Is it horrible to make ds walk

[Whyohwhy99]

Am I horrible making ds walk for 40 mins to and from school because I want to avoid the bus?

1. he doesn't get BO type smells yet. But regardless he had deodorant. Also we are walking not running.

2. he has breakfast before we leave. They also have snacks in the classroom

No idea what you mean by body being tired 🤷‍♀️

@Tanjamaltija

a young healthy persons will absolutely NOT be tired after a 40 min walk with a satchel.

are you ok? Do you not normally exercise?

Oh i never saw the bit about carrying a bag. He doesn't carry one. 😬

Its a 40 minute walk, not a marathon. I used to have to walk 3 miles each way with my children when they were 5/6 years old (when the conditions weren't right for biking, otherwise we biked once they were good enough at biking) so 12 miles for me and 6 for them and it was fine (except for taking up half my day), even after a tiring day they could still manage the walk home so I don't see why an 11 year old would find it hard.

I'm assuming that you & your family don't take regular exercise.

A 40 min walk twice a day is an excellent way of incorporating regular exercise into your life without having to go out of your way to do it. Much cheaper than a gym membership

When mine were younger they all walked to school and home, the walk would take 40-45 mins both ways, there wasn't a bus and I didn't have a car to drive them. They did it twice I did it 4 times. Tbh I never thought it was a bad thing to do or too much for them, they all had proper rain gear for wet mornings. Tbh I actually found the walk made everyone much more alert and good form.

I am not making myself clear enough, apparently. This is not a casual walk. It has to be done on time, with a satchel, in school shoes, rain or shine, twice a day. He does not get body odour, you said, but the sweat will chafe. Of course, it is not my business how anyone brings up a child; I am expressing my opinion. But, if you are on the bus route / the child can get a bus pass, I cannot understand why he has to walk. Also, what if you are not available - does he walk the route alone, or do other parents / students take the same route?

The consensus appears to be I did it / my children did it, so anyone else can.

I am fine, thank you, and I do exercise (just swimming and walking, though, not athletics). My point is that this is x2 a day, rain or shine. But then, I do not know the reason why the child does not take a bus, and what happens if an adult is unavailable.

He doesn't have to carry anything, not a satchel or anything. He goes to a SEN school and needs accompanying.

RTFT and stop making yourself look like an idiot

It's all good then, and my worries are for nothing.

He wears trainers to school he does not carry or need a bag for school. What makes you think we are rushing? He can't go to school on his own he has SEN.

There's nothing to suggest the op and her son can't, and there's no reason they can't reassess later on if they find it too difficult.

@Tanjamaltija

most children won’t be sweating during a 40 minute walk, especially in the autumn and winter.

Yes, of course. Most children, and there is no school in summer. And I am assuming that some satchels are not heavy... and maybe those that are, have those wheelie things, like carriers. But there will always be exceptions, albeit the child in the OP is not one of them. As it is, the child enjoys the experience, but there may be children who do not, and who have other occasions to chat with their parents.

Exactly. Not all chidlren need a bag, and not all children have the luxury of being accompanied by an adult during a walk. I am assuming that if you are unable to go, there is someone else, and he will not miss school, even since it is a part of his routine. You made the best choice for you and for your child, but that may not be the right solution for everyone. In Malta we have (free) vans that collect children from a given area, even if they go to different schools, and drop them off at the school gates. Again, I do not particularly like this, because the first children to be picked up have to be out of the house earlier than they otherwise would be.

Does nobody walk in Malta? This post is about walking to school in the UK and the OP has been very clear about everything throughout her posts. Always read all of them before commentating.

Christ, you get free and flexible transport for children and you're moaning because some kids have to be out of the house a bit earlier?
Imagine if we had that here in the UK. We should be so lucky.

i know right?! You don’t want much, do you??! @Tanjamaltija

I am not moaning, at all. I am just saying that some children have to be out of the house at 6.00a.m. and I do not like it. All I want is for children to not have to worry about other things besides school. Not my children, mind - all children. This is not placing them in cottonwool. It is protecting them from needless stress. Also, 'Please be respectful.'. Not my words.

Is it that worrying or stressful, really? And it's interesting that you say I do not like it. but you don't say what any of the children think.

This thread has gone so far beyond the main issue because people just seem to love a row.

Walking is fine. 40 minutes is fine. Lots of people do it. It's fine.

OPs son not being able to get a bus because OP is unable to use them due to undiagnosed MN issues is not fine. That needs to be addressed. I'm shocked that anyone would say this is fine. It's clearly not. Life is not straightforward, it throws us curveballs (like the OP having a Dr appt in the middle of the afternoon) and being able to use all the conveniences we have is useful.

It's really that straightforward.

It's already been said that ds likes the walk and i am trying to address it i have an appointment 17th I can only go as fast as the gp gos I am trying. Im already shitting myself and if I do to mu h to quickly I will scare myself abd back of completely. Im trying for that bot to happen

It's a 40 minute walk. Fit and healthy people should not find that remotely stressful (outside of extreme weather of course).

It's great that you're finally getting the help you need, and I hope it's not too long a process.

In the meantime, what if something happens this week? What if one day it's torrential rain with thunder and lightning over the school run? What if DS breaks his ankle and is well enough to go to school on crutches but obviously not up to walking 40 minutes each way? What's your contingency plan?