Being classed as lazy because I drive

[Luckybreak]

A Facebook friend commented last night about how parents who drive, and drive their kids here there and everywhere are lazy and are making them lazy. A few people commented and basically told her straight that they need their cars and she replied by saying kids should walk every where and the fact they don't is why they are getting fat!

Well firstly she tried to pass her test and failed three times so clearly she is a hopeless driver. Secondly she doesn't walk everywhere with her own kids, she gets lifts from all of her family and friends. I just commented and told her straight that if I didn't drive my kids wouldn't have half of the opportunities they do. They wouldn't be able to go to the school's they do as they are a bit out of the way and take too long to get to on public transport. They wouldn't be able to attend their after school activities as again they are too far out. They wouldn't be able to have days outs and holidays up and down the country like they do. I could have turned it around on her and said that parents who rely on family members for lifts or drag their kids around on public transport are lazy and selfish but I held back. I just don't know what her problem is.

[GlacindaTheTroll]

Let it just all wash over you. This really is the stuff of storm in a tea cup.

Especially to me (as an outsider) reading this, it's blazingly obvious that she means avoiding driving when walking is a possibility ie day to day, to the shops, the school run etc. Not every single journey, and certainly not special outings.

[ijustwannadance]

She has probably reached the point where she has realised she may never be able to drive so is making it look like she has purposely chose not to drive rather than just being unable to.

[Hygellig]

How is taking your children on public transport lazy or selfish?

I'd agree that driving children a very short distance that they could easily walk is lazy - there are some mums who drive less than half a mile to my children's school even when they've not got to dash off to work. Yesterday DS was invited to a 6th birthday party which was about 1 mile away for most people and nearly everyone drove.

But many days out and activities are too far to walk or cycle and it's unfair to call people lazy then. Maybe she is feeling frustrated at not having managed to pass her test and having to rely on lifts.

[Lightsoffplease]

This is quite hilarious. There are plenty of obese children in our area who are driven everywhere and never seem to walk anywhere. I can clearly understand what your friend was trying to say.

YABU

[Unicorn1981]

I do agree with you. It's not lazy and having just moved from London to Birmingham where we now need a car it's really annoying not to have one. However it took me four goes to pass my test and I'm not a hopeless driver so I have to disagree with you on that point (realises I'm probably missing the point but had to say it )!

[Spookybitch]

A huge amount of drivers will hop in their cars for the shortest of journeys and act like kids walking anywhere is akin to child abuse. Sure lots of people "need" their cars, but some people seem to think that means that they shouldn't have to walk anywhere.

[HarmlessChap]

As a nation we probably all drive far too much and could walk far more. I particularly like to walk to the Chinese takeaway which is less than half a mile away (I use an insulated bag to keep things warm) It takes around 4 minutes longer each way as I don't have a one way system to abide by and I burn off some of the calories I'm about to take on board :)

[Spookybitch]

And why on earth would using public transport be lazy or selfish?

[KathArtic]

Yes but she wasn't posting about the virtues of being healthy, she was having a dig at those who had passed their test and could afford to drive.

[Shakey15000]

Funny. I get called lazy and entitled because I don't drive. On MN usually

[Gileswithachainsaw]

She probably has a point about people who could easily walk but choose to hop in the car anyway.

But the rest sounds like sour grapes.

I walk far more now than I did before cos I hate driving and I try and get out of it as much as possible as well as the fact I don't prefer to park somewhere quiet and walk than rub the risk of being blocked in by those parents at the school who park selfishly...

[BackforGood]

Well, she's got a point.
People who hop in the car for the shortest of journeys are creating all sorts of problems for themselves, and their dc in later life. FAR better you everyone to walk trips of under a mile.

However we all know that life isn't that straightforward - often that trip is one of only 7 or 8 that day, and time doesn't always allow the pleasure of being able to walk everywhere. Someone will be along soon who isn't physically mobile and can't.
As has been said upthread - hardly worth getting worked up about - unless, perhaps she's touched a nerve?

I know I had slid into bad habits of not leaving myself enough time and hopping in the car for short journeys. Earlier this year I started to realise just how sedentary I had become and how sluggish I felt. Have just had to re-train myself into walking a bit more.

[YappyYapster]

I've had to surrender my licence recently so I'm now walking everywhere. It's brilliant. The kids will walk the two miles and back to the shop with me without complaining, I always used to drive down there as I thought it was far too far to walk. The school run is a mile each way and tbh I would have driven it before.

DH drives them into town for their clubs and activities so we couldn't be without a car at all, but the enforced walkiness has been an eye opener.

[mumofthemonsters808]

I wouldn't even justify myself to her, she sounds like an idiot whose obviously not thought things through. I'm a non driver, so when my children are with me, we do walk everywhere or use public transport. MY OH drives and takes them to all their activities and as you say, if he didn't, they would not be able to go.The only thing I will say though, is when I've taken neighbours kids to school, as a favour, they do moan on the walk that their legs are aching, it's probably due to the fact they are not used to walking, like we are and go in the car everyday. I don't think this makes us superior though, especially when it's pissing down with torrential rain, I'd gladly jump in a car.

[ppeatfruit]

I think your friend is being a bit sour grapes. BUT and it's a big BUT if you live in london and are able bodied, then a car isn't really necessary. ex dil has one, she's always getting parking tickets, town away, etc. Our gd wonders why when I walk her to school (less than a mile) she's on time her mum drives her and they're always late fgs.

When one is necessary a mini cab does the job IME and opinion. Cars are expensive if you take into account ALL the expenses.

[TeacherBob]

She has a good point. By driving kids everywhere, it does make them lazy in a lot of cases.

[blitheringbuzzards1234]

It sounds like sour grapes on her part. If she had passed her test I assume sh'ed be driving her kids about, don't you? Also if you live in the middle of nowhere public transport isn't often an option and walking isn't necessarily safe either. Obviously for short distances walking is healthy but it's often a matter of time. There's a balance to be found.

[Armi]

I live rurally. If I didn't drive I'd spend my life on buses feeling travel sick lurching round the lanes or waiting for buses to turn up. I could walk to town but it would take two hours each way. Of course I drive DD to activities or she'd never do anything. She does walk to school and due to our quiet location she plays outside all the time on her bike etc. so gets loads of exercise.

Holier than thou non-driving types, particularly those who live within a few minutes of a Tube station, irritate me. And people who live in the sticks and don't drive are also exasperating as they are continually asking to be chauffeured about.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I'm the not able bodied enough one, who would rather walk dd to school but rarely am well enough to. Posting crap like this on FB is silly. My dd does plenty of sport and I drive her to places. I can then sit and watch.

[NellysKnickers]

YABU. Kids do get fat if they are driven everywhere. Makes me laugh when we walk to school, takes about 10-15 minutes and we see parents and children on the way getting in their cars for the same journey, we arrive at the same time, it's ridiculous. Maybe that's the sort of thing she's referring to?

[Gottagetmoving]

Sometimes it is lazy...sometimes not.
If school is a short walk away and you drive your kids there, then that's lazy, even if it's raining...rain doesn't melt kids.
Most of the drivers I know ARE lazy about walking. They drive to a local shop that's a five minute walk away.
I can drive but I walk everywhere that's within 3 miles now...because it's healthier.

[Stevefromstevenage]

We tend to walk almost everywhere because we live in the middle of s town and our town is completely choked with traffic. I think there is some truth in what she says however if the walk is over a km it may not be practical to walk to everything you do with small children.

[megletthesecond]

It depends on the distances you drive. Lots of my colleagues drive the .5 of a mile into town. We've timed it and it's quicker to walk (ie; me) once you take into account faffing about in a car park. I am a tad judgy about it tbh.

We have a car for high days and holidays. But the dc's walk distances other families drive, a mile for example. Their legs haven't fallen off yet.

[Rainbunny]

What Ijustwannadance said.