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).

You could have the next John Curry or Robin Cousins on your hands there but for the sake of 33 minutes each way you're considering not doing it??
YABU. VU.
33 minutes driving is nothing. Really.

Hope your DS enjoys his ice-skating!

No. I think half an hour is an acceptable drive. There aren't ice rinks on every corner!

If it's the only thing he wants to do and he's been asking for ages, then yes, I'd definitely take him.

YABU!

We spend far more time travelling to and from clubs than we do at the clubs themselves. We don't drive and most of them are a bus to town centre then a different bus out again.

It's all worth it. However my DCs don't go to school as they are home ed, so we have a lot more time to travel around and if we get back later in the evening it's not so important. It was difficult when they were at school, we couldn't have managed nearly so much.

That said, as he is 10 and this is the only club, I would do it :)

Hadn't RTFT but ICE SKATING?! I'm jealous! My DD would love to do that but it's way too far (trains not buses)

It sounds ideal to me. A short drive with your son for company and then an hour quiet time with a cup of coffee and a kindle/book/magazine with no-one to interrupt and no household chores to do. Then home again with a happy, exercised son. If as he gets older he wants to go more often I can see it could become a chore but an hours round trip once a week is nothing.

I think you should do the drive. When I was younger I was into dancing. When the local dance class closed down, the nearest one was about 30 mins away and my Mum refused to take me because it was too much hassle. I've never forgotten it and still feel a bit bitter about it!

I think you've got to encourage any interest your children show for extra-curricular activities. They bring so many benefits - particularly when they are in their teen years. It's a cliché but it really can 'keep them off the streets' and keep them focused on something productive. It can provide masses of self-esteem. So many kids aren't interested in ANYTHING - which can be very worrying for some parents.

A 30 mins drive isn't far. Our nearest town, with lots of activity going on is about that far away, and I know I will be driving my kids there lots so they can get involved with things. They might not even take to it and give up after a while, but at least you provided that opportunity.

Yes you should do it!

The time in the car together can actually be quite nice.

Mulled wine 45 isn't too late to learn to skate.... that's how old I am. Only skated a few times as a kid, then started lessons this year with DD. At the Learn to Skate lessons, there's lots of adults and parents learning along side the kids.

Off the back of this thread, I've just researched holiday clubs at the local ice rink and signed ds up. It's 55 mins away - just for context!

Basically you can't be arsed can you? Which imo is pathetic and shit. Buy him an Xbox instead eh.

Wait until they get selected for certain squads and are training at 5:30am and then back again for an evening session.
I do between 300-400 miles a week for activities depending on competition locations.
I read a lot of books.

Take him. Please

titchy

What's 'pathetic and shit' is you judging someone without knowing the full facts.

Maybe OP can't afford the lessons/petrol

Maybe she is a nervous driver

Maybe she has a shit load of other commitments

Maybe there is a shit load of traffic where she lives

33 mins each way is a lot of travelling. I know many PPS are saying it is no distance but I think it is far. I would rarely travel for 33 mins. If he did lots of other activities I would have to think about it. As he does no activities I would definitely take him if I could afford the class, the equipment and the journey. He might really love it. If he doesn't particularly enjoy it you can always stop taking him and he will know you gave him the opportunity. And you will know you gave him the opportunity.

My parents did it daily and I do it for my dc several times a week. The journey when it's just the two of you, forced to talk is simply bliss when they're teenagers.

I must say I am really surprised you even have to ask, the fact you don't even work on that day too. My too do lots of activities and we still travel that sort of distance regularly, often much longer (admittedly when the travelling is longer then the activity tends to be longer too).

I did ice skating lessons and had to travel that distance, it never seemed that long to be honest.

If you can't afford the travel or there are other reasons then of course YANBU.

@Chloe84

Maybe OP can't afford the lessons/petrol
OP says its the ime she isn;t happy about, not money.

Maybe she is a nervous driver
If thjats the case, one shuld get over it and seek help. But she doesn;t say that, she states its the sheer time.

Maybe she has a shit load of other commitments
Again, says she could get him there.

Maybe there is a shit load of traffic where she lives
33 mins traveling 3 miles in traffic and 33 mins travelling 30 miles down the M way are both 33 mins. She gave the journey in mins. I assume she knows about the traffic.

@Riderontheswarm

I would rarely travel for 33 mins

A commute to work of under 30 mins is really unusual....

Rider what, for anything?!

I do an hour each way for work, would still take the kids to clubs half an hour away.

Rider what, for anything?!

I do an hour each way for work, would still take the kids to clubs half an hour away.

I think you should take him. A physical hobby is so important. It teaches kids so much and provides another friendship group outside school. Through the teenage years it keeps them off the streets and keeps them fit.
30 minutes drive is negligble.

Yabu.
Massively.

Half hour isn't very far is it really? I'm guessing you live in a big city

yes you are BU. 33 mins is not very much. if you lived in london you'd be hard pressed to get to anything in that time. i lived outside when growing up and my mum took me 1 hour to get to a county gymnastics class.

are you prepared to give up a bit of time so your child can accomplish something or not?

is op coming back?

He's been asking for years so is obviously keen?

Dd has skating lessons and loves it. We drive just over an hour each way every week to get to lessons and for ages it meant leaving home at 07:30 on a Sunday as lessons started so early.

But it's made such a massive difference to her. It's the only activity she's ever wanted to do. It's good exercise and it's improved her mental health so much. She looks forward to that one hour all week.