Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

If you don't send your kids on the school bus, why?

I thought I was going to still be working full time come September so I was going to be driving DS to before care and picking up from after care. DS is starting Kindergarten. There is a chance that I won't be working come September, and I just learned from my husband that he does NOT want DS on a school bus. He said if I am not working, he wants me to drive him to and from school. I had no idea he felt so strongly about this... I am the one who is usually overprotective and I see no problem with him riding the bus... I did when I was little. DH did not though... he was always a walker. He doesn't want him on a school bus until middle school age which I think is ridiculous.

I don't know if I should fight him on this... Thoughts??

Thanks.

Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

It's really a personal preference and the personality of your child. There is nothing wrong with the bus and people will say it promotes independence and is a right of passage. What is your DH's reasoning? Is he afraid of bullies or think it's not safe? I think you need to find out his issues and try to alleviate them if you want him to take the bus. It is not worth a fight. If he still is adamant on driving after you talk about what his issues are, then drive him. Guaranteed after a few months you son will be begging to take the bus and your husband may change his tune.

On a personal note, I drove DD to kindergarten every day. In my opinion she was not mature enough to ride the bus and is a crier. I wanted to make sure she started her day on a good note and me driving her did that. I am a SAHM so it didn't interfere with me going to work or anything so I had the opportunity to do it. I loved driving her because I got to see her teachers daily, got to know the school staff and now they have a face to my name. For us it worked great and this year she is more mature and asked to take the bus so she is.

Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

Thank you for your response. You've been very helpful. I don't think DH is thinking bullies... not yet anyway... but he thinks it's not safe. He mentioned the stories of kids getting left on the school bus and I think he's afraid of accidents or him getting "misplaced" somewhere after getting off bus and before getting into the school. Being that he himself was a walker as a kid and his older sons, 15 and 12, my step sons, were also walkers, the whole school bus concept is foreign to him. Even my step sons were shocked when I said their brother was going to take the school bus.

DS has been in day care, full time, since he was 4 months. He can be very independent and mature, but at the same time, he's used to his day care... rules the school... popular and very comfortable there. But he is expressing anxiety over Kindergarten. New school, won't know anyone, etc., etc. I don't know how he'd be on the school bus. Come to think of it, he was fine at Kindergarten Orientation when I walked him to the classroom, but at K screeing, when they took him from me at the front of the school, they had to carry him away crying...

Thanks again!

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

I chose not to send my DS on the bus for kindergarten for a variety of reasons. In his kindergarten class, it was about 50% bus riders and 50% car riders. I certainly don't think he missed out on anything by not taking the bus. As a SAHM, it fit right into my schedule too-- I would drop him off and then run some errands with my younger DD.

If a day comes when the kids are older and express a desire to take the bus, I will reassess my decision at that point.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

DS won't be taking the bus come Sept (he is starting K). He doesn't want to and, I feel it is alot of change at once for him. I feel safer personally driving him and picking him up myself. We will re-evaluate next year

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

No I will be driving.
My good friend is a elem guidence counselor. She says there are bus issues all the time.
That when would k-5th grade, 40 kids unattended in a room daily...that is what bus is. I guess if there was an aid I would feel differently. Then he is asthmatic and will not have access to inhaler

Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

My kid is pissed and totally wants to take bus

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

As PP has said, it's a personal preference.

DS' school, all kindergarten kids take the bus. He will be going to a nearby daycare for before/after care- he will take bus to/from daycare.

When I am out on maternity leave, he will take the. Us to/from home.

My BFF's daughter is eligible for the bus, however BFF doesn't want her taking the bus. Mostly b/c the bus has to cross a major 4 lane roadway from their house to the school. There are other reasons, but this is the biggest.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

Our elementary school's are broken into K-1 elementary, and then they go to a different 2-5 elementary. Since it will be only K-1 on the bus, I will be sending DS on it (he is very excited as he loves riding the bus LOL). When he goes to the 2-5 school, then I may drive him depening on how I feel.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

I didn't want to send my DD on the bus but my DH said I would be taking a great experience away from her. I'm glad he pushed me because it's been a great experience for her. Her drive is all of 8 minutes, the bus driver makes them buckle up and the kids have all been wonderful to each other!!

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

Thank you all so much for the replies. It helps to hear others opinions and I'm glad my DH isn't the only one who feels this way. LOL

Would love to hear any other opinions/experiences.

Thank you all!

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

I just wanted to also say that if my child was spending a long time on the bus or crossing major intersections I might have more of a problem with it. Thor school is so close, all of this is a non issue.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

My DH is pretty against my DS taking the bus too.

But....he is not the one who will have to dress 3 kids and get them all out of the house every day. My DH never took a bus either. I always did. Don't get me wrong, I am still nervous about it but DS will be taking the bus.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

DS will be starting Kindergarten in September and will be taking the bus BUT our district holds Kindergarten and Pre-K in a separate building from the Elementary schools so he will only be on the bus with other kids in kindergarten. When he starts first grade, he'd be on a bus with kids from 1st through 5th and I may make a different choice then.

My SIL pulled my niece from the bus last year and drove her to and from because of behaviors and words she was picking up from the 4th and 5th graders on the bus. She's aware she won't always be able to shield her from that stuff but kindergarten was a big enough adjustment for her without having to deal with all the other stuff.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

I honestly haven't decided yet. We have yet to have a school orientation so when I learn more about how it operates I'll make my decision then. Since my schedule allows me to drive DD to school I'm leaning towards that but in times when my schedule doesn't allow it, I'll probably rely on the bus. My next door neighbor's daughter is good friends with mine (she's a grade ahead). Her mom drives her so I may also arrange a car pool situation with her.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

My DS takes the bus now to pre-k, but, there's an aid.
He'll also be getting the bus to Kindergarten, but, again, Im almost certain, there will be an aid (special ed).

We are very close to our "home" elementary school, so, when he's mainstreamed, I'll be walking him to school and picking him up.
If there was no aid on the bus, I'd be driving him.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

Thanks so much for all of your responses. It's good to know that my husband isn't the only one who feels this way. As far as I know, all the grades go on the same bus and there is no aid. Maybe I will just go with my husband's wishes on this and drive him this year and then reevaluate the situtation and my husband's views next year. I don't mind driving him at all, that's not my issue. I just don't want to hurt him in the long run if I have to work again sooner rather than later and have to start him on the school bus later in the year. But in that case,I'd probably be driving him to the before and after care anyway.

Thanks again!!

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

My DD will not be taking the bus. She is eligible in K even though we live within walking distance but wont be eligible in 1st grade. But either way I really am not comfortable with the idea. I feel there is not enough supervision and frankly, I am a little bit of a control freak.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

My DH didn't want DS taking the bus last year either. He eventually changed his mind. I ended up driving DS to school and letting him take the bus home.

Re: Does anyone NOT send kids on school bus (and they are eligible to take the bus)?

For my DS, the bus ride to/from school is when he does a lot of his socializing and he really likes the bus...I do drive him from time to time as well (though it's rough to walk him in and drag the other 2 with me, especially in inclement weather)

I would drive your DS and also let him take the bus from time to time...Unfortunately you never know if you ever won't be able to drive him due to car troubles etc..and you will then have to be in a position where you need the bus and he may be apprehensive...

It's so strange...I remember vividly how nervous I was before DS started K about EVERYTHING, and literally the second he started K, it was so out of my hands and you just start to go with the flow and have this trust that you never thought you were capable of...It's crazy