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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Working Mums - What's your daily commute?

38 replies

ConfusedMummy07 · 14/07/2011 11:53

Hi,

I'm just being nosey & wanted to find out what the daily commute is for the working mums who have children at infant/junior schools.

I'm about to commit myself to 1hr commute each way and just wanted to compare notes really.

TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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MrsKravitz · 14/07/2011 11:54

Mine is an hour each way.

wahwahwah · 14/07/2011 11:54

About 30-40 mins, depending on traffic.

redskyatnight · 14/07/2011 11:56

30 nminute walk (school on the way). :)

oranges · 14/07/2011 11:57

10 minute bus ride or 30 minute walk. Bought the house specifically because its its close to work.

stealthsquiggle · 14/07/2011 11:58

Anything from 5 mins to 2 hours (depending where I am going!). 1hr either way every day will leave you with a very short working day and/or a heavy dependence on wraparound care - presumably you have factored that in?

PatriciaHolm · 14/07/2011 12:16

50 mins drive, but I only do it twice a week (wfh 1-2 days as well) I do it all around normal school times (with a couple of clubs)

Original poster

ConfusedMummy07 · 14/07/2011 12:20

Thanks for all the replies. It's good to know that there are others who have a long commute as well.

I have factored in childcare and I will be reducing my hours in September so I will be picking up DS from school whilst a childminder will be dropping him off.

OP posts:

bitsyandbetty · 14/07/2011 12:23

30 minutes by car most days and get to work early and leave early to get kids although now have to do one to two days a week in London which is 3 hours commute there and back and would not like to do this more regularly. Work from home the following day. It depends what your home life is like. With me it is full on when I get home as DH does not get home until about 8 in the evening so it is a full-time job and 30 minutes commute is all I could fit in. Would not want to do a long commute as it increases the stress levels, stuck in traffic and wondering whether you will get to DCs on time. I turned down a job with an hour commute because of this and end up now with longer commute some days.

paddingtonbear1 · 14/07/2011 12:23

30 mins - I commute by bike. I'm only in the office 3 days a week.

Northumberlandlass · 14/07/2011 12:23

About 40-45 mins each way depending on traffic. I work Mon-Thurs 8-5 though so I can do the school run on a Friday. But DH works shifts and DP look after DS when we are both at work.

My working days are long though leave at 7am and don't get back till 6pm, but I like having a 'mummy' day on a Friday.

circular · 14/07/2011 12:38

Between 45mins and an hour each way.
Usually quite a long day, leaving at 7am, getting home varies between 5 and 7pm.
DH at home though, 'mummy time' rather than child care is an issue.

Original poster

ConfusedMummy07 · 14/07/2011 12:44

Those who leave early to go to work, i.e at 7am or so, what childcare arrangement do you have for the early mornings?

OP posts:

titchy · 14/07/2011 12:47

About 1.5 hours each way door to door if I'm doing a school run first. So leave at 8.30, drop at school, travel to work, arrive just after 10.00. Leave work at 2.00 and do same in reverse!

InLimboAgain · 14/07/2011 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sinkingfeeling · 14/07/2011 13:04

25 min bike ride from home to work but 10-20 min car journey from home to school. I work 9-5 three days and 9-2 two days, so can pick the dc up from school twice a week.

SnowieBear · 14/07/2011 13:07

30 minutes each way by car nowadays, it used to be 1 1/2 hours when DS first arrived on the scene. Initially, I got childminder near my work, so DS commuted backwards and forwards with mummy from 6mo. We moved to be nearer to work when he was 1.6yo. Leave house before 8.00am, drop at childminder for 8.00am, drive to work. Work 8.00am to 5.00pm normally - pick DS up at 5.30pm, then home. My work involves quite a bit of driving, so I make sure I am creative in how I organise my working day to keep as close to drop off/pick up times at possible.

dixiechick1975 · 14/07/2011 13:11

20 mins to school by car. Then 10 mins to work by car. Same in reverse.

What has worked wwll for me is DD going to a school in the town I work in.

obviously maximises working hours but easy to pop out for assembly, sports day etc.

Original poster

ConfusedMummy07 · 14/07/2011 13:15

dixiechick1975 How did you manage to get your DD into a school in the same town that you work in? I'm assuming that you don't live in the same town as the one that you work in.

Also, has your DD missed out on not having any close friends by?

OP posts:

seedlessgrape · 14/07/2011 13:40

When my DD first started at junior school (by which time I was a single mother) I was working in Central London and my hours were 9-6. I used to drop her off at the childminder at 8am, drive to the station, get the train and then the tube and be at my desk at about 9.15. Her father would pick her up at c.6pm, by which stage I would just be leaving work and I would then do the reverse commute and pick her up from his house at about 7.15. I still do this although she is due to start senior school in September so things will change in so far as she'll become a latch-key kid (what a bad mother I am!).

It's a bloody long day with very little time for myself but I always believe that we make our choices in life, ie I chose to be a single mother, I chose to continue working in London and I chose to be a stubborn and independent woman, maybe to the detriment of my daughter; who knows, only time will tell.

Pootles2010 · 14/07/2011 13:41

DS is only at nursery, but about an hour each way in the car.

wordfactory · 14/07/2011 14:09

I work from home...bliss.

Northumberlandlass · 14/07/2011 14:11

I am lucky as DH shifts mean he is at home for 2 days, the other days my lovely parents take DS at 7am

LittleBoxes · 14/07/2011 14:11

An hour and 20 minutes each way, four days a week. By train, so I consider it precious reading/staring aimlessly out of window time. One of my favourite bits of the day.

GooseyLoosey · 14/07/2011 14:16

2hrs 15 mins each way. Apart from the Tube, I really enjoy the commute - its the only "me" time that I ever have.

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 14/07/2011 14:19

An hour each way on my bike. Although I cycle with DS to school on the way which makes it about 1h20. Nanny picks him up. You'll get used to it, OP - I promise.

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