If Your Child Rides a School Bus...

Parents, listen up...

I transport two large groups of kids to and from school every day. I have high school/junior high school kids, and I also have elementary school kids. My older kids average around 40 per bus load and the younger kids average around 60 - give or take on each run. That's a lot of kids in my care each and every day.

I have a lot of responsibility when I'm driving that bus because I have to make sure your kids get to and from school safely. While I'm driving I'm watching traffic that's around me, behind me, and also what's way up ahead. I'm looking for signs of possible dangerous situations and thinking of how to avoid them. I'm keeping an eye on traffic signals, on my speed, and on your children - all at the same time.

The interior of my bus, a standard school bus, is approximately 34 feet long by 8 feet wide - again, give or take. When you put a large number of children in a space that small things are bound to get hectic occasionally. Kids talk loudly, they throw things to or at one another, they stand up, they switch seats, they eat and drink, they put their hands and/or heads out the windows, they poke, push, scream, yell, fight, argue, laugh, sing, play, and any number of other things. Many of these are against the rules and a major distraction to the bus driver.

Here is where you come in. Speak to your kids about proper school bus protocol. Go over the rules with them and make sure they understand what is and what is not acceptable behavior. Explain to them that violating the rules is not only a distraction to the driver, but it will also cause the child to get a write up, or a violation, or whatever it may be called in your area. But the biggest thing for you: DON'T BLAME THE BUS DRIVER OR MONITOR FOR ENFORCING THE RULES ON THE BUS.

Don't tell me I don't have the right to raise my voice to be heard over 60 little voices that are all going at the same time, and don't tell your child that you hate the bus driver and that she's an idiot because she makes the kids pull their heads back in the window and sit down when it's not their bus stop. Everything we do is for the safety of your child whether you like it or not, and for you to tell your kids that they don't have to listen to me or my monitor puts the lives of everyone on that bus at risk.

If you have an issue with something my monitor or I have done, call the Transportation office and let them know. Not only will I not give you talk time at the bus stop because I have to stay on schedule, but I won't take the chance that you'll get angry enough to illegally board the bus and possibly hurt me, my monitor, or one of the children, intentionally or not. It's happened to bus drivers all over the world. Don't believe me? Google it. Once all the children have boarded and are finding their seats, I will pull the door closed enough to leave my reds flashing but not allow you to speak to me. It's district policy for the safety of the children.

Yes, I will raise my voice to be heard over your children. I will tell them to sit down and face forward, I will tell them to stop picking on each other if I notice it's happening, I will make sure they stay seated if the bus is moving or if I am not sitting at their bus stop. I will tell them not to hang out the window to wave goodbye to mommy or daddy, or to chat with their friends. I will tell them not to throw things, not to speak too loudly, not to switch seats, to put food or drinks in their backpack, and to keep the aisle clear so I can see the traffic out the back door.

I'm sorry you don't think your child has to follow the bus rules. but remember this. Every time your kid decides to stand up while the bus is moving, or throws something at another child, or sticks a head or hand out the window, or lets loose with a blood-curdling scream just for fun...every single time your child causes a disruption that distracts me while I'm driving and I have to take my eyes off the road to correct that behavior, your child is essentially telling everybody else on that bus that he or she has absolutely no regard for the safety and well-being of the rest of us.

Every one of the rules is meant to protect your child and the rest of the riders on that bus. If you don't feel your child needs to listen to anyone but you and doesn't have to follow the rules, perhaps personally driving your child to and from school every day would be a better choice for you.

Until next time...peace to all.

I'll Definitely Pay it Forward

I started driving my own bus last week, after I'd passed my CDL exams and ran the routes with a supervisor for a couple of days. I'm on my own, just my monitor and me. I like it, driving the bus. It is stressful sometimes, and we've had incidents that can't be repeated here, but all-in-all, it's a good job.

The only problem is that I only get paid once a month, on the 25th of each month...and the pay schedule is a month behind. So I've been working since the beginning of August and don't get paid until the end of September. It's been difficult financially but I'm doing what needs done. It would actually help if NYS would come through with my child support on a regular schedule. It's hard to budget when I don't know how much money I'll have when I need it. I'm still managing.

The past two days I've had to spend my off time between bus runs, four hours, sitting at the office because I don't have the gas money to get home and then back to work again. It's okay. I have my phone with my books downloaded onto it so I can read and just enjoy the time by myself. And I honestly think I only mentioned it in passing to one person.

Today I got home and cleaned my house because Friday is cleaning day. Always has been, always will be. Yes, there is the odd occasion where I'll clean Saturday morning but I like it done on Friday so I can spend Saturday and Sunday doing nothing. Today, though, I got a surprise. I had literally just finished cleaning and was in the kitchen putting away my cleaning supplies when Ty called out for me from the living room.

When I went to see what he wanted he pointed at the front door and there were three kids, two girls and a boy, standing there with shopping bags. I figured they were selling something for a school fundraiser and was trying to think of a way to let them down without sounding mean. When I opened the door, though, the older of the girls, the oldest of the three, actually, asked if I was me, by name. When I told her I was she said, "We were told to give this to you."

The kids then proceeded to hand me two pizzas from Papa Murphy's, along with a card and five grocery bags. When I asked who told them to give it to me she simply said, "We can't tell you." So they loaded me up with pizzas and bags. I set them all on the sofa and turned to hug each kid and gave a big thank you. I was already tearing up. I had no idea who'd sent the stuff to me. They wished me a good evening and left.

Ty and I took everything to the kitchen and opened the bags. Besides the pizzas there were snacks. Lots and lots of snacks. And soda...three bottles. Two DVDs, a deck of cards, an UNO deck, and an adult coloring book with colored pencils and pens. I laid claim to the book and pencils right away. Then I opened the card. A simple card with a simple greeting inside and a handwritten message that said "Because you matter." Along with the message was cash. Enough cash that I burst into tears.

I think Ty was stunned and didn't know what to do or say but when we called Zach down he just gave me a big hug and told me to be happy. Hell, I was happy. I was friggin' ecstatic. I was standing there trying to figure out who'd sent such an awesome gift and I still haven't figured it out. I do know it was someone or someones from work because of the way the envelope was addressed. I just wish I knew who it was so I could properly thank them.

I guess that's not going to happen though so I'll just say it here even though I don't really have the right words. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. My kids and I are really grateful and appreciative of this wonderful gift you've given us. You'll never know what it means to us. I'm happy there are still good people out there and I promise that I'll pay it forward just as soon as I can. Thank you, again.

Until next time...peace to all.