Proud mum moment

[BusDriver18]

Please can I have a minute to have a proud mum moment.

My DS (ADHD & ASD) found school very difficult, he’s very much a hands on learner and GSCEs were a huge struggle for him. He passed his BTEC but only got 3’s in his GCSEs.

Despite his struggles, he’s worked every day since finishing his GCSEs in various jobs but always had a love for vehicles and driving. He passed his car test a couple of months after his 18th birthday (saved for his own car & insurance).

Anyway a couple of months ago he decided he wanted to be a bus driver, I assumed you needed to be at least 21 but turns out that’s not true (he did have to have his car licence 12 months). He applied with two companies and was offered roles with them both.

He has now passed all his theory, his practical test and the rest of the training. Tomorrow he has his first day with passengers.

Im so proud of him, he’s faced so many challenges and so many times we wondered where he would end up and could have taken the wrong path so many times.

This is so lovely. Best of luck to him

What a fabulous outcome. It sounds like he'll be a brilliant bus driver.

I hope this gives some positive messages for parents of other young people with ND or those who haven't got on so well with school that there's a world of other opportunities out there for them.

How wonderful!
Congratulations to your DS, well done!
Nothing more rewarding than finding you have an interest, and an aptitude for something, working hard, then securing a job in that area!

He sounds like a smashing lad. All the best to him in his new career.
I know a guy who is also a bus driver and autistic (he has had other jobs too). He is in his late 50s and is about to retire on a great pension, has lots of friends and is also a great swimmer!

This is one of these rare posts that fill me with happiness and joy. Reading this has made my day, I am over the moon for you and your son, what a fantastic positive achievement.
😊

Well done to your son - great to hear.

Is it? They're not exactly going to be drag racing in a bus are they.

When I saw your opening post I thought “here we go, another brag post about a child who has aced all their exams” or something similar so was utterly delighted to read on. My DS (nearly 17) was not suited to education and didn’t do very well in his GCSEs, has an autism diagnosis and pending ADHD. This gives me hope that no all kids have to do the uni etc route to succeed and find what they enjoy. Thanks for sharing and wishing your DS the best of luck, he sounds brilliant, you must be a very proud mum

How lovely, well done to him. He sounds like a lovely young man who knows what he wants and is prepared to work for it. And well done you for bringing him up to be the best he can be. I hope he enjoys his new job x

He is 18

Congrats to him. So pleased for you all.

Aw this is lovely op.
I have a dd who is 16 with asd.currently sitting gcses and so worried about grades, future etc.
This has gave me hope thank you.

This is so heart warming!!!

Meant to say, he has his first shift with passengers tomorrow. He’s done his route training etc. He will have a mentor on the bus with him for 2-3 weeks.

Only 4 of the 6 from his cohort passed the training, the other 2 were let go so they don’t pass everyone.

You should be proud. What a wonderful achievement at such a young age. Well done young man.
Bask in the reflected glory Mum !

Good luck to your DS, it’s a tough old world out there for them and totally agree, it’s been painful reading sometimes knowing that he can never achieve those exam grades etc.

That's really great well done to him (and you). I have a similar story dc1 was written off by school (asd, dyslexia and missed lots of schooling due to physical ill health), ended up getting a low paid job in NHS (had lots of experience as a patient). They saw potential and has climbed to a band 4 with on the job training. Last year dc1 bought their own shared ownership house (I was told multiple times dc would never live independently). Dc1 has always done things slower/differently then their peers but has got there through hardwork and determination.
I'm not surprised your proud of him. I wish I'd seen stories like your son's when dc was struggling through school. Dc3 is also autistic and taking GCSEs I'm really much more relaxed this time because I know what ever happens they'll find a way through. It may take longer than their peers but I'm confident they'll find their path.
Hope tomorrow goes well and your son has some lovely passengers.

You do realise that they probably would have raised the age limit by now if 18 year olds were disproportionately crashing buses and injuring passengers?

Not sure if you're aware, but buses are surprisingly easy to drive, and they're not doing tight or dangerous manoeuvers at speed. I've been in a pretty scary bus crash on a NL road and even without a seatbelt there were no serious injuries. If he's passed the training, he's obviously fit to do the job. You shouldn't be prejudiced just because of his age.

That's what I was thinking, probably the slowest moving vehicle around other than tractors.

I believe age has very little to do with ability to drive. Judging by my neighbours some are still completely dreadful drivers in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.

Well done!

What a wonderful moment for you all! Huge congrats. I think our local bus drivers are amazing. Proof that with determination love support and belief you can achieve and in something you love. Well done to your son.

Glad to hear your DC1 is now living independently. It’s so challenging for these DC.
I have DC2 in high school now, and I am much better at advocating for her having been through it once, although she’s very different to DS, she has her own challenges to overcome.