Did you drive you Middle Schooler in to school today?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to gauge my standards here. My kids 12, 13 and 14 walked in today. We live @½ a mile from school (Deal). I wahm and had no other reason to be driving in except to take them. My DS called from a coffee shop saying "mom, our shoes and pants are wet, please come pick us up!!!" This after I told him to wear boots and he refused and he fought me about putting a plastic bag over his books in his back pack and my DD grumbled that her raincoat was "too BIG". When he called from a coffee shop, I told him no--he kept persisting and I finally told him I was hanging up and did. He called back and I told him Truant Officers would pick him up if he didn't get his butt into school and then hung up. The back drop of all this is him arguing with every measure I told him to take to stay dry. They left at 7:45 the whole walk usually takes 20 minutes--they had called me on their little iPhones at 8:15.

Was I too harsh?

[Anonymous]

You work at home, it's pouring rain outside, and you can't just take a few minutes to drive your kids to school? I don't understand why you wouldn't drive them.

[Anonymous]

20 mins walk in torrential rain? Yes I would have taken 10 mins out of my day to drive them.

[Anonymous]

I never understand parents like you. And no one ever accused me of coddling my kids.

[Anonymous]

I would drive them too. The question is winning the battle but losing the war. The resentment you are building is not good in my opinion. This is an Opportunity where you can deal with "I told you so" and "don't do it again" but I love you and will help you out this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understand parents like you. And no one ever accused me of coddling my kids.

I agree. I'm not a coddler either but it is awful out and you stayed home?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like your response was a bit harsh, I'm not sure why you were so pissed having to leave 30 minutes to pick them up. I think its fine they chose to walk but it probably would have been more constructive to reinforce the need for boots and a coat in the first place. I'd rather say "see I told you so" instead of "don't bother calling me when you need something".

[Anonymous]

i am with you, dress for the weather and you will be fine. How many of you had your parnets drive you to the metro today?

if they are smart enough to go inside a coffeee shop and call home they are smart enough to know how to dress for the weather and get to school on time.

[Anonymous]

Either decision was fine, but once you said they had to walk and advised them how to keep dry, good for you for sticking to your guns. They don't get to argue, ignore advise, then get bailed out.

[Anonymous]

I understand where you are going here with your tough love, and I do this myself (against the sea tide of Making Life Special and Sweet At All Times for the kids here in Ward 3).

I also live 1/2 mile from Deal and I would have driven my almost middle schooler today as a favor. Just as I would've driven my husband to the metro station at friendship heights as a one-off favor. Neither one will EVER get the rickshaw treatment from me -- I hate all the wussy, soft males in my zip code -- but once in a deluge is a nice gesture.

[Anonymous]

Same here. Not a coddler at all and my kids value their independence but my high schooler who gets herself all over the city for various activities, came to me and asked very sweetly for a ride. I took her and the kid that she always takes the bus with plus my middle schooler and her bus buddy too. Everyone was very appreciative (and dry).

I work part time with a very flexible schedule...exactly for moments like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am with you, dress for the weather and you will be fine. How many of you had your parnets drive you to the metro today?

if they are smart enough to go inside a coffeee shop and call home they are smart enough to know how to dress for the weather and get to school on time.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand where you are going here with your tough love, and I do this myself (against the sea tide of Making Life Special and Sweet At All Times for the kids here in Ward 3).

I also live 1/2 mile from Deal and I would have driven my almost middle schooler today as a favor. Just as I would've driven my husband to the metro station at friendship heights as a one-off favor. Neither one will EVER get the rickshaw treatment from me -- I hate all the wussy, soft males in my zip code -- but once in a deluge is a nice gesture.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I drive her every day.

My DH drove our younger kid to school even though she usually takes the bus. It was a deluge and I don't care how well you dress, unless you have rain pants (and I certainly don't own any) your pants will get soaked. Nothing worse than wet jeans all day!

[Anonymous]

OP, have you been outside this morning?

I wouldn't want my kids walking for their own safety -- driver visibility is zero added to the typical careless distracted drivers.