At 8:52, Elizabeth's bus pulls up in front of our house to pick up two kids: The Big E and another little Kindergardener who lives across the street. Then her bus coasts 30 yards down the street and stops again for another group of 4-5 kids...then another 30 yards...
I still remember the morning in September when I woke up from my normal Mombie Walking Death state and said, "The hell? Why not have all the kids walk to the corner and just make one stop?" Then I shut up real quick because having the bus stop right in front of my house is convenient. Screw common sense and childhood obesity rates!
I walked Elizabeth to the bus stop (ie., the sidewalk off our porch) happily for the first couple months. Then the weather got cold. And the baby started to walk and throw herself on the ground in massive temper tantrums. And now standing on my sidewalk in the snow with a writhing toddler who wants to bite me is a giant pain.
So occasionally (ie., mornings I can't be bothered to put on a bra) I send Elizabeth out to GET ON THE BUS ALONE.
I make her stand on the porch so I can keep an eye on her--not because some weirdo is just lurking in the bushes waiting to snatch her--but because she can't be trusted not to load her book bag with "interesting nature rocks" from the landscaping. (Seriously, kid? It's just lava rock.)
Okay, she's really on the porch because the other kindergartener always has his Grandma with him, and letting Elizabeth stand on the sidewalk with them feels like I'm pawning my kid off on the woman. "Oh, hey! Since you're standing there anyway...watch my kid!"
But the bus stop is my house!!! I don't want to stand on the sidewalk helicoptering over my more-than-capable-6-year-old and pat her rump gently as she climbs up the bus steps! Especially when I can see the whole thing going down from the comfort of my living room window!
I'm torn. If Elizabeth were the only kid being picked up, she would be standing alone on our porch every morning while I watched from the window She's on our property. Free-Range Kids and all that. But since Grandma is out there, I drag myself out all angry with a screaming toddler tucked under my arm.
8 comments:
let her walk! i have to watch my kid walk 1/4 mile to the bus stop alone, because i do daycare from of my house. they can handle it.
The bus picks my daugther up at our house. She is the only one at our stop, so she is out there alone. She sits on our porch swing by herself, as I am wrangling a 4 year old who fights about her outfit every.single.day. It's a good system. I say Elizabeth can do be out there by herself.
She can totally be out there by herself. If it makes you feel better, have her stay on the porch until the bus comes and then she can walk to the bus. Its not like the bus is going to leave without her if she isn't standing out there on the sidewalk.
I say that if you can see her from the inside of your house, then let her go out there by herself. You can't hover over her forever.
Without a doubt, let her go out alone. It will foster her sense of independence. Which, ironically, is our job. Too teach them to take care of themselves.....so they can leave us. Which we will most definitely NOT be ready for come August....oh sorry. That's just me.
Let her go. And be happy knowing that Grandma is there - just in case - and knowing that you are teaching her life skills.
Our school district requires kindergarteners to have an adult present with them while waiting for the bus and when they are dropped off. Regardless of that, I would go outside with her.
Note that its a grandma who's out there with the other kid. Grandmas are just a different story. She's probably there because she DOESN'T have anything else to do and ENJOYS the time with her grandchild. She probably WANTS to be there. You are fine. E is fine. Don't worry so much!
I don't see any reason not to let her be out there as long as she is comfortable with it and you can see her. I would totally do that.
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