Need HELP and ADVICE!!

[Crystal]

Lucy,

I would talk to the parent directly. Tell her what her child said. Ask her what her concerns are. Let her know you understand, but it is just not feasible for you to transport to and from school. Ask her what she feels are logical solutions to the problem.

I understand your husband's concerns, so ask him what he recommends you do. Does he expect you to transport the kids? Does he expect you to stop caring for school age kids? Does he think he can support the family and allow you to quit altogether? If he is going to get uptight about it, perhaps he should come up with a solution to the problem, rather than just complain about it.

Personally, I find it perfectly reasonable, considering the proximity to the school, the practicing and preacautions you have taken, for the children to walk to school. If that doesn't work for the parents, perhaps you can look into hiring a service to transport to and from school and add it to the parents weekly fees.

Or, maybe hubby can start a new business, buy a 9-12 passenger van and start a taxi service for daycare providers

[Lucy]

Or, maybe hubby can start a new business, buy a 9-12 passenger van and start a taxi service for daycare providers

LOL.. I LOVE this!!!

Thank you all for the great thoughts and suggestions. This is still a work in progress. We have 3 weeks till school starts. I will keep you updated, but it does look like I'm at the very least going to have them sign a paper. I will walk with them at the beginning (with 3 little kids in a double stroller ), and probably end up driving them if it's pouring rain or freezing cold. Not sure about after school though. The little ones are just waking up about the time the bus used to get here. I hate this!! But I can deal with it, just like I've dealt with any other problems that have popped up over the last 18 years of doing DC.

Thanks again.

[My3cents]

Everyone wants kids safe!

I think if you called the school and talked with the principal and superintendent and explained your concerns, most likely they will find this a safety issue. Esp if the buses are running by your house in the first place. Throw the word safety issue out there and more then likely they will comply. It sounds like they have to cross a busy road, and they are young.

Transportation to and from school should be the parents responsibility. If they want this service then they need to find a daycare that provides it. Most don't. Centers do, but home daycare's usually don't. When you have a group of mixed children it can be a hassle to provide this service, and being a sole provider. Being paid for before and after school doesn't mean that you have to provide the transportation. It means that you keep the child before school and after school. Parents are paying you to keep the child safe from the time they get done school and arrive at your home until they are picked up.

Best-

[MarinaVanessa]

Crystal pretty much said it all.

Also In the end it might not even be a non-issue at all. Maybe she was thinking out loud. Happened to me once with a different issue only parent sis bring up concern with me. I told her what I was willing to provide and it turned out that she ended up being ok with it in the end anyway. So you can talk to her directly "Hey Susan, little Mark mntioned earlier that you had some concerns over having him walk to school. You want to discuss it?" or you can let sleeping dogs lay and see what happens.

[Lucy]

Well, the 2nd grader who told me her mom wasn't agreeable to all this might just be full o' beans. I've talked about the walking issue since then and the mom has not even given a hint that she's not on board. Today I texted the 3 moms and asked what evening they want to all get together and walk the route as a group with the kids and me. They all answered pretty much the same... "I'm good with any night. Just let me know!"

So, we shall see. I hesitate to call her out on it and say that her daughter told me she (the mom) doesn't trust the other 2 kids. Maybe the girl took something out of context, misunderstood, or made it up (not likely, but ya never know).

I'm just going to let it all play out and see what happens.

[countrymom]

can another adult walk with them in the morning and afterschool. My back up lady has a older child walk with the kids to and from school. The parents pay the walker. How about if one of the parents start work later, maybe they can walk with the kids too. Or do you have an assistant, she can walk with the kids. Or you can all discuss about paying for a cab.