I’ve created a monster. Can I nip this in the bud?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the bus stop being that close i would call the school and absolutely insist on bus transportation, Don't take no for an answer.

That is not how it works. They have set rules and limited bussing. A lot of kids walk or bike to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:fwiw, our child, 12, walks nearly a mile to and from school every day. Only exceptions are torrential downpours and below 30 degrees. She manages fine. I WFH and either start my day around 730am or I make myself busy with household chores (laundry, water plants, choose to walk the dog) around 730am so as to thwart any potential whining or complaining. Occasionally we might make an exception but she appreciates it then -- as opposed to expects it. She has met kids in other grades this way and has devised a few routes depending on which kids are walking. Overall, she enjoys the independence. YMMV.

Why wouldn't you drive your kid?

Lazy. Sitting at home when lots of parents are taking their kids to school THEN commuting to work.

And creating more traffic and burning more fossil fuels. Way to go.

Backpacks are absurdly heavy these days with computers and all the reusable food containers. I can barely lift DD’s backpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe so many people are saying op should drive. Glad I'm not out in the 'burbs.

Great so we dont need your commentary.

Schools have drastically curtailed bus service in the last 5 years, and while it is good for kids to get exercise, this just ruins peoples days with poor weather and poor ergonomics of a heavy school load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the bus stop being that close i would call the school and absolutely insist on bus transportation, Don't take no for an answer.

That is not how it works. They have set rules and limited bussing. A lot of kids walk or bike to school.

You would be surprised how flexible rules can be when you stand your ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:most parents drive their kids to school through high school

What basis do you have for making this ridiculous generalization?

I guess “most” parents must live somewhere else. Around where I live kids walk to school or get the bus, in later elementary as well as middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s absurd for you to pick her up given the circumstances. The exercise is good for her. Pick her up or drive her only if it is dark or below thirty five degrees.

Respond to her text by saying “No. You are capable of walking, that is better for the einvironment, and I have work to do.”

I don’t get all these parents telling you to waste gas and your time to pick her up when she could walk faster!

+1000 I’m actually quite shocked by this thread and that’s saying something. Is DCUM raising a bunch of car dependent middle schoolers that can’t do a thing for themselves? They need the exercise. It’s an exercise in independence. No you don’t stop what you’re doing to go pick up Larla on a whim because her book bag is too heavy. It’s not “lazy”, it’s teaching Larla some life skills. And it’s better for the environment.

[Anonymous]

This is one of the weirdest threads I’ve ever read. We are also just inside the bus parameter so DS walks every day. I WFH but I certainly don’t have flexibility to pick him up and he walks every day (he gets a ride there each morning). I’ve picked up 5 times in two years: air quality, tornado watch?, a couple of torrential downpours.
We aren’t lazy parents - we have busy jobs. Our kid also likes the independence, as someone else above said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the weirdest threads I’ve ever read. We are also just inside the bus parameter so DS walks every day. I WFH but I certainly don’t have flexibility to pick him up and he walks every day (he gets a ride there each morning). I’ve picked up 5 times in two years: air quality, tornado watch?, a couple of torrential downpours.
We aren’t lazy parents - we have busy jobs. Our kid also likes the independence, as someone else above said.

OP doesn’t have a job. She’s just lazy or has a hang up about stoplights.

[Anonymous]

Just wait till high school
The attitude gets way worse

[Anonymous]

Most schools will allow you to pay a fee to take the bus if there are seats available. Especially since you live so close to the cut off. Can you do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s absurd for you to pick her up given the circumstances. The exercise is good for her. Pick her up or drive her only if it is dark or below thirty five degrees.

Respond to her text by saying “No. You are capable of walking, that is better for the einvironment, and I have work to do.”

I don’t get all these parents telling you to waste gas and your time to pick her up when she could walk faster!

+1000 I’m actually quite shocked by this thread and that’s saying something. Is DCUM raising a bunch of car dependent middle schoolers that can’t do a thing for themselves? They need the exercise. It’s an exercise in independence. No you don’t stop what you’re doing to go pick up Larla on a whim because her book bag is too heavy. It’s not “lazy”, it’s teaching Larla some life skills. And it’s better for the environment.

Yes!

[Anonymous]

I walked to school, but never alone.

This is how middle school girls disappear.

It isn't safe, OP

[Anonymous]

^ ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Doing less for your student is far better parenting than doing more

[Anonymous]

I kind of laughed off the "have to poop" until my kids told me how they avoid going into the bathrooms all day and don't unless they really, really have to go and can't hold it. They immediately head to the bathroom when they get home. I wouldn't outright discredit her complaint about needing the bathroom quickly after school.

I think you should agree to pickup on M/W/F or some schedule and then she knows the days she needs to walk and can be mentally prepared for walk vs ride. That will also eliminate the daily text requests to you, which are annoying.