Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How the fuck I'm going to get

85 replies

Tuppytuptup · 12/03/2013 07:25

My son to school. Dh took my car this morning because his wouldn't start. I have two babies, a sick 11 and 7 year old and a teenager who needs to be at school for assessment week. His school is two miles away, it's freezing cold, the bus route to school is closed. How am I going to get him to school??

OP posts:
catsmother · 12/03/2013 07:39

If he's fit and well and there isn't actually a real blizzard blowing out there then a 4 mile round walk today won't kill him and will do him good. 40 mins each way.

My son used to walk a total of 5 miles a day every day to and from the stations at either end of the train journey he needed to get to school. The main gripe was how long the whole thing took rather than the exercise per se.

YouCantTeuchThis · 12/03/2013 07:40

Sorry but Grin as I had assumed that it was one of the younger kids! Your teenager can most definitely walk the 2 miles to school. You are not a crap mum.

Original poster
Tuppytuptup · 12/03/2013 07:40

Celtic promise-we live off a bypass. It's one bus on one road which is closed.

OP posts:
Nombrechanger · 12/03/2013 07:40

What's wring with the cab idea?

Tee2072 · 12/03/2013 07:40

If he walks he'll improve his health and not get tonsillitis again. One does not get ill from walking in the cold. One gets ill from germs.

My 3.9 year old walks 3 miles a day to get to school, round trip.

I think your teenager can manage 2 miles one morning without keeling over.

Nombrechanger · 12/03/2013 07:40

Wrong even

Original poster
Tuppytuptup · 12/03/2013 07:44

Cats mother- he's just getting over tonsillitis.

OP posts:
eslteacher · 12/03/2013 07:46

I've just done a 25m walk in heavily falling snow and icy pavements to get to the train station to then get to work...I think your teenage son can manage 30m in the cold!

I don't think that walking, even in the cold, would aggravate tonsillitis? Though am not a doctor obviously...

EuroShaggleton · 12/03/2013 07:47

I am absolutely incredulous at this. Of course a teenager can walk two miles. What an utterly ridiculous thread.

HamAlive · 12/03/2013 07:47

You aren't a crap mum. Walking will be fine. At risk of sounding all "I walked 10hrs up a mountain to school and I'm fine", my walk to school was 3 miles, including a very steep hill that was interesting to navigate in ice and snow!

ditavonteesed · 12/03/2013 07:52

A nice cold walk while all wrapped up will kill the lingering germs off, he will be fine, you are not a crap mum.

Original poster
Tuppytuptup · 12/03/2013 07:52

Nombrechanger- have been ringing taxi companies since 7. They don't have anything until after 10.

OP posts:
CelticPromise · 12/03/2013 07:53

He'll be fine. In a very few years he'll be having to get himself to work and 'the bus stop was closed and I've had tonsillitus' won't cut it as an excuse. Don't wrap him in cotton wool! He's more likely to pick up germs on the bus!

OTTMummA · 12/03/2013 07:53

Is this what happens when people rely heavily on a car?
I agree with Euro, this is a very silly non issue.
You are not a crap mum because you have hold him to walk, it's perplexing as to why this is making you feel like the tbh :S

JollyYellowGiant · 12/03/2013 07:54

My nearly 2 year old often walks over a mile in the snow (we are in rural Scotland where it snows lots). I think it should be okay for a teenager to walk double that. Even one who has been ill recently.

pouffepants · 12/03/2013 07:54

I'm surprised he gets the bus normally tbh, do you pay for it?

CelticPromise · 12/03/2013 07:55

Tuppy you sound very stressed about this. It's really not at all a big deal.

ifancyashandy · 12/03/2013 07:55

I've just looked up a two mile walk on Google Map. Says it takes 10mins. I know the route it's suggested to me in my area and whilst it's probably more like 20mins, it's still totally doable.

Put a coat on him, gloves, beanie hat etc and send him on his merry way. You are not a crap mum.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 12/03/2013 07:56

Walk. My 9 year old has had a 25 minute walk to school since he was 5.

Put on coat, gloves, scarf, hat. And go.

And if the road is closed, why are you ringing taxis?
Surely they won't be able to get up the road?

ihearsounds · 12/03/2013 07:58

Nothing will happen to him. Seriously. He will not melt or implode. He has two legs that he is more than capable of using. By getting him to walk you are teaching him a life lesson that life goes on even when there isnt a car.. Think long term and he is an adult without a car. For what its worth, my teens have walked a couple of miles from school when buses have stopped running and they missed the last running bus. It was snowing and bitterly cold. But they worked out for themselves if they walked a bit faster, instead of the usual teenage dawdle, they were warm.

raspberryroop · 12/03/2013 08:01

You are a 'crap' mum if your teenager/you think a 2 mile walk is cruel to be honest - you have made him dependant and a bit wimpy.

Potterer · 12/03/2013 08:03

I walked to school in the snow to collect my two children aged 9 and 6. They walked 2.6 miles home. I made sure they had snow boots on, scarves, gloves, hats and very wrapped up.

Give him a flask with something hot in so he can have a warm drink on his walk. I highly recommend hot chocolate, or hot vimto (memories of childhood) and get him out.

It took me 50 minutes at a good pace to walk 2.6 miles and I went up steep hills.

Obviously it took longer with the DCs coming back, but then ds2 is 6 almost 7. Very short legs so it was hard work in the snow.

Original poster
Tuppytuptup · 12/03/2013 08:05

Oh dear, his school bag is in my car. Which DH has taken. Major strop...

OP posts:
Theicingontop · 12/03/2013 08:05

Back in my day, ooh about 7 years ago, I walked three miles to school every morning rain or shine.

Flisspaps · 12/03/2013 08:06

Less weight for him to carry on his walk Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread