To think 33 minutes (driving) is too far for DS's extra curricular activity?

[Allieson]

DS really wants to start ice skating. The closest to us is 33 minutes away (by car) he doesn't do anything else so I'm undecided. He's 10 so old enough for it to not be a spur of the moment thing (he has been asking for a couple of years ).

It's only for an hour lesson! AIBU to think the travelling to and back shouldn't be longer than the actual thing itself!? So WIBU to say no?

I admit that I could take him (I work part time but off on that day).

[LivMoore]

I echo Unadon's sentiments, this is the sort of thing your ds will remember forever. My parent's otoh could never be bothered to encourage an extra curricular activity especially if it involved any effort on their part. I remember that too.
You'll feel good for doing it for your son too

[dailymailarecunts]

Ds is that far away from school! I genuinely wouldn't even think twice about this - your sons been asking for years, fgs take him!

[user1495025590]

Have to smile at the townies who think 33 minutes to get somewhere is a long journey

[Slimthistime]

Joke post. From someone with a weird sense of humour.

[avamiah]

My 7 year old daughter attends a dance School in Central London twice a week and has done since she was 4 years old.
We take a taxi then the underground and walk for 10 mins.
The journey takes 1 hour each way (2 hours).
This is no big thing , it's my daughter and her dance class that she loves.

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

I would take him. But then I spend most afternoons getting my lot to and from their various activities, or hanging about at the side of the pitch / court / pool / gym. The only thing I'm strict about is absolute commitment and enthusiasm once they sign up (and I pay) for the term. They're always allowed to not renew at the end of a term if they'd like to stop.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Has he been ice-skating and enjoyed it? As opposed to seeing it on tv or something?

[Clandestino]

You're so BU it hurts. 35 minutes is nothing. Seriously, you're depriving your son of a great sports activity because you don't feel like driving measly 35 minutes one way?

[BikeRunSki]

For ice skating I would do this definitely!!! There is not an ice rink in every town- it's not like swimming pools or Cub packs. 33 mins is easily doable.

[mamakoukla]

I never truly got how much an extracurricular could change dd's outlook and growth until she found one that clicked. It is worth s shot. As a previous poster wrote, as long as did is committed to it, I continue to support her (it is skating as well!) Sometimes it has been 50 min there, same back again but when I see her engagement, fulfillment and happiness it was the right choice.

[mamakoukla]

I appreciate it is not everybody's choice but since you are asking - just give it a try

[Only1scoop]

Gosh you are very precise '33 mins' yes let him

[AdalindSchade]

No it's not too far
You sound lazy

[annandale]

Yes do it.

He is rapidly approaching an age where an hour stuck in the car together may be the most time he will willingly spend with you all week! It is golden time for finding out what is really going on with them. Less so if you find others to give lifts to but then you can just listen to the chat and that can be quite illuminating too.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Yabu.

You need to take him.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

He's 10. He does nothing else. Take a good look in the mirror and realise how lucky you are not to have driven thousands of miles for your child before now.

Dd does plenty of activities. Today is Thursday. That's the furthest away activity, swimming. She has a medical condition and I drive 45/50 mins each way depending on traffic to a safer, calmer swimming lesson. I'm chronically ill so it's a big challenge for me. But she's my child and she needs to be able to swim safely.

If dd wanted to ice skate, I would take her. The closest rink is an hour away. She'd have to give something else up because she does so many activities.

[KingIrving]

Ds1 does fencing and it is 15 km away. In Sydney peak traffic it takes me close to 35 minutes, sometimes more, never less than 30.
This time in the car with a teenager son is very precious because you get to talk to them and they open and talk about stuff they wouldn't talk about at home.
Go for it. Take a book or spend the hour there MNetting!

[aSleepyPrincess]

YABVVVVU, your poor son does nothing else and you only work part time!
My two dc do three activities a week each and DH and I both work full time, imagine if your son did three activities and split the hour you forsee travelling to ice skating over the three. It suddenly doesn't seem a lot of travelling

You do come across as lazy and quite selfish IMHO.

[Saracen]

He doesn't do ANY other extracurricular activities? Then YABU.

It's only two hours out of your week. During one of those hours you can read. During the other hour you can chat with your son or listen to something interesting.

[aSleepyPrincess]

I would also start looking into other local activities for him to take part in as well, boxing/football/judo all seem popular around here. I really think your son is missing out

[titsbumfannythelot]

It's an hour out of your week. I think you should do it for your son. It sounds like he will appreciate it.

[Magicmonster]

Sorry but I agree that YABU if the only reason is the 33 min journey and you have nothing else you absolutely have to be doing at that time. As others have said, there is not an ice rink in every town and I think you are actually quite lucky that your nearest is not further away! Although you should be prepared that if he enjoys it and is good at it, then like with any extra curricular activity, you could end up doing the journey much more than once a week. (I speak as a previous ice skater who used to train 5 times a week and travel all over the country at weekends for competitions etc).

[JustMumNowNotMe]

It's the only thing he wants to do, and has been askong for years so its not a spur of the moment idea from him?! Take him then, don't be a mean cow.

[SilveryFlowers]

YABU. He does nothing else. He's 10. You have the time and it is not a great distance.

Ds is at school at a distance farther than that and is too young for the bus. (SN school). I really enjoy the travelling- we talk, listen to music and audio books. I hear alot more about how he feels and what is going on, on those car trips than he wants to reveal when at home... captive audience.

But seriously- why would you not want to do this for your DS... especially as it's not a whim, he has been asking for a few years? i am a bit baffled.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I really hope you say yes to this. It would be unbelievably unfair if you didn't. 33 minutes is nothing.