Commuting to preschool?

[Anonymous]

We fell in love with a preschool that is not close to our house. We could drop our DS off in the mornings, no problem, but someone (a nanny or babysitter) would have to get him when the school day ends in the early afternoon. This would require a short Metro ride and a 15 minute walk (or a Metrobus) and then she'd have to take our son back to the Metro (or get on the bus). Is this crazy? Do most people do something closer to home?

[Anonymous]

You could also hire a nanny who drives. Most moms prefer to provide their car if they can but you can also hire a nanny wo can use her car. If you do this you will need to cover mileage reimbursement and prpobably put in/take our the car seats at least once a week.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We actually have a nanny that we (and our son) love but she doesn't drive. She's in the process of getting her license but I think I'd be too nervous to have her drive him around with so little experience!

[Anonymous]

this is doable. you have to guage the nanny's comfort level. will she have a baby with her too?

for the walking part, nanny will definitely need a stroller. also, what metro line and will it be during rush hour? i'd think twice about stroller on metro during rush for orange or red line.

[Anonymous]

Think through the afternoon "commute" in terms of timing. How old is your DS? Does he still nap? Will he have lunch at school or at home? What will happen on rainy or snowy days?

We ended up at a preschool that was far away from our house and not metro accessible at all. Our non-driving nanny theoretically could have taken the bus to pick him up, but the timing was terrible and the journey would have taken forever -- all while DS needed to get home for lunch and a nap. We ended up hiring someone to bring him home for a few weeks before I went out on maternity leave and later got a different nanny who drives. (It was tough to find someone to do that pickup, too.)

[Anonymous]

Our son is in daycare but we looked for something close to home. It was either close to home or work, and we chose home. I didn't want my son in the car so much. We live in Annandale and commute to Bethesda. My husband and I also carpool together so we needed something where we could drop our son off and pick him up at a reasonable time. I'm currently looking for preK for my son for next year and a big factor will be location. Our daughter will stay where she's at but my son will go to someplace different. It has to be close to home. I've heard of people looking on Craigslist for help in situations like yours, to help pick up the kids. The other thing I'd suggest is an alternative work schedule if you can swing it.

[Anonymous]

What timing would you need for someone to do the pickup? Possibly you can get a college student to help

[Anonymous]

We did a preschool last year that was close to home, but then we moved. We stayed in the preschool anyway, driving 50 miles each day for drop off in the morning and pick up at noon. It was crazy. This year, we moved to a closer preschool. How long would you be using the preschool, think ahead about how many years this would be going on and how many cumulative trips it would be. I'm glad we decided to switch to something closer. Our other consideration was our little one was being carted around all morning like a sack of potatoes in the car when she should have been at home playing.

[Anonymous]

Another thing to consider is playdates. I love that our kids go to preschool close by and that their friends all live in the neighborhood. My kids are exhausted at the end of their morning and I can not imagine them then having to commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We fell in love with a preschool that is not close to our house. We could drop our DS off in the mornings, no problem, but someone (a nanny or babysitter) would have to get him when the school day ends in the early afternoon. This would require a short Metro ride and a 15 minute walk (or a Metrobus) and then she'd have to take our son back to the Metro (or get on the bus). Is this crazy? Do most people do something closer to home?

I actually do think this is crazy. A Metro ride and a 15-minute walk for the nanny both ways (to get there and get home) and for your son one way, after he has had a very full morning already seems like a lot. Also, initially it will be 2x week (when he's 2), then 3x week (at 3), and then, when he is in the 4s/5s, it will be 5x per week (if this school is like most preschools I know of). I totally understand what it's like to fall in love with a preschool, but I think this might be rather taxing on your nanny and son both. Being close to preschool can be very helpful, though of course it is not everything. But what if there is a problem and you need to pick up DS quickly? The nanny is beholden to the bus schedule; would you be able to get there faster than she? Food for thought.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I think there are good preschools out there closer to your home. good luck.

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone else in your preschool that lives close to you? Maybe your nanny could pick him up at someone else's house that is easy to get to. This requires their having a second carseat, of course.

[Anonymous]

I still think you need a preschool close to home.

[Anonymous]

Preschools are good everywhere, but when you find one you like, it is often worth the effort. It is for your child....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We fell in love with a preschool that is not close to our house. We could drop our DS off in the mornings, no problem, but someone (a nanny or babysitter) would have to get him when the school day ends in the early afternoon. This would require a short Metro ride and a 15 minute walk (or a Metrobus) and then she'd have to take our son back to the Metro (or get on the bus). Is this crazy? Do most people do something closer to home?