How do I deal with the pressure to let my son ride the bus?

Question

My husband and my neighbor down the street are both stressing that my Kindergarten son be put on the school bus to and from school. Why? We live 2 miles from the school, I have no problem taking him and I feel 5 years old is too young especially how awquard and forgetful some children are at that age. My neighbor's daughter is 8 and she says she would like my son to ride the bus so her daughter will have someone she knows riding the bus with her. No 3rd grade girl is going to go sit by a Kindergarten boy, well maybe...but still I think I will take him to school for the first couple of years. Call me a protective parent, but I am. So how do I get my husband and my neighbor to stop going on about it?

Answer 1

My 6 year old daughter has been begging me to take the bus to school but the only reason I take her is the bus stop is on the corner and not in front of our apartment building, plus the woman who watches my son is too old to go outside and wait for her to get dropped off after school especially in bad weather...so I take her every day. If she knew someone else on the bus like I neighbor than I would have no problem with her riding the bus...

but in your case, YOU are the mother and your neighbor has no say it it...your husband yes, but again, he is only 5 and won't stay that young forever...

Answer 2

You don't say where you live, but, in my school district, kids from kindergarten and 1st grade are NOT allowed to ride the bus UNLESS a parent or guardian brings them to the busstop and waits with them in the morning, and also is there waiting for them at the end of the school day.

However, this is sort of secondary to the real issue in your question, and that is, why these other people (your neighbors) think it's any of their business what you do with your own child.

So far as your husband is concerned, why does this bother him? Unless he has some very good reason for not wanting you to drive your child to school, I would stand my ground. Your son has plenty of bus-riding school years in front of him. Driving him is no big deal, in my opinion.

I would politely tell the neighbor that you would feel better about things if she would not question your judgement concerning what is best for your own child (after all, you don't tell her what is best for her daughter, right?), and tell your husband that you would like him to pick his "battles" a little more thoughtfully.

Enjoy the extra car time with your son while you have it! All too soon, he will be busy with his own friends, etc., and you will appreciate the little bits of one-on-one time you had together.

Answer 3

I don't see a reason the child cant ride the bus, there are bus attendants to make sure he gets on and off the bus at the correct place. But then again your the Mom and if you want to drive your child for whatever reason then do it and explain to your husband that you want this time with your child or whatever your reasons are, and as far as the neighbor I would do the same. Your child is only small for a short amount of time and before you know it its gonna be...ahh Mom don't let my buddies see you doing this or that. Good Luck and regards KG

Answer 4

well letting your son ride tyhe school bus will encourage him to have some independence without hassle. It will help him grow to be an independent person and not always needing someone there all the time. My mom walked me to school when I was young and waited with me outside the classroom until the teacher opened the door for class. (my school had an outside entrance to all classrooms, old fashioned school) my mom was always there and worried about me getting hurt or something happening to me. she didn't let me have independence until I took it from her. I have independence problems now and i have to fight with myself to do things on my own and not to coward in the house instead of doing things i like.

Don't make your son ride the bus if he doesn't want to, but ask him what he would like to do. and don't influence his answer. If he wants to ride the bus find out where he will get picked up, if it is at the house, then no need to worry there, because you will be able to walk him out to the bus. you will know where he gets on and off. make sure there is someone waiting at the school to walk the younger children into school when he gets there. this should be a priority. once this is all checked out, ask your son. you have nothing to worry about if there is always someone there to meet him when he gets off and walk him into school and walk him back outside at the end of the day.

good luck~

Answer 5

Look up school bus accidents on the web, school buses do not even have seatbelts. Would they let your son ride without seatbelts? Also, look at the video from last week where the school kids beat the crap out of another kid and nobody stopped them. Bus drivers do not even pay attention to what goes on back there. I don't want my kids riding the bus either.

Answer 6

I can understand your concern, we lived well out of town so our only option for preschool and school was for the kids to catch the bus. It was awful, we had a girl bullying the little ones a few horrid instances. If I had lived 2 miles from the school I would have preferred to walk him myself. Stick by your instinct or you will spend everyday worrying about him, which is not worth it.

Answer 7

1. I agree with you. At that age, 5 year olds are not street smart, and also prey to bullies and adult predators.

2. Better safe than sorry. Your neighbor's problem is not yours.

3. Children are less likely to get involved with unseemly activities, at an early age, if they are supervised and protected from being to unnecessary harms.

4. Stick to your guns on this one.

Good Luck and Warm Wishes.

Answer 8

Don't mind them. I drove my son Sheridan to and from school, and he turned out just fine.