Monday, July 06, 2009

Some good news, some bad news.

Let's just dive right in with the bad news, shall we? Or, should I say, "shall I?"

I found out some seriously TERRIBLE news today.

I need to back-track a bit though.

I've been spoiled. Very, very spoiled.

I've never had to do the drop-off/pick-up thing for my kids once they started elementary school. When Grace entered kindergarten, I was hospitalized with the twins and a wonderful friend dropped her off and picked her up; every. single. day. Then we moved to Oregon and the girls rode the bus, getting picked up and dropped off at the end of my driveway. Just as they should. A parents convenience is of utmost importance, right? When we moved back to CA we moved to an area with where my girls got bused to school. AMAZING bonus.

It pains me to say this, but when we bought our new house, I knew that there were NO BUSES. But not until we were in escrow. It was almost a deal breaker. For real.

I've thought about this. A lot. I've wished fervently that this school district had buses. I had talked myself into thinking that dropping off my children was going to be do-able. That picking them up at TWO different times was manageable. I've really been trying, because honestly, I can think of much better uses of my time than sitting around waiting for my children to be released from school. It just makes more sense to have them delivered right. to. me.

Doesn't it?

I've been de-railed though. I recieved some terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad news today.

I won't have TWO pick-up times.

I'll have THREE (they stagger the dismissal times-kindergarten, lower grades and upper grades-so that there isn't so much conjestion at one time).

I haven't fully wrapped my mind around this yet.

THREE pick up times?

Oh, the good news?

Moved in.
Pretty much.
LOVED my new church ward/congregation.


51 comments:

Tamara said...

Whoo-hoo! I'm the firs to leave a comment. That doesn't happen very often!

So sorry about the pick up times. We've never done that either and pretty much have the bus drop off and pick kids up right outside our front door.

Glad you are moved in and things went well at church. That is always a nice feeling!

Sara Elizabeth said...

That stinks that you have three different pick up times. Bummer.

Yah for being moved in and loving your new church!

Dumb Mom said...

Ewww! Yuck! I've seriously considered allowing #2 to drop outta preschool entirely to prevent driving him there. At least #1 gets bused, but I'm still not happy that it takes me at least 3 minutes walking to get to the bus. Not fair... some people get picked up at the end of their driveway. The injustice! Good luck when school starts; I;m thinking you'll be needing it!

Scary Mommy said...

Oh, Angie... You have my sincere condolences. That is truly tragic. Hope the house is worth it!

Unknown said...

That is one of the best perks about living in our townhouse. The school is across the street. The middle school bus picks up K on the corner. Next year, however, my more-than-a-decade of driving to early morning seminary every day will start......

I really feel for you. I love not having to run out, and when I had to do it for preschool, I complained the whole time!

stefanie said...

Enjoy the benefits of the move!

And. Car. Pool.

Love the makeover, see how long it's been since I visited you...

Jenni said...

Three pick up times??? Oh my...

I am glad you are enjoying your beautiful new house!

Amy said...

That is so crazy you have three different pick ups. Are they all at the same school at least? Yeah for having a great church.

Alicia W. said...

Oh my goodness! THREE pick up times. Phew! I can't even fathem the thought. I wish you the best.

Amy @ Six Flower Mom said...

Three different pick up times is INSANE! But I will say, when my children were in school ... I picked them up at their classroom everyday and enjoyed being a part of their day. Meeting their friends, building a relationship with their teacher ... it was nice!

BUT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES IS INSANE!

S Club Mama said...

3 pick ups? Do they go to 3 different schools?

Susie said...

Wow! That's going to be a great juggling act if you can get it to work!

Anonymous said...

Ugh! I have always brought my children with me because they did attend the school I worked at. Since our school closed they are going to our neighborhood school. Since it is 1.8 miles (less than 2 miles) from our house they do not provide a bus...our subdivision is off a major road...no way they are walking! So, I need to do the drop off this year too...I feel your pain!

Jen said...

that is terrible. the whole bus pick-up thing was the reason that we are sending Hayden to the school he is going to. He has to ride the bus, just has too.

I wish you good luck.

Elyse said...

Welcome to reality sweet mama! My mother had three kiddos in three differernt schools with three different pick up times! Car-pooling helped sometimes but YOU will get it worked out!

YIPPEE for LOVING your new church!
~Elyse

Lula! said...

Wait, how can your school district NOT have buses? I mean...I live in the middle of podunk Redneckville and we have allllll kinds of buses. K-12, baby.

But Libbey doesn't ride it--I can see her school from my kitchen window, so...you know...we just hop in the car and drive. Easy peasy.

Then again, one fine day Lib will be in middle school--on the other side of town--while Caroline is where I can see her from my kitchen window.

Ahhhhhh...yes. Now I see your dilemma. And I'm sorry.

But I'm happy you're SETTLED! Now show us pictures of all the hard work you've been doing.

Laurie said...

oh I feel for you, I am just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief. I just finished a year of morning and afternoon preschool. drop-8:30, back home, pickup11:00, quick lunck, back-12:00- my only consolation is the bus brought them home at the end of the day so I missed that pick up. I am so sorry. You will make it. It is only for one year right? just keep telling yourself that..:)
What really kept me going was that my kids REALLY loved pre-school. Keep happy thoughts!

{krista} said...

I feel ya - I had two pick up times at three different schools - until golf season started, then it was one pickup/drop off at golf course, then three more pick up times. But, it was my own fault. We have busses. Next year though, they are so taking advantage of the busses. That was ridiculous!

Melissa said...

Man that's brutal.
Sorry.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

That is crazy. And there must be other parents with kids dismissed at different times. I wonder how they deal with it. I am thinking you need to get some car pool partners!

Kacey said...

Oi Vey! Are the pick up times far apart? That stinks! I'm sure you will figure it out though.

Pretty much moved in? That IS good news! Good job!

Kristina P. said...

That's so great you have a ward you love!

We live in the middle of Utah, and have a branch. It's been really, really tough.

Kimberly said...

Glas you are lovin' the new bunch of people. I'm very sorry about the pick-up times! That truly stinks!

Laura said...

I'm so glad you like your ward! As for three pick up times. I feel for you. I have had 3 and its busy! Now we are going to be back to two but its those middle of the day can't get anything done one's (kindergarten) that really stink~ The twins don't start kindergarten for another year but preschool isn't much better.

Oh well...

T Rex Mom said...

So sorry about the pick ups. Maybe someone from church is in the same boat and you can trade off car pool runs!

Glad the new house is working out (aside from the busing situation).

Erin said...

That doesn't sound like too much fun! I am hoping I won't have to deal with this since the boys are only a year apart! Good Luck!

Heather said...

Oh, no. Hopefully the times aren't that far apart. The other good news is that you have made me glad that I live in town. My kids can walk to and from school with no worries on my part.

It's been a while since I've visited and I must say I like the new looks of things. Glad to hear everything is going well for you.

girlytwins said...

Oh My. That is not cool.
Not cool at all!
See there is just one more reason to stick with just my twins. LOL. We don't have buses either. :)

Jennifer said...

I recall those days. Now my oldest drives all of them to school and activities. There are perks to him driving. :) I can quite honestly say I do not miss the madness of living in a car and/or carpooling.

Congrats on moving in and loving your new congregation!

THE Stephanie said...

That's hideous!! First, no buses, then, they stagger the release times?? Who exactly do they think they're helping??

So crazy!!!

Brooke said...

How are you going to get anything done. I don't understand the getting out of school at different times. Don't they understand that parents are going to just wait till all the kids are out and pick up all at once. What a stupid idea. So dumb. Good luck with that!

Glad the move is done. The house looks great!

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

That's why I knit. lol! I currently only have to drive Luke to preschool and then pick him up afterwards. But, starting next year I'll have to drive him to school, then take my twins to preschool, THEN, pick up the twins in the early afternoon and then head over to get Luke. When the twins start kindergarten, at least I'll be going to the same school to get all 3 of them and I'll only have 2 pick up times. I would hate to have 3 different pick up times! I feel for you!!!

Nicole Feliciano said...

can you walk any of it? and at least get exercise organizing all this mayhem.

Danyele Easterhaus said...

i am totally with you on this one. i have the same stinking issue with 2 of mine 4 days a week this school year. wait! we can just talk on the phone the entire day while we drop off and pick up and then you and i will besties!!!

Salty Incisor said...

all I can say is ouch and get into mobile blogging!!
Sorry!

United Studies said...

Perhaps you can share pick ups with other moms? That way you don't have to do three different pick-up times...that is stupid! What do parents do that have children in daycare?

Brenda said...

Uhg! Totally understand. Nothing more frustrating than spending hours each day waiting. . . but the pay off is you get all the fresh gossip right off the playground, those rides are good for communication :)

Justine said...

Are you flippin' kidding me???? I've never even heard of a school that doesn't provide bus service! That is INSANE!!!!!! And now you have to drop off and pick up 6 times a day????? I'd KILL MYSELF.

Justine :o )

jori-o said...

We've never done anything BUT the pick up/ drop off (with carpools, but STILL).

Next school year, though, Mitchell is going to a different school than Kat and can take the bus, but it's a r-e-a-l-l-y long ride and it makes me nervous. I don't know how it's all going to pan out...

(Totally hook yourself into a carpool, though, pronto!)

Darla said...

Yuck, I do not envy you! We lost our bussing one year as an attempt to strong-arm the community to pass a referendum that we wouldn't pass up to that point. They won. We still didn't get our bussing back until the following year! It stinks!!!

scrappysue said...

ugh - that IS bad news. is there a cupcake and coffee shoppe nearby u can take a good book to? or maybe a park? i feel for ya! great news about being moved in tho - the rooms look awesome!

More Than Words said...

Well, I'm sure it is a reality for many other people as well.

Another option..homeschool! :)

Unknown said...

Here in N Ireland, school buses are the exception, only a few rural schools have them.

Most kids are taken by parents, childminders.

Next year I will have an 8.30 drop off and an 8.50 drop off (and for the second drop-off I need to take my son right into the class-room, not the school gate).

In the afternoons it will be a 2pm, 3pm and 3.25pm pick up......deep joy :)

However, I am so glad I can be a sahm at this stage of their lives, TO DO those pick ups that I know I shouldn't really grumble .... but I do!

Dana said...

You ARE spoiled! I've never had anyone drop off or pick up my kids. It's always been my job, and mine alone. I've usually had at least 2 different drop off/pick up times and it's always a total lesson in time management. This is one of the MAIN reasons I was so looking forward to this summer. It's the first summer in over 4 years that I've got no kids attending year long school/summer school. So, I finally get a break from the tedious drop off/pick up schedule. Good luck to you....you're gonna need it! Maybe you can arrange some carpools?

Jenners said...

Oh Dear ... that seems pretty difficult to manage. I feel for you.

Anonymous said...

Oh Girl!! We have been doing the drop off/pick up thing for 7 years now. This past year, we had 4 different times, and when 3days a week when Chisum was at school (daycare) I would have 5. Honestly, you become so used to it. Even during the summer I think at 2:30 I need to get ready to go. It's a pain in the morning's though YUCK!!!
Blessings ~
Danielle W.

Lindsay said...

Oh my goodness....is it a long communte or will you have time to come home between or run an errand?? Yikes - that's a lot of time in your car. You better get yourself a cell-internet connection!! :-)

Anonymous said...

I don't feel sorry for you. I work full time and would loooooove to pick up my kids from school/daycare even if it was 2 or 3 times a day. Count your blessings.

Bar-b said...

better to have love and lost than never to have loved at all ;) sorry, but I was chuckling at your predicament. How many years until your oldest turns 16?

glad you like your house and church!

Shannon said...

Oh. My. Goodness!! That is INSANE! I think I might cry over that news. Hopefully you can make a friend or two in your same boat and share the load. Wow girlfriend, now that is a bummer!

tiarastantrums said...

I have this too - just ask the school if your little ones can stay later OR the older one can be dismissed earlier - my daughter stayed later so I wouldn't have to come at two times!

OR - look for the park!