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AIBU?

To make him walk when he thinks he's getting a lift.

280 replies

1099 · 19/03/2021 09:04

DS has a detention after school today, (Not his fault obviously he just happened to carry on talking after he'd been warned to be quiet during the lesson!) Anyway that's not the point, I've said I'll meet him after because there are no buses to here from there, only the school bus which he'll have missed obviously.
The school is about 2.5 maybe 3 miles away, I'm thinking of walking up with the dog and then walking home with him (and the dog). The plus side is a nice walk for me and the dog and DS (although he won't appreciate it) the downside is he'll probably moan most of the way home because he's expecting me to be in the car.

OP posts:

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TheBusiness · 19/03/2021 09:46

Schools in my area don’t set after school detentions where pupils have to get a school bus home.

OldScrappyAndHungry · 19/03/2021 09:49

@2late2fixate I was going to say the same thing .

I bloody hate the word “snowflake” to explain the younger generation but dear god you can see where it comes from .

When do some of today’s teenagers learn that life is a little hard sometimes? (And if carrying a heavy bag is all that’s hard then it really isn’t ).

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 19/03/2021 09:50

Good grief, since when was walking home from school a 'punishment'? I actually can't believe some of the responses on here!

twoshedsjackson · 19/03/2021 09:54

Shinesun14 just keep half an eye on your son walking to save the bus fare. Excellent in itself, but what does he do with the saved money? My parents didn't cotton on to my smoking habit for a while, (15) because that was how I saved up ciggie money......

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/03/2021 09:54

Sounds like a good plan- especially as his bag isn’t heavy.

Dd has a massively heavy bag and still often walks - by preference as there’s a bus. Her school isn’t as far as that though - just under a mile I’d say.

2late2fixate · 19/03/2021 09:56

@Beseigedbykillersquirrels

Good grief, since when was walking home from school a 'punishment'? I actually can't believe some of the responses on here!

This thread has boggled my mind. I'm only 34. We all walked home. I don't remember any children being picked up. The swarm of school kids was there heading up the hill to school every morning and every afternoon.

It took me 40 minutes to walk to school every day. Or over an hour if I walked with friends and dawdled. If we walked in a troupe of friends often we'd walk longer detours to see everyone off to their houses. Anything to hang about longer and chat.

I don't see how anyone could have a problem with walking a few miles to and from school.

In fact OP, stop fucking driving him at all. It's good for kids to walk to school on their own.

AlwaysLatte · 19/03/2021 09:58

I wouldn't, the punishment's been done (the detention) so why ruling it afterwards? and he might have a lot of stuff to carry too?

steppemum · 19/03/2021 09:59

so, if you are entitled to get the school bus, due to living rurally etc, you only get it if the school is more than 3 miles away (secondary)

under 3 mile they are expected to walk.

I have to say it would be a lot, to walk 3 mile there and bakc eveyr day on top of a school day, including the days when it is chucking it down with rain.
But hardly an issue for these circumstances.

I know most girls though would not be in shoes they can walk in

JumperooSue · 19/03/2021 10:00

Christ my mum would only ever come and pick me up if it was torrentially raining, even then she’d tell me to start walking and would meet me along the way in the car! I think walking home is good for kids, they unwind from the day, time for a chat and in your case the dog gets walked too!

1099 · 19/03/2021 10:01

@2late2fixate
I don't usually drive him he gets the school bus, but there's no normal bus route from there to here.

OP posts:

SeperationSally · 19/03/2021 10:02

How old is he?

Bettina500 · 19/03/2021 10:03

I wouldn't personally, he didn't do anything awful and has been punished for what he did. It's a long walk after a long school day. Obviously if you had no choice, or you really wanted the walk on a nice day then that's different.

Mojitomumma · 19/03/2021 10:07

Can't understand anyone thinking walking home is a punishment! No wonder kids are so spoilt and soft these days. Walking is good exercise and under 3 miles isn't far. He missed the bus because of his actions therefore has to walk, simple. At least he will have you with him.

Plumbear2 · 19/03/2021 10:14

Walking 2-3 miles with a heavy bag was routine back in the 80s, no one and I really mean no one would have thought of it as unusual or cruel. Make him walk.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/03/2021 10:16

I'd leave the decision to the dog personally.

Minesril · 19/03/2021 10:17

Threads like this make me think I'm doing the right thing not having a car. Our big Tesco is 1.3 miles away, the swimming pool is 1.5. DS is six and fine doing both walks. I quite like walking with him nattering about Ninjago

OllysArmy · 19/03/2021 10:17

My DB used to regularly get detentions as it meant he missed the school bus and so DM would drive and pick him up which is what he wanted. If she had left him to walk I am sure he would have had far fewer.

I think it’s a great idea.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 19/03/2021 10:17

Walking 3 miles is no big deal but if it’s not being done as punishment then what is the point?

Tangogolf55 · 19/03/2021 10:17

Take him a snack to offset the anger!

MrKlaw · 19/03/2021 10:18

@1099

Yes a part of me was thinking if it happened again he'd know the way home so I could just tell him to walk.
To those who asked; I wasn't really thinking of it as a second punishment more of making the point that it's a pain for everyone not just him.

This is a nice extra layer.

you're still picking him up so he's not alone
but he has to walk back because no bus
no lift because dog needed a walk which is fine
hey you can remember the route in case you get another detention you can walk on your own :wink:

AlecTrevelyan006 · 19/03/2021 10:19

It would make more sense to have told him beforehand rather than spring it as a surprise

1099 · 19/03/2021 10:19

YetAnotherSpartacus
The dog will be chuffed to bits he loves DS and usually sits waiting for him to get home from school.

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/03/2021 10:21

I think the dog wins then. Enjoy your walk!

lanthanum · 19/03/2021 10:23

I think Tangogolf's suggestion is a good idea. You want to make him realise that you pick him up on your terms, and that in future he might be expected to walk home on his own, but you don't need (or want) to make the journey miserable. Greeting with him "the dog needed walking so I came on foot" and a snack will hopefully mean you can have a pleasant walk home, but the point will be made.

Viviennemary · 19/03/2021 10:24

It would be really mean.

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