Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

I'm not very active in this community but my sister (Porrruss) is and suggested I post here for some help.

I need help and am frustrated and figured I might find some advice through this forum.

I have a 7 year old boy who goes to school in Kew Garden Hills. (We live in Fresh Meadows so he takes a school bus every morning... the school is only a 5 minute drive from our apt)

I have been TRYING for months to secure a safe after school program for him. I have a certain amount in my budget that I can allot for daycare and I HAVE found a few great programs, specifically at the Flushing YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of America. (And the Boys Club is free... )

My problem is... None of the bus companies that drop off at their locations pick up from my son's school...I have called private day cares in the area and the SAME issue.

His school is really no help...I've called TIME AND TIME again and got a 1/2 a$$ed response like.. 'Well I know some kids go to the Boys Club in Flushing' but cannot help me in trying to GET him there.

I took a trip to the Boys Club today to inquire about their program (AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT). The young man who helped me gave me a bunch of business cards of bus companies that drop off at their program. There are schools listed on the business cards and none of them seem to be in the same area of my son's school so I doubt he is on their route.

I CANNOT find these types of bus companies in the phone book. I see yellow school buses EVERYWHERE, there has to be a list I can call... This can't be that hard. (My FH suggests I call a newspaper or news program to vent my frustrations) A parent shouldnt have this much trouble trying to find out this type of information...

I did get some headway with ONE company (the boys club of richmond hill gave me their number) It was a guy, and something about him rubbed me the wrong way... He called me his evening and said he can pick my son up and bring him to the boys club in flushing for 65/week. Which is fine. But something about him irks me and I can't risk the safety of my son...

Right now my option is to leave work (in Nassau County) every day at 2:20pm... pick my son up from school... drive him to the after school program I choose. So I know I have an OPTION... It may *get* to me having to do that every day.

So I ask you.... LI families... Does ANYONE have ANY information on Bus Companies in queens who offer this type of service?? Is there a magical list somewhere?

What would you do?

I'll tell you ONE thing... As a newly active member of my son's school PTA I am SURELY going to do something about the information that is available for us regarding after school care... I only wonder if I'm not the only one going through this.

Message edited 8/23/2007 11:03:45 PM.

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

Bumping for my poor sister.....

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

I would call up the bus companies from the cards you got and if they don't in fact have a route where your son's school is, I would ask if they could recommend one to you. I don't see why they wouldn't. I would also call up the Boys Club and find out if there is another child in their program with a similar route as your son's and maybe find out how that child gets there.

I hope it all works out for you. I can imagine how frustrated and worried you are.

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

maybe ask his classroom teacher if she can be of any help. Maybe she has had students in the past who attended the same program, maybe she cn ask other techers in the school. That is a tough situation for you. You are trying to do the best for your son and it seems like you are hitting a road block. Good luck

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

I'm surprised the school doesn't run an in-house aftercare program. I would lobby for that since you are a member of the PTA.

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

Posted by bicosi

I would call up the bus companies from the cards you got and if they don't in fact have a route where your son's school is, I would ask if they could recommend one to you. I don't see why they wouldn't. I would also call up the Boys Club and find out if there is another child in their program with a similar route as your son's and maybe find out how that child gets there.

I hope it all works out for you. I can imagine how frustrated and worried you are.

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long

Posted by Ang-Rich

Posted by bicosi

I would call up the bus companies from the cards you got and if they don't in fact have a route where your son's school is, I would ask if they could recommend one to you. I don't see why they wouldn't. I would also call up the Boys Club and find out if there is another child in their program with a similar route as your son's and maybe find out how that child gets there.

I hope it all works out for you. I can imagine how frustrated and worried you are.

I agree..call the Boys Club to identify anyone that goes to your son's school...then see if you can get in touch with the parents to find out what arrangements they have.

Also..maybe if you contact the bus companies they can work with you to add your son's school to the route???

Re: Frustrated mom needs help -- kinda long