Did a test run for my commute to my IB...

[Anonymous]

Also consider that if you head to somewhere in NE from Takoma/Riggs Park etc, it can make the commute much easier than if you head West.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why we bike most mornings, unless it’s rainy or very cold. Much nicer commute.

for 1 congested mi, that would be the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about walking if it's just a mile. In a stroller, you'd be there in 20min and it would be nicer than the car.

I have to drop my baby off at daycare in the opposite direction, so walking is not a real possibility.

How long will you have this arrangement? Most parents with one in daycare and one or more in school have a couple horrible logistics years. I would pick the better school, especially if it's your IB school. You and your kids will meet neighborhood friends and play dates, volunteering, etc. will be so much easier. It gets much better once the kids are in elementary together, then when the oldest can take public transportation to middle school.

Could you start your day earlier to avoid the traffic? Drive baby to daycare before the traffic gets too bad, then walk your older child in a stroller to preschool? If it's only 1 mile each way then you could do this as your daily exercise. You'll be in great shape by December

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about walking if it's just a mile. In a stroller, you'd be there in 20min and it would be nicer than the car.

I have to drop my baby off at daycare in the opposite direction, so walking is not a real possibility.

How long will you have this arrangement? Most parents with one in daycare and one or more in school have a couple horrible logistics years. I would pick the better school, especially if it's your IB school. You and your kids will meet neighborhood friends and play dates, volunteering, etc. will be so much easier. It gets much better once the kids are in elementary together, then when the oldest can take public transportation to middle school.

Could you start your day earlier to avoid the traffic? Drive baby to daycare before the traffic gets too bad, then walk your older child in a stroller to preschool? If it's only 1 mile each way then you could do this as your daily exercise. You'll be in great shape by December

I live in Fort Lincoln near the major roads I to DC (South Dakota, Bladensburg Road, New York Ave), so I'm not sure there is a time when traffic is not bad (around 4am I guess). ?

I did the opposite commute today (daycare to IB) and it was kind of sucky, too. I think my best bet is to lottery for a school closer to the daycare and try for my IB next year when both kids will be in PreK. I'd rather have to go out of my way on weekends for play dates rather than deal with the stress traffic trying to get a 3-year old to school on time every day.

[Anonymous]

Or if you don't get into a place you're thrilled with, leave your kid in day care another year! Your kid won't be behind, you won't have to worry as much about summers and school breaks, and next year you can apply with two kids, which ups your odds of getting in someplace. Yes, it's expensive. But your time and reducing family stress have value too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or if you don't get into a place you're thrilled with, leave your kid in day care another year! Your kid won't be behind, you won't have to worry as much about summers and school breaks, and next year you can apply with two kids, which ups your odds of getting in someplace. Yes, it's expensive. But your time and reducing family stress have value too.

This makes sense.

Too many parents did not test the commute to our school and then are upset about how long it takes to get through traffic and then park (several blocks away) to walk their preschoolers to their classrooms. Whatever you think the commute will be, multiply it by 3 or 4. And/or buy bikes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - because of the commute, I now have to consider schools that I'm not thrilled about (Perry Street, Shining Stars) but are convenient. Luckily, it's only for PreK3.

Perry Street only admits Maryland residents.

Hahahaha so true

[Anonymous]

I can totally commiserate, this is my life everyday. Drop off baby at daycare (insert 15 minute ordeal getting older kid in and out of car and into daycare with me), drive 10 minutes in the wrong direction to PK3 at a charter,walk him in... then drive downtown to work. 1hr and 15 minutes door to door ..... not to mention that we added a 2nd car to the family and the added expensive of parking downtown. I mapped out our IB and it didn't shave off much time (if any)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:..and it took 20 minutes to drive 1 mile! Now I need to reorder my list. Parents, don't underestimate DC traffic - rush hour is a BEAST - especially if you have to go anywhere near NY Avenue.

"my IB"

.... your child's, actually

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..and it took 20 minutes to drive 1 mile! Now I need to reorder my list. Parents, don't underestimate DC traffic - rush hour is a BEAST - especially if you have to go anywhere near NY Avenue.

"my IB"

.... your child's, actually

I don't believe the child's name is on the deed, asshat. Every property has an in-boundary school associated with it. We had an in-boundary school before we had kids and will have one after they have moved out. Try to keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - because of the commute, I now have to consider schools that I'm not thrilled about (Perry Street, Shining Stars) but are convenient. Luckily, it's only for PreK3.

Perry Street only admits Maryland residents.

Hahahaha so true

So need to use a fake SE address instead of my legit DC address?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can totally commiserate, this is my life everyday. Drop off baby at daycare (insert 15 minute ordeal getting older kid in and out of car and into daycare with me), drive 10 minutes in the wrong direction to PK3 at a charter,walk him in... then drive downtown to work. 1hr and 15 minutes door to door ..... not to mention that we added a 2nd car to the family and the added expensive of parking downtown. I mapped out our IB and it didn't shave off much time (if any)

You probably would have been better off just paying for daycare another year! Car payment + insurance + gas + parking must be thousands of dollars. And it sounds like it's at least an extra hour of your time a day--if your time is worth $20/hr, that's $3600 for the whole school year. And you still have to figure out child care for the summer and all the breaks. If the charter is amazing I could see it since PK3 is the best chance of getting in, but that sounds horrible. Curious--did you consider switching to a nanny share? would that have enabled you to avoid the second car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:..and it took 20 minutes to drive 1 mile! Now I need to reorder my list. Parents, don't underestimate DC traffic - rush hour is a BEAST - especially if you have to go anywhere near NY Avenue.

Is your IB Langdon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..and it took 20 minutes to drive 1 mile! Now I need to reorder my list. Parents, don't underestimate DC traffic - rush hour is a BEAST - especially if you have to go anywhere near NY Avenue.

Is your IB Langdon?

Yes. I tried the Bladensburg to Queens Chapel route and that was a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..and it took 20 minutes to drive 1 mile! Now I need to reorder my list. Parents, don't underestimate DC traffic - rush hour is a BEAST - especially if you have to go anywhere near NY Avenue.

Is your IB Langdon?

Yes. I tried the Bladensburg to Queens Chapel route and that was a mess.

Yea, don't do that. The bus depot makes everything a mess. Franklin to 20th