As September rolls in, my children are ready to embrace the independence of walking to school on their own. They’re old enough now, or at least I hope so. I’ve drilled into them the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street, though I can’t say I’ve witnessed them actually doing it. Thankfully, the school is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from our front porch, so I’m fairly confident they’ll make it there and back.
Last year, we gave this whole walking-to-school thing a trial run, and it started off fabulously—until I received a call from my son’s teacher, who informed me that my son, whom I affectionately refer to as “Wild Child,” was acting like a total maniac on the way to school. With a heavy heart, I had to put an end to our little experiment.
But a new school year brings new opportunities, and I’m hopeful that this year will be filled with a different kind of craziness. He’s now three months older and, dare I say, wiser. He’ll be entering second grade, while my daughter will be in fourth. If they can’t manage the short walk to school now, then when will they? I have no intention of being their chauffeur until they’re old enough to drive themselves. While many parents choose to do so, I’ve never quite understood the need.
When my husband and I moved to this town years ago, one of the main attractions was its walkable nature. Unlike my sprawling suburban childhood, this community allows residents to stroll to parks, schools, and the quaint downtown area. Back then, we were a one-car family, and with both of us commuting to the city, that was really all we needed.
Now, we are a two-car, two-child family, but I’m determined to stop driving my kids to places they can walk to as soon as they’re capable. For years, I’ve been hustling them a couple of blocks to school, waiting anxiously for the morning bell, and then scurrying back home only to repeat the process just six hours later. I’ve done this exact routine a whopping 1,440 times, and I’ve dreaded every single minute. Not because I’m particularly lazy—I actually enjoy walking—but because I could reclaim an extra 45 minutes of my day if I didn’t have to shepherd them. Plus, the morning trek means extra work for me, and I’m not keen on fixing my hair and makeup just to return home and do it all over again. Yet, I do it, because I refuse to let anyone see my unkempt self. I want to maintain at least the illusion of grace and competence.
My irritation with this twice-daily ritual even made me contemplate moving to another town solely based on their bus system and the time my kids would spend on it. However, that reasoning wasn’t compelling enough to convince my husband to relocate, and I continued to believe I would be walking my kids to school indefinitely.
Then it dawned on me: why can’t they walk by themselves? I had completely overlooked the fact that kids actually grow up!
This year is the year. It’s time to give it another go. I’m fairly certain they won’t be in danger crossing the one neighborhood street that lacks a crossing guard. But I guess it’s a risk I’ll have to take.
By the way, speaking of independence, when can they become latchkey kids? For those interested in expanding their family, check out this excellent resource on family-building options.
In summary, as the school year begins, I’m ready to let my kids take their first steps toward independence by walking to school alone. It’s a big step for both them and me.
Keyphrase: Walking to school independence
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