My 11 year old had a bad experience on the bus, and now I won't let him take it, am I wrong?

Question

When my 11 year old son was 8, he took the bus home from school three times a week when I would get out of work too late to pick him up. One day on the bus, there was a new driver. I talked with him and he seemed nice. He assured me that he would never leave my son at the stop by himself if I wasn't there to pick him up(sometimes I'd be like a minute late). Well a week later I was late and I rushed to the bus stop and my son was sitting there on the curb, waiting. I told him to get in the car. He told me that the bus left him there, and left the minute he got out. My son also told me a guy in a car drove by and told him to get in! I was so worried I never let him take the bus again.

Now, 3 years later, he's in 6th grade. Today was his second day. He told me when I picked him and his older sister up that he wanted to take the bus again. There is a bus route that goes just a block away from our house, but I don't know. His older sis doesn't want to take the bus, which is the only way I'd let him(she had bad expierences with the buses too, someone threw up on her once and one time the driver got lost)go because then the two of them could walk home from the bus stop together. I don't want to force my older daughter to take the bus. Should I let my son?

I know I seem overprotective, I'm just worried something will happen to him.

Please help! Should I let him take the bus?

Answer 1

if your son wants to take the bus, you should let him... its your job as a parent to be there to pick him up if you dont want him walking home.

Buses are on a schedule and can not wait there for you to show up...if they did that, then the rest of the parents would be mad cause there kids are late...know what i mean...

let him take the bus, let him walk the block home if he wants, or be there 3 minutes before the bus gets there and pick him up. or let him walk with a friend.

Answer 2

I think it's crazy that you'd blame any bus driver making very little money to begin with to be responsible for your kid. Bus drivers can't sit around with your child when you're late, not to mention they have enough stress and worry trying too get your child from point A to point B without plowing into someone.

If your child is smart and educated properly (which he is since he didn't get into the car with a stranger) then you don't have much to worry about. Let him take the bus. He should be fine.

Answer 3

We all stretch our wings when the time comes and we take little spurts of flights till we get the hang of how to fly and then we soar.

Your son has over come that situation and wants to try getting around again. Let him! Since you are only a block away, give him a key to the house. See the first time if you could not have been there to pick him up on time, you should have had a back up person. The bus driver is not responsible to "babysit" your kid till you come and pick them up!

Their job is transportation! So it was up to you to be there on time.

I had someone get sick on the tram and threw up on my shoes. Did that stop me from using it, no! I just made sure to get a seat where there was less people around.

Me, I would have both your kids take the bus and give them both a key (secured by a chain around their necks), being it is only a block away.

Even if the bus driver got lost, he got them to their destination right? If he was a new driver or just filling in for the day, I might get lost to!

Sounds like you are making a bigger issue about this than it is.

Answer 4

In my state only kindergartners are to be kept on the bus if parent isn't there to meet the bus. I believe it is because a child older than that should know not to "talk to strangers" When you found your son sitting and waiting for you without talking or getting into a car with a stranger that should have been proof to you that he was ready to ride the bus and wait for you without any problem in my eyes he was tested and passed. You,however,chose to see it a different way and that is unfortunate for your son. We as parents have to put more trust in ourselves in the way we teach our children and relax a little when they've proven to have listened. Let him ride the bus it is long over due, don't you think?

Answer 5

I would speak to the director of transportation at the school district.  Ask him or her about the policies and procedures.  If the driver is in violation of the procedure or policy, they are suspended or given a warning - depending on the severity.  If you don't agree with the procedures, don't let him on the bus anymore.

Answer 6

Okay, i am in 7th grade and i ride the bus home and have since i was 9. My mom usually gets home late around 6. My bus stop is about a 5 minute walk(5 blocks) and i am perfectly fine and have been with walking home, using a key and locking the door. but if had to say, yes you are being a tad overprotective. You should let your son, but if your daughter doesn't want to she shouldn't have too. By sixth grade kids should be more independent and should be able to just walk home. So yes let him!!  

Answer 7

Let him take the bus - make sure you are there on time. I would never expect a bus to drop off my child and wait for me to come and pick him up - what about all the other kids on the bus who need to get home? That was your bad - not the driver.

Answer 8

Is there any way you can set up a buddy system? Or possibly find out who gets off at a further or earlier stop and team up with them.  Bus drivers are under a fair bit of pressure to get everywhere on time, maybe if you set something up with other parents then you could all rest a bit easier knowing the kids are being cared for?

Answer 9

Gabbie,any parent would wonder about this. First off i know this isn't what you would like to hear,but your house is only a block away,what could happen? Does your son know to never get in the car with someone? Is your neighborhood dangerous crime wise? Those are some key questions you have to ask yourself. He's getting close to that teenage stage so In my opinion a little bit more freedom wouldn't hurt. It's not like he would be walking 10 miles in isolated road is he? Does he have any close friends that ride his same bus that you could talk to the parents about? When push comes to show,tell him the main stranger rules & let him take the bus. Who knows,maybe he takes it and doesn't like it and wants to continue to do what you guys are doing.  

Answer 10

He's 11.

At eleven I was walking a mile and a half each way to school, cleaning up the house when I got in, and starting the dinner ready for when my mum got home.

Let him take the bus.

Answer 11

Most schools we have been to drop the kids off no matter who is out waiting.  For kindergartners, they have to have someone there otherwise they just take them back to school.  I can totally understand why you were freaked out, but I think it may be time to try it again.  Being in middle school, he is probably ready to get new responsibilities.  Give him a house key or get a keypad to open the garage door.  Give him maybe a cell phone that is only for emergencies or direct him where to go (like a neighbor's house) if he cannot get in.  Educate him on what to do if someone is driving or walking around that he does not know.  If you don't teach him these things, he won't be prepared for them at all.  

Answer 12

plain and simple cut the cord on both kids your smothering them

you are causing a very bad codependency

let me explain it this way.

your kids experiences are normal S**t happens i was set on fire on a school bus going to school one day. did it stop me no i rode that bus the next day

the bus driver cant sit at a stop waiting for you. he has  other kids and other routes he has to do and he has to do it in a certain amount of time. your kid wasnt the only one on that bus. you should have taught your kid how to walk home. not sit on the stop.  you are very selfish to expect the driver to wait for you  grow up lady the world doesnt revolve around  you and your kids

Answer 13

Whether your kids take the bus or not is up to you as long as you have alternate means of transportation for them.

Answer 14

The bus stop is in walking distance from your house, so give him a house key and let him walk from the stop to the house. 6th grade is old enough to start doing that.

You may also want to consider getting him a TracFone. These are phones that are pre-paid with a certain amount of minutes on it. This way he can have something to call you incase of an emergency while he's waiting to be picked up or walking home.

Answer 15

He is in 6th grade - why isn't he walking home from the bus stop and made to sit there till you pick him up?  What's going to happen next year when he is in Junior High????    

Answer 16

i think you should, just tell him that right when he gets off the bus, walk staright home, and dontt talk to anyone, if he doesnt wanna take the bus though, dont make him, same with your daughter.

hope i helped

Answer 17

That is really Scary! I always watch my back when walking home. Here is what i do:

  My mom drives me to the stop in the morning and i wait at the corner. But my mom stays there untill the bus comes then she leaves to go to work. When the bus drops me off as soon as i step out i grab my cell and talk to my mom on the walk home. I understand you are scared! try what i do and see how it works, i fell safe when i walk home and your son should too. Good Luck and I hope you find the right solution!  

Answer 18

Let him take the bus.  He is not a little kid anymore.

Answer 19

By sixth grade, you son should be able to get himself home from the bus stop.  I think you are being overly protective.

Are you going to drive him to work when he's married?  When does it end?

Yes, there are dangers out there. and yes, something can happen, but if you're taught him well, by this age he should be able to walk a block without getting himself killed.

If you  can't get to the bus stop on time, that's YOUR fault.  The driver can't wait around until eight pm waiting for all the mom's that were too busy to get there on time.