What ever happened to the days when moms could see their kids off to the bus stop while still wearing their pajamas? Then, after school, the children were returned safely without mom ever having to leave the house.
I never officially signed up to be a stay-at-home mom and I still chuckle at the “homemaker” title on our tax returns. But I gotta to tell you, that bus gig doesn’t sound too shabby.
I know school busses still exist, of course. And if it were an option for us I would consider it. But seriously, I do not know one single mom in my town that puts their kid on a school bus. Not one.
Now, it is true that only one of my daughters is officially school age. But they all go to school, because otherwise I might loose my wits. All moms need some non-mom time to keep things balanced. I’m a big believer in that.
I use my non-mom time to be a freelance writer. So please, don’t call me a homemaker. If you saw my home, outside my camera’s zoom lens, you’d know the only things I make come from either my sewing machine or my Kitchen Aid mixer. I am far from a perfect homemaker.
When school returned after summer break, I was too busy picking up my three girls at their three different pick up times (one for the toddler, one for the preschooler and one for the first-grader) to make a single darn thing. It left me longing for summer break, and to return and the leisure days with no schedules of who had to be picked up when. (My husband does the morning school drop-offs and has ever since I our second baby was born, allowing my the luxury to stay in with my nursing babies).
Don’t get me wrong, come the end of summer break I was counting down the hours until school started back up. I love spending all that quality time with my girls and feel very fortunate to be in the situation to do so, but I had reached my goal of having a TV Free Summer and they had become bored enough that they were begging to go back to school. My plan was working out perfectly.
Except for one thing. All that driving around was turning my spirit into road mush.
Something had to give!
Now picture my hair blowing in the wind, me huffing up a hill, enjoying the fresh woodsy air on my bike – while taking my toddler girl to and from school.
Ahhhhh, this is SOOOOOOOO much better.
I so adored the lady watching my toddler girl at her house. But the drive was driving me bonkers. And when I realized there was a Montessori school with a toddler program having classes at a nature center that is a one-mile trail ride away from my house – I told my husband, “I’m signing her up!”
So no, you’ll never see one of those hanging yellow signs in my back car window from the 80s that said, “Mom’s Taxi.” Not me, unless it’s hanging from my bike trailer with my toddler on board.
The view on the way home from school, right before nap time.
So jealous that you get to trek through Ijams and that fabulous greenway every morning! What a beautiful thing.
Out here in West Hills, I’ve noticed lots of moms putting their kids on the bus, but usually starting around 2nd grade. Xander rode the bus when we lived on the route ~ he loved it (and so did we). We recently moved closer to school, so we either walk home with Xander or I pick him up on the way home three days a week from my part time office job.
But once that kid is a bit older? He’s trekking it alone on his bike, just like I did!
By the way, I am just LOVING your new blog so much. Great job, R!!!!