In the car.....again
I am using the car a lot more than I wanted to ferry Isabelle to and from school.
First - the drop off. As Aidan does Playcentre three times a week, from the start I'm doing one big trip from school to Playcentre then back home in the car. It doesn't make sense time-wise to walk to school, walk home, then get the car. Walking to school then to Playcentre is too much to expect a 3 year old to do. Wednesdays is Daddy drop-off day (yay!) which is a walking day for Isabelle. So that leaves Thursdays. We managed the walk today (and it was a beautiful day for walking!). But Aidan was very tired by the time we reached our street. He sat at the bottom of the hill and refused to climb. I lured him up using the promise of jelly beans for morning tea.
As for the pick up - well, ballet on Thursdays means the car is a must. And most days of the week, I find myself with either one, or two sleeping children to wake to take to school to pick up big sister. After having experimented with waking Aidan then attempting to drag him onto a bus (which we missed), I've realised that I'm far better off letting him sleep and waking him and/or Orla up just in time to sweep them into the car and off to school.
(Yes, Aidan at 3 still has daytime sleeps most days. Not all 3 year olds do. But not all 3 year olds wake at 5.00 am either!).
We took the bus home once. This was the first time Isabelle had ever had to pay for a trip. She handed the bus driver her brand-new bus ticket herself.
I notice that I am a lot more tired too if I walk to and from school. Exercise is good, but life is tiring!
I'm sure this will change as the children get older.
There is a walking school bus near us. But I have decided that it is not for me - at least not yet. First, I would have to send Isabelle off with a group of people she barely knows when she is still so fresh and new at the school thing. Second, I would have to do duty on the bus. I do Playcentre duty once a week. This is no trouble. But I am not keen to take on additional responsibilities involving taking my baby out in whatever weather happens to be there, and managing the behaviour of other people's children who may or may not share my ideas about behavioural management.
So, what if I had no car and just had to manage? I guess I would do just that. But it is nice to be able to make the trade and grab a bit more quality of life.
Actually, I'm pretty sure I wrote a very, very similar post about taking the car to Playcentre not so long ago.....
First - the drop off. As Aidan does Playcentre three times a week, from the start I'm doing one big trip from school to Playcentre then back home in the car. It doesn't make sense time-wise to walk to school, walk home, then get the car. Walking to school then to Playcentre is too much to expect a 3 year old to do. Wednesdays is Daddy drop-off day (yay!) which is a walking day for Isabelle. So that leaves Thursdays. We managed the walk today (and it was a beautiful day for walking!). But Aidan was very tired by the time we reached our street. He sat at the bottom of the hill and refused to climb. I lured him up using the promise of jelly beans for morning tea.
As for the pick up - well, ballet on Thursdays means the car is a must. And most days of the week, I find myself with either one, or two sleeping children to wake to take to school to pick up big sister. After having experimented with waking Aidan then attempting to drag him onto a bus (which we missed), I've realised that I'm far better off letting him sleep and waking him and/or Orla up just in time to sweep them into the car and off to school.
(Yes, Aidan at 3 still has daytime sleeps most days. Not all 3 year olds do. But not all 3 year olds wake at 5.00 am either!).
We took the bus home once. This was the first time Isabelle had ever had to pay for a trip. She handed the bus driver her brand-new bus ticket herself.
I notice that I am a lot more tired too if I walk to and from school. Exercise is good, but life is tiring!
I'm sure this will change as the children get older.
There is a walking school bus near us. But I have decided that it is not for me - at least not yet. First, I would have to send Isabelle off with a group of people she barely knows when she is still so fresh and new at the school thing. Second, I would have to do duty on the bus. I do Playcentre duty once a week. This is no trouble. But I am not keen to take on additional responsibilities involving taking my baby out in whatever weather happens to be there, and managing the behaviour of other people's children who may or may not share my ideas about behavioural management.
So, what if I had no car and just had to manage? I guess I would do just that. But it is nice to be able to make the trade and grab a bit more quality of life.
Actually, I'm pretty sure I wrote a very, very similar post about taking the car to Playcentre not so long ago.....
Labels: Aidan, House management, Isabelle, Orla, School, Suburban housewife
posted by Mary at 8:45 pm
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