To make the kids walk 3miles to school?

[DHdoingmyheadin]

Due to ongoing roadworks, the main road through the village to my kids school is closed and will be for c. a month. We are right at the edge of where the roadworks are so we have two options:

(A) A 15 mile detour by car, down the road all the traffic is being funnelled down (a main A road that is congested even when the road through the village is open). Which I trialled yesterday, and took me 45 minutes each way. This was with no school traffic as schools go back tomorrow. So I’d be doing at least 90 minutes of driving each morning and DH 90 mins in the afternoon.

(B) The kids walk to school and back. 3 miles each way.

DH is adamant I can’t possibly expect them to walk. It’s hilly. It’s due to rain. I think they walk. I think it would be insane to drive when it’s literally faster for them to walk. It’s 3 miles. I’m not asking them to swim the channel and then scale Mount Everest. Kids are 12 and 13.

AIBU to put my foot down and refuse to drive?

Its a 50 minute walk there and back for a month. No wonder we’re turning into a nation of obese snowflakes! A generation ago no one would have thought twice about that journey!

Team walk here. If there’s a hurricane forecast, maybe drive.

If it’s uphill on the way home it’ll be downhill in the morning - even easier.

What part is being lazy? Not wanting to drive them?

YANBU, my children had to walk 3 miles to nursery, of course they'd manage at 12/13 years old! Though bikes would definitely be better, even if they have to walk them up the steepest parts of the hill it'd still save time and energy. DS's primary school is up a steep hill and even the little 7 year olds are biking up it.

It's a 45 minute walk, same as the car journey.
Not too onerous at all, but they could be pampered & driven one way.

Bet that was fun for a 3 year old walking 3 miles and then having a day at nursery.

and then Walking back?

Were they in a buggy or on a scooter? Three miles with a nursery age child would takes ages surely

Yes. It’s not the kids fault there’s road works. It’s up to the parent to find a solution that works for the kids as well not just herself.

Your nursery aged child walked 3 miles to nursery? That must have taken an eternity?

My poor kids have to come on two 3 mile dog walks with me a day and also walk 2 miles to/from school😬(they're 12, 9 and 6)

I'm also going to add that's lots of adults do walk or cycle that far/further to work and back.

I'm really shocked at these answers.

It's a temporary thing during good weather. I wouldn't be spending 90 minutes in a car. I'd rather walk part way with them.

Our pre school was two miles away along the North sea (so wild). We walked it every single day and my three year old managed. It was double for me as had the journey back as well.

I try to walk at least five miles a day but it's often more. There's no way I would drive something that takes almost as long as walking.

It's a bit inconvenient but it's only for the duration of the roadworks and will be less stressful as you know exactly how long something takes on foot.

So they walk ten miles a day every day? Surely this takes hours?

Walking back too. Switched to biking as soon as they could bike though.

It's hard enough to get mine to walk a mile home honestly it'll be awful

I'd compromise on really bad mornings.
They are old enough to walk on dry mornings.
Can they arrange to leave heavy books in school.
My DD has access to e-books as she cannot manage the heavy bag.

I feel like there are quite a few posters on this thread over estimating the distance their children walk or the time it takes to walk.

Yeah of course your 6 year old walks ten miles a day 5 days a week 😁

I disagree...I don't think many adults walk three miles to work a day. They may well have a commute of that distance or more but they will be driving or using public transport in the main I think.

Walking or biking once they could bike. Took ages walking, about 1.5 hours at their pace but biking was about 20-30 minutes.

I cycled or walked to school cause it was close. I have never own a car so I still cycle. I hate walking so won't do that. I'm very much pro daily physical activity and I agree we are very reliant on cars. However, I also think there is a massive difference with an adult deciding to run to work and a 12yo walking to school.

I'm assuming these kids have a backpack with textbooks and laptops, they are wearing a uniform, along with thw uniform there are some ridiculous rules regarding shoes and jackets and leggings etc. And no space to get changed. Where as I'm assuming an adult is not running in pencil skirt and blazer.

I'm just trying to imagine my day as a 12yo Where I walk an hour to school, having school day, walk an hour back, cycle 15min to 2h of football training and cycle back, do homework. And do this every day.

Making kids walk 3 miles is not abusive or any other shit like that. But let's not pretend an 1h walk one way is nothing.

They shouldn't close main roads they should use traffic lights.

Op where are the buses? We are rural isn't but plenty of buses available

He'll sometimes walk/run, sometimes scooter, sometimes bike. We're an active family, go hiking most weekends etc have done since they were all wee 🤷🏼‍♀️

Of course they can walk. They are not lumps of sugar

Get their them appropriate outdoor clothing and away they go

If they don't want to walk cycle

My mine have been cycling the same distance since they are 9

1.5 hours each way. I couldn't drive then so no other option - no buses.