Waiting for the Bus

No, he is NOT old enough to standing on a corner by himself, and I'm actually suprised that there aren't more kindergarten parents standing with there child. My son is 8 years old and his bus stop is at the corner of my house, I can see him walking and getting on the bus when it pulls up and it even rides past my front door when he's on it. I don't walk him to the bus now because he asked me to let him walk alone, but I'm at that door every morning and the door doesn't shut until I can not see the bus. I wave to him as the bus goes by and I think kids need that or something of the sort, like standing on the bus stop with them in the morning. That extra since of warmth and confidence in the morning while waiting for the school bus. That is not too much to ask.

I took my son to the bus stop and waited with him and he is in first grade now. Every child is different and some (most) have a tendency to get distracted and not remember the rules. Its hard to expect a small child to be responsible 100% of the time he is outside and so I think the safest thing to do is take him myself and wait until the bus comes. I had problems with the school that my son goes to recently and I don't even let him take the bus anymore, I drive him. I don't reccommend Academia Cesar Chavez in St Paul to anyone!

A. - Just so you don't feel alone in this - I wait with my kindergartener EVERY day (or my husband does). I can't imagine leaving her out there - even though there are 3 other kids with her... JMO!

do what you feel is right. he is still your baby. if he is comfortable with it and your schedule allows it...go for it.

I think that's great that you wait with your child at the bus stop! There are moms on my street who stand with there children and they are in middle school. Enjoy it while you can, kids grow up to fast! :)

I think that if you are able to wait at the bus stop with your son - that is great! In my opinion, six still seems pretty young to leave alone! Be grateful you have the opportunity to be there!

I absolutely think you should wait for the bus with your child! Bravo to you and what are these other parents doing during this time they should be supporting their children.

I agree with the others. I would wait with my son too. I'm sure your son loves it and way too soon he'll start to not want his mom around so take advantage of this time with him! It will provide for many happy memories in the future.

My son is 16. I waited at the bus stop with him until 5th grade (EARLY bus time then). I have a home daycare and I actually stood out at the stop with all of the daycare kids, too. They loved it! My son would never say he enjoyed it, but I knew it meant a lot to him that we were always there. Once he was in 5th grade, times didn't work out for us to be out there, but I always watched from the window (luckily I could see him from the window) to be sure he got on the bus. I watched him from 5th through 8th grade, just to be sure he got on. In 9th he started walking, so I couldn't watch anymore. :0( Do what YOU want, do what your child wants, don't worry about what others are doing. I would not leave my child at the stop alone unless I could see him from the house. Standing out at the bus stop really helps you get to know the other kids, the bus driver, and you get to see him interact with the others.
S.

I'm with you. It only takes one second for someone to kidnap a child and I'm actually planning on having my husband bring the kids to school. They can ride the bus home because they can just run down the driveway and not have to stand out there but I'll still be watching :o)
I would imagine that there are some parents that don't stand there because you are there. I'll bet if you weren't there you'd see someone else there. It'd be nice if you could all take turns.
You're doing a good job. Keep with it.
J.

It is great that you can be with him at his bus stop....for safetey and for support of him I think it is very important. Your other option is to find a trustworthy older child who will look out for him....look for references on that one and talk to the older child's parent...perhaps you can give a monetary $ammount or occassional gifts to thank the older child. I absolutely agree that children must be supervised and in this day and age you definately should be sure he's in good hands on and off the bus! I will be out there with the other parents daily when my little girl goes off to kindergarten and we have lots of parents there too as well as the stop is right out our window:) congratulations on this milestone:)

A.,
Bravo to you for being an attached parent! Stand at the bus stop with your son for as long as he wants you there. Your presence says to him that he is important to you. In our school district a note goes home that recommends that parents wait at the bus stop with kids for safety reasons. Follow your heart - you're doing a great job and you're not a freak!

A.:
I went to the bus stop for the first few weeks with my daughter when she stared Kindergarten. I now have a good relationship with the older kids at the stop and they are comfortable having me there when I show up now only once in a while, they have even become my babysitters. My daughter liked when I stayed at the bus stop then and now likes the suprise visit at the stop. She is now in 2nd grade. I think it's important to show your child you are there for him. Once the two of you become more comfortable he'll want to go by himself, but don't push it and don't put yourself through the pain of making him go alone, it's more fun to have company standing at the big old bus stop.

Way to be a great mom and keep being there for your children!!!

I just wanted to tell you that I walk my Kindergartner to and from the bus stop every day and most mornings there are at least 3 other Mom's (and their kids are older) so you keep on walking your son. I also brought a camera the first day!!!

Please stay & wait with him. Right now we're dealing with a 16 year old that is targeting my 7 year old with unwanted attention. He has been asked to stay away from our son & seemed to for a while now he is waiting for him after school & it's sending huge warning bells off in my head. Always better to be proactive & spend the extra time to ensure safety.

I feel that you do what makes you and your child comfortable. Trust me...your child will let you know if you are making them uncomfortable by being there. You can't be too safe when it comes to the little ones. I used to be out for mine in the morning and in the afternoon...they had to cross a highway on a curve...there was nothing worth taking the chance with the safety of my kids...good luck and God bless

Hi A.,
Gee, it sounds like your girlfriend is just jealous that you might be a better Mom than her.....Do it if you want to....I say be the fun Mom, bring sidewalk chalk or some dice and get he kids involved in a game, it will also teach addition.

My son has been hurt/bullied while waiting for the bus, if I COULD have been there with him, I would have DEFINITELY been there.

Good Luck!
J. N.

Hi A. -

I agree with you. If your schedule allows you to be at the bus stop - why shouldn't you be there with him - they grow up so fast anyways! My children are too little for school, but we live in on the corner where the school bus comes, and there is always a mom (usually of a kindergardener or 1st grader)waiting with the children. I'm going to be out there with my boys when they go to school! Better to be safe than sorry!

T.

I walked my first child to the bus for K, 1, and 2, and then his brother started kindergarten, so I walked them that year. Then I stopped; the older one walks the younger one there. We live in a safe neighborhood and they like the independence.

I really can't imagine walking a 16 year old to the bus; I would imagine she'd get teased for that, and would also feel like she was being babied.

It's important to watch out for our little ones. It's also important to start giving our children more independence and responsibility as they get older.

Hi A.:

You do what you feel is right.....my oldest daughter didn't have to take a bus until middle school, and I still watch out the window to make sure she got on the bus.
My Kindergartener gets picked up right at our driveway...which is absolutely wonderful!!! However, if she was picked up at the corner....I would stand out there too. As long as she can be seen I'm O.K. with it.
Again, if you feel that you need to be with your child, and you're able to, then do so. Your child will remember those times and he/she will be too old too soon to want you to stand there. You might have another year or 2 so enjoy it while it lasts.

~K.

You know A., the best thing you should follow is what my mother always said to me, follow your instinct. My daughter always makes sure her six year old is escorted right to the school door. There is never ever over precaution now a days. I always tagged along with my little ones at that age. Things happen in this world and sad to say a lot of people are used to leaving the children up to the systems. Sometimes we don't have a choice with work and of the such, but I would be doing the same thing, and maybe one day it would prevent anything negative that might have happened. Trying not to sound paranoid but this is how it is now. Have a great day!

I would definitely wait for the bus with him. I don't think that it is safe for a child to wait for the bus alone. When my daughter was 16 and I was at the bus stop with her, she told me how much she appreciated the fact that I cared enough to make sure that she got on the bus safely. There were a lot of small children at the bus stop in the mornings alone and getting off and walking home alone afterschool. I thought that was so sad and so scary.

I would do the same thing. Waiting for the bus with your kid(s) isn't strange. I can understand if they were 16 but not 6 there might be some questions...but still. You know your child better. Plus, there are too many weirdos out there these days. Better to be safe than sorry.

In these days of age I personally would have to sit and watch my child get on the bus otherwise I would worry the rest of the day. I'm a worry wart though. My daughter just started kindertgarten and is expected to walk ALMOST a mile to school on a busy road without sidewalkds next to the woods. I'm like NO WAY! I drive her everyday and get out of my car or watch to make sure she has stepped inside the school building. Once her feet are in the building I feel so much more at ease. I have no idea in a few weeks if I will feel more comfortable but for now it makes me happy and relaxed. If I were you I would atleast watch out a window or something. It's not common but bad things happen at busstops by strangers and sometimes mean older kids.

All of my friends and family said they wouldn't let my daughter walk to school if they were me because somoene will nab her she's a cute tiny little girl or she'd get lost or something. She would need to walk on about 3 or 4 different streets to get to school.

My daughter is in first grade this year and she loves having me at the bus stop with her. Last year she was the only one that got on at her stop. We would march around in the winter and sing "The ants go marching..." to keep warm and it was the best part of the morning.

This year there are three other kids - 6, 7 and 8 years old. They are kids and most kids that age are not very responisble. They run around in the street, they are rude to us and I can't even imagine letting her stay there alone with these kids.

We've gotten to know her bus driver pretty well too and I completely trust her. She's been wonderful to my daughter but I wouldn't know this if I didn't talk to her every morning and evening.

Definitely do what you feel is best.

Personally, I will walk her the 1/4 block to the bus stop until she gets to middle school. It gives me that much extra alone time with her during the school year.

Sorry to ramble on so much. Keep up the good work because it's something your son will remember and be grateful for.

My son just started kindergarten this year and busses as well. There are 5 other children there and 2 moms and myself wait with the kids and it gets kind of crazy. I can't imagine what they would do if no moms or dads for that matter were supervising.

I feel blessed that I am able to walk him to and from the bus stop and as a matter of fact I can't wait to see him get off the bus this afternoon. Enjoy it while you have the opportunity:) Recent stay at home mom of two boys!!

So it sounds like you've heard a lot of good advise and feel reassured, I just wanted to appluad you for being there for your kids. I think now a days we can get caught up and miss the small things in our kids lives, that one day may become an important.

hi im a single mom also and im a school bus driver it is a rule that all parents of k-4 and k-5 students must be at the bus stop for there kids so you can advise the parents to be there for there kids