So I was browsing Facebook and I came across a post where buses were discussed. One woman had said, "Since I'm a stay at home mom, I drive my kids to school. If you stay at home there's no reason for kids to ride the bus."
I was like:
Because guess what? I stay at home and my kids DO ride the bus.
Here are reasons why:
1. I'm not dealing with all the traffic. I am NOT a morning person. This is Texas. There are people in every damn corner.
2. I'd lose my cool if people didn't follow car line procedures. I am not friendly before I've had my caffeine so if the person in front of me wasn't following the rules, I might get out of my car, march over, and ask what the hell they thought they were doing. For everyone's safety, it's best I'm never in a car line.
3. I'm half asleep since I'm up at 6 so I wouldn't feel safe driving with all the traffic.
4. Other people piss me off. This sort of goes along with the top two reasons, but it's true: I have road rage. And people in Texas don't like to do the following: use their turn signals, give a proper distance between vehicles, wave when someone lets you in the line....
5. I just plain don't want to. The bus is there for a reason.
Now, if my kids said they were being bullied on the bus, I might consider driving them. Maybe. What I'd probably want to do is march onto the bus and remind the other kids to stop being assholes. So far the kids are okay though. I rode the bus. I was okay.
Do you drive your kids to school even though they could ride the bus?
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I'd do the bus too. Though once we get to Texas, Penny will only be in Pre-K, and the thought of sending her on a bus at that age freaks me out for some reason lol So I'll start with driving her and maybe in Kindergarten, I'll do the bus. Maybe...
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a bus but we do have a carpool. I'm still in pajamas when my kids leave for school! Same reasons as you!
ReplyDeleteI'm all about kids riding the bus if it is available to them! I think it's the perfect place for them to learn to deal with people.
ReplyDeleteI went to private school so we didn't have a bus. But man, I sort of wish they did sometimes. Haha! When my mom was working, sometimes it took FOREVER for her to pick me up.
ReplyDeleteI totally don't understand that woman's point of view? Most of the moms here that work have to drive or their kids go to daycare. Weird. Anyway, my kids ride the bus. They will unless there is a major issue. There hasn't been yet. For junior high they will walk since it is close enough.
ReplyDeleteNo one needs a reason why their kids ride a bus to school. People should, however, have a reason to be jerks and judgemental, at least a letter from God appointing them to be the school bus police.
ReplyDeleteI'm a working mom, but if I were a SAHM, I'd still make them take the bus. The school isn't around the corner from me and it's also a rite of passage. I even made them take the bus to camp even though it was on my way to work.
ReplyDeleteI work and I drive mine, but i agree with all if your reasons not too. I hate people who don't follow car pool rules. But I take mine because it lets me sleep in an extra 40 minutes and I'm already going in the direction of their school.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was a SAHM too and she made us take the bus... HAHA I loved it, more time to hang out with your friends!!
ReplyDeleteI drive my kids. It's about a 3 minute drive to their school (maybe- that's if we get stuck at the light). But it's not a road that anyone walks on and their bus stop is at the end of our road, right at the corner of a very busy road that they're actually in the process of redesigning because so many people have had accidents there. So, I wouldn't feel comfortable with them standing there waiting for the bus. And it's faster for me to drive them than to walk down there and stand with them.
ReplyDeleteI'd never dream of driving my daughter to school. The bus is a great way of teaching children independence. By saying the bus I mean the public service bus of course. School buses are rare in the UK.
ReplyDeleteIt's there for a reason! Car lines are ridiculous, mainly because, send your kids on buses, people!
ReplyDeleteThat said, I do drive Scarlet but only because I have to pass her school to get to Des' daycare and his preschool so right now, that just makes sense. She gets to come with me and enjoy her old teachers and then I drop her off since she's right on the way.
Next year when both kids are in elementary school? Bus system baby.
me n my hubby are retired we have our grandson he rides the bus we could take him but get the not a mor ning person and traffic
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. If mom stays at home and child boards the bus its totally fine and safe because at times you could be late (reasons could be many like traffic, accidents, or anything personal) if you do a pick up and drop facility. Instead of waiting that ultimately lead to worry on both side parents and children, school buses are cool.
ReplyDeleteMy kids never rode the bus. I was their high school principal, so there you go. :) They always had a ride to and from school.
ReplyDeleteMy taxes pay for that school bus so all my kids road the bus and I was a stay at home mom.
ReplyDeleteEvery parent is different and there is nothing wrong with your kids riding the bus. IF we had the choice I would probably do it too!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it is just so much easier for kids to take the bus when needed, I lived in walking distance of all my schools so bar when I broke my ankle I would walk daily.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone. But I don't have a lot of the reasons you have. We live in a small community so no traffic. I don't mind people but I HATE those who don't follow the car line rules. Pull up to the edge of the building not stop at the first step of the curb people!
ReplyDeleteUGH! I wish the bus passed in front of my house, but of course it doesn't. We live too close to the school for the bus, but too far for the kids to walk.
ReplyDeleteI drive my kids to school and deal with the dreaded traffic circle. OMG! There are days, there are days. I am happy that if I didn't want to drive them or if I wasn't able to drive them they would have a way to safely get to school.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was a sahm mom and I never had to ride the bus. My oldest daughter only had to ride it through middle school because her school was on the opposite side of town that any of us were going. She had to be at the stop by 7am (school didn't start until 8), and then she didn't get home until 4, and school got out at 2. When she moved to the high school, my husband drove her to school, because it was near his work, and since I was a WAHM mom then, I picked her up. It's your choice, and my choice. No one needs reasons. It's just what works for one and the other.
ReplyDeleteI did this for years while working, but I'll admit, when I was laid off in 2012, I stopped. Why? Because it was an extra 7 miles to school and gas prices were rising. So I drove 2 miles to the bus stop (choiced into a school. didn't go to the school feeder for my neighborhood).
ReplyDeleteIt is also far more environmentally friendly to bus if it's an option. And it keeps all those cars off the road!
ReplyDeleteWe're not at this stage yet as my oldest won't be in kindergarden until next year, but you bring up excellent points! Our elementary school a very short walk from my house doesn't have kinder so he has to go to another school. I'm definitely going to look into the bus for him since, quite frankly, I have my own s**t to do without worrying about a dropoff.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Good for you! I am RIGHT there with you on not being a morning person and my child having the typical school experience of riding the bus. IO have no guilt either.
ReplyDeleteLol I'm from NYC where all kids (when of age) commute to school on their own. This is the norm out here regardless of whether you may have a stay at home parent or not.
ReplyDeleteWhy are people so judgmental ?? You must have your own reasons about whatever you are going through... And i completely agree with what you say :)
ReplyDeleteI drive my kids to school EVERYDAY!!! Of course our school district cut bus serve out of its budget years ago and it is more than a mile walk to get there from our home. Wish my kids could take a bus to school!
ReplyDeleteI love your last one. That's totally your prerogative, and I'm so with you on not being at your best in the morning hours. It stinks!
ReplyDeleteYou live in Texas hope your safe where you are so speaking of the school bus it doesn't kiil u to make friends or even bullies on d way to skl honestly sometimes thats how they gather street smart knowledge from just doing that to our kids. so ntn is wrong
ReplyDeleteStaying at home doesn't mean you have to do everything the hard way! I don't have kids but I'll most likely be homeschooling them to skip school headaches.
ReplyDeleteRiding the bus builds character and you get to chat with your friends. Just because you are a stay at home doesn't mean drive and spend gas money. That is crazy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you with number #4 completely...lol! Texas life that is. I'm a stay at home mom too and would love to do the same, but too bad we are not qualified to have our daughter take the bus.
ReplyDeletewww.gregdemcydias.com
We live in walking distance, but if we lived farther I would totally have my son on the bus. I have to wake up my 3 year old to walk him to school so a bus would be easier, but we are so close so it doesn't make sense and we are all adapting to his first year in Kindergarten so it's working out.
ReplyDeletethere's nothing wrong with doing either one... It's up to the family and what works best for them! If the bus works then hey, do it! : )
ReplyDeleteLOL, I love your last reason. Hey, that's all the reason you need to give! I am a work at home mom, and I didn't drive my son to school. I can't deal with traffic, bad drivers, and bus lines that early in the morning either! When he started middle school right down the street, I did pick him up in the afternoon, but that was only because he really hated the afternoon bus.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids, but can imagine the stress of crazy traffic and bad drivers. My parents did a mixture of both, driving me to school and me walking to school. More often driving. It just depends on the lifestyle and preference of the family.
ReplyDeleteI have a little one on the way .. and when he reach a certain age where he feels comfortable enough to take the bus, I will let him. For the same reason, its there obviously to be used ... and I want him to learn to be independent early.
ReplyDeleteI love your post. I think too many parents drive their kids to school when they do not need to, and this cause a lot of unnecessary traffic. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love your post. in my country, parents often drive children to school. but they can ride to school when they are ten.
ReplyDeleteMy parents did not drive me to school. I took the bus, and so did my kids. I am like you. I have no patience for traffic and irresponsible drivers. So I think riding the bust would be the best option for kids.
ReplyDeleteMy parents made me ride the bus even up until high school. I feel like it gave me independence. xo, Suzanne
ReplyDeleteKnowing how school bus drivers drive and the lack of seat belts with kids scares me. I will drive mine until they're in high school probably, lol.
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