Hi IP's,
How old were your children when they started walking to-school and home? Including using public transport.
I work FT and worrying about my child's means to and from school throughout the week... He's 12 and will be a beginner in high school. I'm petrified as he would of normally went to morning and afternoon care (he's classified as too old to attend now).
I'm having a meltdown and getting anxious on the whole situation. I'm a single mum and we do have allot of great support, just everyone works and or have their own children to take to school in different suburbs (20+ mins away).
I know my child is of age where they can walk to and from school. But I'm still not convinced or feel confident.
The means to high school is a short 10 min bus drive away (a long walk on foot).
As much as I'm worried like crazy. I have started to prepare him for this --- might I add, he is pretty cool-calm-&-collected about it (he's not freaking out like I am - & he doesn't know I am).
I will be organising a weekend after the move we do a prep-run -- walking to the bus stop & to high school and then back. I have also bought him a phone, as a means to contact to me, so I know he's arrived both at home and school safely...
I have the possibility to drive to work, but would mean I would have to pay for parking - ranging from $6-$16 a day. But at least I can drop him to school (wake him up in the morning lol) in the morning and all he will have to do is catch a bus home and walk.
How can I come to terms this will be our reality. I have so much trust in him and know he'll do the right thing. He's just a gently soul.
As much as I'm petrified of the world and what may be is in it. I don't want him to feel that too (my personal experience).
I have also thought about asking around his circle of friends, but none of them will be living in our area, as they live in the area of the school. We live about 2 suburbs away (bus ride away).
I don't know why I'm freaking out so much. Most of his school friends now from primary have walked to and from home for about a year. And I see it all the time. But all I'm feeling for my child is terrified.
Please help me come to terms with this, gently. He's my only child and I'm freaking out for his safety and wellbeing. + for my sanity.
3 Replies
He is a great age to start catching public transport. Especially the bus. The bus driver can see everyone on the bus.
I walked home unsupervised from around 8 years old. The walk was about 15 minutes but then my parents moved when I was 10 so i either had a 30-45minute walk or I could jump on a train which would cut the time down. Sometimes I chose to walk for the exercise.
When I was 12 I was accepted to some special dance programs. To get there I used to catch a train into the city then a bus which would involve walking 10 ,minutes from train station to bus stop. It would take me almost 2hours to travel there.
I know a lot of people who start travelling by public transport at your sons age. It's a pretty normal milestone.
Do a dry run where you go with him, then do a dry run where you drop him and he gets home on his own and you are there to meet him.
Take big deep breaths, it's another developmental stage like any other. Like a first sleep over, or first day of school, or the first time you left him to be babysat. These first steps are always hard but you will be raising a very capable young man, it's our job to raise our children to be capable adults, not ones who are terrified of the world or incapable of living in it.
He can do it, mumma xx
I just wanted to let you know you are not alone! My 11 year old is starting high school this year. She got accepted into a specialist program. It is a fantastic opportunity for her and one of the best schools in the state, but it will take 2 trains and a bus or walk to get there! The thought scares the shit out of me if I think about it too much, so I have been trying not to focus on it. And it has nothing to do with how much I trust her - it is about how much I trust other people! She got a mobile phone for Christmas from her father and his wife which I am in the process of setting up on a prepaid plan. I have the first 3 days of school off work so I can travel with her while she gets used to it and I probably will (for the first few days after that) have her text me when she arrives safely. During the Christmas holidays I have been trying to loosen the reigns a little bit in preparation. Things like letting her get up in her own time, get ready then lock up and ride her bike to my parents house while I'm at work. You will be fine mumma! I hope your boy enjoys high school xxx