwall, says she’s proud she’s occasionally worn PJs on the school run.

She said: “Any parent who says they haven’t worn pyjamas on the school run is either too perfect or straight out fibbing.

“We’ve all done it and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

“As a single parent I don’t have a big household or relatives nearby to call if I need help, so I do it all myself.

“My daughter Stellar, 11, laughs when she sees me grabbing a dressing gown instead of a coat to cover myself up on the school run.

“I normally aim for on-trend jeans, a top and scarf.

“Sometimes I end up grabbing a dressing gown, realising I have mismatched shoes on and old pyjama bottoms.

If a parent is constantly arriving in pyjamas and a dressing gown, then maybe someone should ask them how they are rather than criticise their clothing

“I pride myself on her never being late and if it means I am wearing a scum mummy look I don’t care.

“I know people will tut tut and troll me, but I’m frankly not bothered.

“A dressing gown is just a coat by another name. If I had Gucci printed all over it the posh folks would never take it off.

“I’ve seen mums in the tightest shorts and bikini tops pick up their kids and outfits that frankly looked like lingerie.

“I’d rather be covered up than popping out.

“If a parent is constantly arriving in pyjamas and a dressing gown, then maybe someone should ask them how they are rather than criticise their clothing.”

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