How far away from your children are you when you are at work?

[Clearasmuddypuddles]

I’m looking at a bee job but it is 20 miles and 35 minutes away from my children’s school and nursery. My husband is 40 minutes away in the other direction.

I think i’m probably being silly but I feel uneasy at being this far away and not being able to get to them quickly in an emergency. Would this worry anyone else? I do have form for ove thinking things!

Now a 20 minute walk due to working from home, when I was in the office I was a 40 minute walk from school.

We don’t actually need to be there in an emergency, they are in a school full of adults who are more than capable of taking appropriate action if they become ill, cut their knees etc.

When we're in the office we're both 45min away on the same train line. We're a bit nervous of being late as we don't have backup childcare so we tend not to take the same train home.

It wouldn’t bother me.

It might mean school are less likely to call you for trivial matters! I once got a job phone call, DC had earache and needed collecting. I was in the middle of something & couldn’t be there for about 30 mins, so said so, but after 15 mins they rang back to say she was feeling fine & I didn’t need to collect her...!

At a push 10 minutes in an Uber, otherwise 25 minutes by bus. DH is 7 minutes by car. More than half an hour for both would worry me, I’m not sure why!

When they were at nursery it was 20 minutes walk from DH’s office or 40 minutes on the Tube for me. Eight stops on the Tube when they were at school. We only had one time when school called with an emergency when DS had broken his leg. Unfortunately I was working in Singapore for a few days and took me ages to get home but DH was there within half an hour and stayed at the hospital with DS whilst he had surgery. DD stayed with friends until I got a flight home.

@SimonJT I work in a school myself so I know I am leaving them with responsible adults. It’s more if they needed to go to hospital etc.

Not a job phone call. A phone call from school.

When in the office about 45mins to an hour depending on trains. When working out of the office could be 5+ hours away. If I had to choose a job based on being around the corner from school I'd be unemployed

clearasmuddypuddles if they need to go to hospital before you can get there wouldn’t school take them?

90 minutes by public transport. DH was about 50 minutes by bicycle.

Currently wfh - about 200m from one school, 300m from the other!

Non-Covid anywhere from 20 mins/13 miles to 1 hour/40 miles. DH can be nearer, or further! We try not to both be the same side of the M62 at the same time.

I'm working from home at the moment but usually my office is around 30miles away. Its a half hour train journey but more like an hour door-to-door.

It's very normal for people here to commute Thai distance to the nearest cities for work.

It did worry me at first to be so far away but my children are now 6 and 10 and it's never been an issue. Once I was called to collect my son because he developed chicken pox whilst at nursery but they were happy to wait the hour and a bit that it took me to get back to him. My dp works shifts too so he's actually at home quite a lot during school hours so I suppose that has helped.

I'm an hour away, and so is stbxh. Even before covid we both tried to WFH at least a day or two each, and also had two local good friends on the collection list in case. It does feel awkward but our options are limited and its always been fine.

[quote Clearasmuddypuddles]@SimonJT I work in a school myself so I know I am leaving them with responsible adults. It’s more if they needed to go to hospital etc.[/quote]
You not being there wouldn’t stop them going to hospital, think of your own school, if a child needs to get to hospital quickly the paramedics don’t wait in the carpark for a parent to get there.

Yes being there is preferable, but nothing bad will happen if you aren’t there.

I'm a 15 minute drive away when he is at school. I work near home but his secondary school isn't very local. I've been much further with only public transport to get me places, up to an hour and a half travel time.
I really wouldn't worry about it. I've only ever had one emergency and ds is nearly 13 and he was at his grandparent's not school.

I'm a 25 minute drive when in the office. DP frequently overseas. Remember too they won't be little forever they grow up quick!

Thanks everyone. We don’t have any family close by so there wouldn’t be anyone else who could help.

It is only 2 days a week as well which helps. I don’t work the other 3 days.

I’m an hour away in normal times, DH in his previous job was field based and could be 3hrs!
He’s now perm WFH and I’m WFH for now.
I think as long as 1 person is within about an hour that’s fine

DH is wfh at the moment, but usually I would be 45 mins away and he would be over an hour away.

My parents are over an hour away too.

20mins.
I know where you are coming from- I like to "feel" near.
Have been called a few times too- so it's useful to be near.
Not always possible though I guess.
Having said that- there is a point that's too near ( for them!!)

0.3 miles as I now wfh. It's very useful for the many pickups (bastard bubbles bursting).

When I worked in the office it was 3miles so still only a 15/20min drive depending on traffic.

I’m picturing OP turning up in an emergency in full beekeeper outfit as everyone else scatters from stray bees.

When they were little, 25-30 mins by bus but they were only every 30 mins. 15 mins by taxi in emergency but worked opposite the hospital a&e so had that covered.

They are not both about 150 miles away at university, one gas serious mental health issues and I'm officially forbidden from seeing them, it's hard

35mins drive is fine. When they are poorly/just need to come home they'll keep them comfy for 35mins. If it was an actual emergency warranting hospital A&E they would likely rush the child straight there and have you meet them there.