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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To give up attempting to get on the bus and to get dd 20 walk 45 mins to/from school everyday?

43 replies

fedupofthis · 05/10/2009 10:57

Ok I don't know if this is a good idea or not.

I don't drive and have a baby in a pushchair and whether or not we can fit on a bus at 8 o'clock in the morning is pot luck.

It doesn't make a difference how early I leave, the buses come whenever they feel like it. Sometimes I leave the house at 7.45 and am still waiting for a bus at 8.20 (after 3 full buses have passed us by), and other times I leave at 8 o'clock and get on a bus alongside 2 other mothers with pushchairs and am at school 25 minutes early.

I stand there panicking at the bus stop and its really getting me down.

So would it be unreasonable to do a 45 minute walk to school and back with dd who is 5? She's used to walking and would walk a daily 25 minute walk last year. I think it would save the stress and make us all more relaxed in the morning.

What do you think?

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 05/10/2009 11:41

walking before school is good for learning

Original poster

fedupofthis · 05/10/2009 11:43

Oo thank you IvyKaty I am boosting her learning potential!

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 05/10/2009 11:47

Yes not only will you be boosting her learning potential you will be giving her very good building blocks that walking somewhere is good - setting down this will be of great benifit to her all through life.

seb1 · 05/10/2009 12:07

In fact it is International Walk to School week this week Walk to school

alwayslookingforanswers · 05/10/2009 12:10

can't you walk there and then get the bus back (presume buses wouldn't be as full once school run/rush hour is over) and then get the bus there to pick up and walk back?

Original poster

fedupofthis · 05/10/2009 12:15

Hi I'm not bothered about the walk and tbh I could do with the exercise, I was wondering if IABU to expect my dd to walk it.

As its International Walk to School week then we will definitely walk tomorrow!

OP posts:

MrsGokVantsyourblood · 05/10/2009 12:19

I walk the 2 miles to school with my 7.9 yo and 4 yo. DS3, who is 2, sits in the buggy on the way and gets out to walk back. We chat about things and watch the changing seasons and pick all sorts of nature things up on the way.

Original poster

fedupofthis · 05/10/2009 12:22

Oh good that has made me feel better.

OP posts:

seb1 · 05/10/2009 12:22

Only down side is at moment it takes for ever as we are collecting conkers everyday, I can't see my kitchen windowsill for them.

Firawla · 05/10/2009 12:47

what you could do is walk, but if she is finding it very tiring, or its really crap weather then taxi 1 or 2x per week, if that is affordable? (well you would have saved your bus fair the other days anyway :p )

Original poster

fedupofthis · 05/10/2009 12:56

The number of times I have tried to call a taxi because the bus is nowhere to be seen- to be told I'd have to wait 30 minutes.

I panic waiting, so with walking I don't have to wait for anybody (oh apart from dd who has something in her shoe/ needs to get something reeaaaaaaaaally important out of her school bag lol).

OP posts:

diddl · 05/10/2009 13:07

Would it work to walk to school and get the bus back?

I like the idea of cycling, TBH.

I love cycling and used to have a trailer with them both in.

But I´m in Germany where you tend to look askance at anyone who doesn´t possess a bike!

Original poster

fedupofthis · 05/10/2009 13:11

I think walking to/ bus back is probably what we'll end up doing.

Thank you everyone for all your help.

OP posts:

boundarybabe · 05/10/2009 13:41

Is it really that bad for a baby to be in a pushchair for that long?? What if you spend the day in town? DS can sit up but can't walk (7 months), so I can't really see the difference between him sitting up in a pushchair or sitting up on the floor playing! Plus he loves being out and watching the world go by. Sorry for the hijack but now I'm worried I'm being a terrible mother!

CommonNortherner · 05/10/2009 14:28

She might be tired to start with but would soon get used to it and the exercise will be great!

MayorNaze · 05/10/2009 14:37

i am obv a terrible mother. i walk everywhere and dd used to spend hours in the pram/pushchair. she was perfectly happy and entertained and got lots of fresh air

walk. and good on you as well

Elk · 05/10/2009 15:05

dd1 loves scootering to school every day, she is one of the few children who live close enough to her school to walk there.
I think the fresh air and exercise are great for before school.
I wouldn't worry about the baby in the pushchair for that long although you may need lots of blankets in winter as dd2 used to get quite cold.

OtterInaSkoda · 05/10/2009 15:46

I don't get the worry about the baby being in the pushchair at all. It's certainly better than being stuck in a carseat fo a similar period, which is what would happen if you drove. Cripes, my ds spent hours and hours out and about - watching the world, smiling at old ladies and so on - every day.

I think you might find the walk home too tiring for your dd though, at least until she gets a bit bigger. As you say, walk to school (I have many, many friends who do this and have done so for a long time) in the AM, and get the bus home in the afternoon.

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