Early weeks at the school gates. Standing around feeling a bit lost, anxious and unknowing. No, not the children but the mums facing the fear of the 'school run'. Forget Sex and the City, how about a series on the behavioural tactics of mums at the gates? The survival of the gates will depend on how you 'fit in' as a mum! And it's unavoidable because if you're 'lucky' enough to pick up your little darlings, then welcome to this twice a day.

Bitching, bullying, squabbling and dirty looks - and these from the mums. Why is it that the school gates can be such a place of fear? For new mums with children in reception, it's a scary time. Your little ones are off on the next phase of life and it's a massive step from the arms of nursery or a stay at home mum and it's five days a week - a full time job for children.

The school gate cliques are famous and some schools more prone to it than others. Such unfriendly, rude behaviour would be dealt with if it were coming from the classrooms or playgrounds but yet, it somehow seems acceptable for mums (and some dads) to stand around and play that game at school drop off and pick up times.

I have walked past the same mums for three years without so much as a wry smile, let alone a 'hello'. I have been looked up and down and scrutinised, ignored, and at worst have had another mum cross the road when she saw me! I've been told I look 'tired' by women who have barely passed three words my way. What have I done? I'm just an ordinary, part-time working, stressed, juggling mum trying to do her best like the rest of the mummy brigade. I may wear matching clothes, carry a handbag and never, ever be seen without mascara and lipgloss but I'm nice, really I am. And aren't we all in this together?

We have the mums in tracksuits - either on or off route to a gym or simply couldn't be bothered to dress in anything else. The 'dressed up' mum, possibly the working kind, or just prefers the reflection in the mirror when armed with a bit of makeup and some sort of 'outfit'. Or we have the ultimate yummy mummy who appears to 'have it all' in every way - whether she has or not. What about the earthy mum who frowns at the KitKat and Ribena passed to energy-starved children at bell time? Then the Governor's wife - she who must be smiled at - slyly. The rushed, late, stressed mum sneered upon by the early gate crowd. Then of course, the odd dad cleverly avoiding all gangs of women for fear of being scrutinized, flirted with or gossiped about.

What have we lost as a generation of mothers? Surely, we're all in this together. The school gate has become the next place for competitive parenting. Whether it's a private or state gate, the playground has just got political.

Top Tips to Know:

• You'll be pigeon-holed within the first few days of the school gate run
• Smile, nicely
• Don't make any comment on gossip - or it WILL come back to haunt you
• Don't pass any comment on the Headmaster or Teacher - it'll create Chinese whispers
• Stand back and observe for a while
• Get there JUST as the bell rings to save hanging around
• Don't panic if your child is omitted from party invites - it's NOT personal
• BE YOURSELF - what else are you?
• Go home, enjoy the children you so desparately wanted to meet from school and leave the rest at the gates!