This blog was written by my co-editor Cheryl Clemens:

Sometimes the behavior I witness in the morning carpool drop-off line at my daughter’s school is unbelievably frustrating.

Drop off is a perfect example of an exercise that all parents must engage in cooperatively to make sure all our kids get to school safely and on time.

Having said this, it galls me when, every day, I witness parent after parent who seem to have no clue that dozens — yes, dozens — of cars are backed up in line behind them. They take excessive amounts of time getting everyone out of the car, they chat with adults in the traffic circle, they rearrange the contents of their car — all while other parents are patiently waiting in line.

So here are my suggestions for carpool parents. If you agree or disagree, please let me know. Or if you can think of something I’ve forgotten, please let me know and I’ll add it in.

Really, carpool drop-off rage is no way to start a day.

1. If your child is in fourth or fifth grade, and I’m being generous here, he or she should be old enough to open the car door, get out and close the door again. Is it really necessary every morning to get out, open your child’s door so he or she can get out and then close it again?

2. Try to be aware that there is a whole line of cars backed up behind you, so once your child is out of the car, please refrain from:
• Pulling down your visor and touching up your makeup before you pull away.
• Digging though your purse for your cell phone.
• Stretching before you get back into your car and leisurely taking off your coat.

Please just pull away from the school and take care of such things when you are out of everyone’s way.

3. Please do not have a conversation with the staff members on carpool duty that morning. They are trying to get hundreds of kids out of cars safely. If you need to discuss something, park in the lot and go inside or e-mail them later in the day.

4. When the group of cars in the circle in front of the school pulls away and it’s time for the next set of cars, please pull all the way up behind the car in front of you. I know everyone wants to be able to drop their child off right at the front door, but it’s not going to hurt your child to walk that extra 20 or 40 steps to get in line. When you don’t pull all the way up, instead of seven or eight cars, only three fit in the circle, which slows down the process for all of us. (Hint: Those teachers frantically waving their arms are motioning to you to pull up farther. They aren’t just waving at you.)