My Kid Is A Bus Rider

My kid is a bus rider. <Enter collective *GASP!* here> But wait guys, it gets better. My kid rides the bus AND I’m a stay at home mom! <Enter eye rolls and “what does she do all day?” murmurings> I could squeeze in taking my kiddo to and from school each day but my schedule is full of things I’d much rather be doing than sitting in the rage-inducing car line. Speaking of which, lets just take a moment and SLOW. CLAP. for all the teachers and administrative staff working the parking lots. I was a teacher in my pre-mom life and I was PETRIFIED of car line duty. So thank you, thank you for keeping the students safe during those perilous times.

Yes, my child rides the bus even though I am fully capable of driving and picking him up. There are some caveats:

1. My child is an early riser. If he had to be dragged out of bed and we fought every morning because it was SO early, I would think about giving him the extra 10-15 minutes of sleep he could get with being a car rider.
2. My kiddo LOVES the bus. He has always wanted to ride the bus and enjoys his friends and time on the bus. Similar to #2, if the bus was causing fights or tears or fear or nerves, we would definitely reconsider.

I understand there is an anxious feeling of letting your kids go. Sending my little buddy on the bus on the second day of kindergarten was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I called my mom, in tears, saying “I won’t even know if he GETS to school!!” My mother was also a fan of the school bus and she reassured me that, yes, yes he would and if for some reason he didn’t, they would email and call me quickly.

Just like all “letting go” things we do with our kids, it gets easier.

The main reason my kid rides the bus? Practicality. The point of the bus is to help parents get their kids to school. My taxes are paying for it so why wouldn’t I use it? I’d made the decision my kids would ride the school bus before I was even pregnant, but I now sometimes feel I have to explain why my child is a bus rider. I get a lot of “OH. He rides the buUUuus.” This interaction reminds me of Rachel Hollis’ book Girl, Wash Your Face. (I won’t go into how you should read it because you’ve either already read it or heard that you should.) In chapter 11 she’s talks about “embracing the chaos” and asking for help so ALL THE THINGS can get done.

“For example, when your mother-in-law says she’ll come for the afternoon and entertain the kids, say, “Yes, please.” If your husband offers to fold the laundry (even when you don’t think he’s good at folding towels), say, “Yes, please.” If your girlfriend says she wants to bring you dinner or wine but you feel bad that you’re putting her out, say, “Yes, please.”  –Rachel Hollis, Girl, Wash Your Face pg. 121

If your child’s school says they will pick them up and bring them back home safely, everyday, for the cost that is already built into your property taxes so you do not have to leave early, get other sleeping children in the car, or rush from the grocery store to sit in a line of cars with the engine running because its Texas and its usually too hot to just roll down the windows, say,” YES, PLEASE.” 

If the bus is an option for you, why AREN’T you taking it?

Allowing my child to be a bus rider has given him some much needed autonomy in our helicopter parenting world. Never once did I think my mom loved me less for not taking me to and from school everyday. I know my son feels the same. In fact, my favorite part of the day is when my three year old daughter goes running out the door and down the sidewalk screaming “COOPER!” as he steps off the bus. He hugs her, she tells him she missed him and asks, “How your day?” Within two minutes they’re demanding snacks and fighting about something, but that 30 second exchange between them is the sweetest thing. It reminds me to be grateful for the time I have at home, we don’t need to be in the car and on the go any more than we already are.

So yeah, my kid is a bus rider and my next one will be too. 

What do you think of kids riding the bus? We’d love to hear your comments!