We made a big decision this week. The kids are now bus riders.
I usually drive the kids to school in our big red 12 passenger van that we lovingly call "the Beast" I wish I could get that as a personalized license plate, but I'm sure it's already taken. And probably by a car that doesn't even BEGIN to resemble anything large. Mthrshp was taken by a Caravan for goodness sake! A Caravan!!! Don't they know the WE have the original Mthrshp? People!?!
Ok, back to the story. I drive the kids to school in the Beast. We love the van, we got it on Ebay, (long story) but it's gas mileage hasn't been that great lately. It started in the 17's. That was all highway. For awhile it settled around 11, but lately it is wanting to dip into the single digits. I know. It's a silent scream for maintenance. I'm not a gear head. I'll get to it. Something to do with spark plugs and points. Hopefully the thing won't spontaneously combust while I'm making a grocery store run.
After much calculation, measuring, and such, I came to the conclusion that it is costing us about $25 a week for me to take the kids to school. $25 a week, $100 dollars a month, and $900 a year. Ok, It's totally not worth it. We pay taxes, let the school pick up that gas bill. So this morning, at 7:40, my three oldest children were waiting across the street with the rest of the neighborhood kids. They were excited, but a little nervous. I was excited and a lot nervous. What if they hear words that would require having their ears washed out with soap? What if there is a bully waiting in the back of the bus? What if Noelle sits with the neighbor girl and leaves Camryn all alone? What if, what if, what if?
But, this morning at 8:00, when we are normally running around like crazy people, trying to tie shoes and find backpacks and brush teeth, I was leisurely blowdrying my hair while Caedmon and Jack took a bubble bath. And Gemma was warm in her bed.
I hope it was a good decision.
3 comments:
way to go heth. de-stress your life a bit. When Haleigh was in K - after the first day of school, she came home mad and said "I want to be a bus people!". The teacher let the bus people line up first, and would say "LINE UP BUS PEOPLE". It was hysterical! Kids normally LIKE to be Bus People, it's grown ups that don't. :) Good choice. They'll be fine. And they'll have lots of stories for you to blog about... :)
Remember, sweets, this is only a one-week pilot test run. After that, we will commence with data gathering, analyzing metrics, and finally determining the feasibility/benefits of the kids riding the bus long-term.
I say all of that from right here in my work chair, where I nary lift a finger to get the little hooligans ready for school. So seriously, if it helps you out in the morning, helps us out in the pocketbook, and helps them feel like part of the bus people, we can let them ride till their hearts delight.
xuudaymx
We are lucky---we live close enough to walk to school.
We drive a Caravan and it can hardly be called a Mthrshp. It's more like the escpod.
By now your kiddos are home from school. I bet you asked them a zillion questions about riding the bus... :)
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