Why Our Family Chose the Scary School Bus
Letting go of one last bit of control (Guest Post)
I have a confession. When my three-year-old started preschool, I was relieved. I was the kind of mom who was excited to have part of her day child-free. I wanted a few hours to get caught up on work, go grocery shopping, manage doctors’ appointments, or even just watch a show that wasn’t the umpteenth viewing of Cars on the Road. The idea of someone else caring for my child seemed wonderful.
However, even as I let a professional care for my son, I still wanted to hold onto a little control. That’s why my husband and I opted out of the free school bus and chose to spend at least an hour idling in a sea of SUVs every day. We’re small-business owners and I work remotely, so our schedules were flexible enough to allow this time sink. I didn’t mind it so much, as I got in some great audiobook listening. And it gave me a sense of security, however misplaced it may have been. My husband and I, not a random bus driver, were responsible for our little guy’s safety for a portion of the day.
But when we went to kindergarten orientation at our son’s new school last August, we quickly saw how difficult it would be to keep up our chauffeur system. Cars spilled out of the school grounds and down the street, around the corner, and into a nearby church’s parking lot. Admin told us the street becomes one-way during pick-up and drop-off hours, like a parade with less confetti and more cold coffee. The principal didn’t quite beg parents to choose the school bus, but her “please consider” reminded me of my son’s desperately hopeful pleas for a Popsicle.
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