Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Commute

The start times for my kids' schools have changed this year.  Liv starts Jr. High almost a full hour later than Lea starts High School.  This is a problem, because last year I got into the habit of driving them to school.  They both hate the bus.  I still make them ride it home, but I figured if I could start their day on a brighter note, why not do it?  Eliminate that first-thing-in-the-morning stress-er.

When we received notification of the time changes for this year, I told them I wouldn't be able to do it.  It takes me about fifteen minutes to get to the school.  I would have to take Lea, come home, and take Liv.  Over an hour, all told, spent on getting the kids to school.  Ridiculous.  Wasn't gonna happen.  Sorry girlies, you're back on the bus.

They balked, but understood when it was laid out for them.

The first day of school rolled around and they were set to take the bus.  I said, "Aw, first morning, I'll take you - just for today."

Second morning?  You guessed it.

I think I'm going to try to keep it up.  That's crazy, right?  Not entirely.  My reasons are more selfish than not.  For the first time in a long time I get daily, built in, alone time in the car with each of them.

Every parent knows that the best conversations take place in the car, right?

Realistically, the amount of times I'll be able to do this is finite.  Lea will be sixteen in six months, for Pete's sake.

Sometimes when they start talking, I hear the ghosts of their little pre-school voices, chattering at me from the back seat, telling me about their world.  Their world has changed significantly, but my interest in it has not.

"Y'know what?"

"Tell me."


7 comments:

StarTraci said...

I get it. I do. My son is most talkative in the car, especially when his sister is not there. You're right, soon enough Big Sis won't need you to drive her anyway so soak it in. Even if you spend an hour in the car.

Happy Day BTW!
:-)
Traci

Cheryl said...

So glad this is working for all of you. Sounds delightful.

Unknown said...

I totally get it. That in the car alone time is precious!

mzbehavin said...

"Sometimes when they start talking I hear the ghosts of their little pre schol voices chattering at me from the backseat"...... SIGH. LOVE. Nuff said

Liz Mays said...

I always liked taking my kids the first day, but there were years when I had to take them the entire time so I would have welcomed just a little bit of a bus now and then. :)

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Time in the car with your kids is precious. I understand why you'll do as much driving as you can manage!

Swine said...

I am so gonna miss that tiny voice coming from the back seat.