Its just hit me how much commitment driving 30mins (20miles) to school each day is.....

[aintnomountainhighenough]

We have chosen an absolutely fantastic school for our DD. We have taken a lot of time over it and I have worried about various things through the process and have talked through and overcome all my worries. However one angle which I didn't really appreciate until yesterday was the drive to school.

The school is 20 miles from our house and takes about 30 mins (that was at normal school start time and in the rain). I am concerned about the effect this will have on us as a family and would be interested to hear other peoples experience of travelling this distance.

Thanks

DONE better - I wasn't talking about the school dinners!

Katelyle, I agree with you on the hassle of country living. I'd love to move back to somewhere on a bus route, or even somewhere with a footpath for kids to walk on or a safe enough road for cycling. My 1st run is to dd's bus (7.30 - 7.45), then dd2 and ds to school (8.35 - 9.05 just dropping off - longer if I actually walk into the playground with them) then back via dd3's pre-school. Nearest (not nice) town is 25 mins, so I then need to turn around to pick up dd3 and leave by 11.20. Home by 12.15, lunch, then not much time before leaving for school run at 2.50. Drp off dd2 and ds at home by 3.40ish, then quick drink before going off to pick up dd from bus. That's without ballet, netball, youthclub etc. All I do is drive around. Very depressing and bad for the environment. Also not at all good for independence of kids. Next time we're moving to a town.

PS they are all at the nearest appropriate state schools - it certainly wouldn't be my choice to drive endlessly round the neighbourhood!

FGS why doesn't everyone just go their local school? All this ferrying-about malarkey.

But we use to live in the middle of nowhere so ANY school was a long drive!

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2hrs each day is a big committment..Lots of mums at DC's children do this and very much view this as their 'job' if you like.....Fine if you don't plan to return to work in the future or think that your circumstances won't change....

best bet is to give it a go, if you can do it through the dark winter months then summer & spring should be fine....

good luck (and don't work out the cost of the petrol !!!)

Aint - remember if you have issues with your local school then get involved on the PTA, fundraising, reading in school etc...

Kids love mum being involved in school - I know all the mums of DS1's friends and can arrange things easily in holidays, help out friends if they have emergencies. All this stuff helps your kid in school, teaches them about communities and helps the school.

You can make a difference. You are obviously passionate about your daughter getting the best, help her school, help her get the best and the other kids at her school.

Good luck - right decison IMO.

30 minutes each way.....

Jeeeeeez I couldn'tthink of anything worse!

I simply wouldn't send my children to any school, state or private (wouldn't do private full stop but thats another thread) that far away.

(harman, it may be a viable solution for the OP, who we know has the disposable income to pay for private school - people weren't suggesting it'd work for everyone)

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dds school isnt private, i just didnt want to kill her and baby ds by falling asleep at the wheel

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When it comes to childrens safety nothing else comes into it. No school is worth putting their lives at risk for.

Ditto

Think you've done the right thing, aint. I had a 30 mile round trip to my high school and it was hard enough at secondary age. With my experience, I wouldn't dream of putting a little one in that situation (I travelled by public transport but even by car, it would eat into your time hugely).

Yep agree Katelyle I do need to be positive mainly for my DD but also for me and the rest of the family. I do have negative tendancies and need to keep them in check! There is a lot going on at the moment, decisions to be made about stuff etc and having her at the local school will enable us to chill for a bit and sort everything else out. Actually moving is an option for us, much as I love village life I do find it quite claustrophobic at times!