"The Bus"

Let me first start by saying how much I dis-like the bus (we don't say "hate" in our house or else I would have!) I don't dis-like it because of the bus drivers or the other kids, I don't dis-like it because it's dirty or smelly (although it very well could be), I don't dis-like it because I didn't ride it when I was little. I just don't like it and I don't know why, there I admitted it, I don't know why I dis-like it SO much. I just like having my kids close to me, I like keeping them in our "not-so-perfect-wish-it-was" bubble. Having Allie in preschool and away from me for 2 hours and 40 minutes is about 2 hours and 40 minutes too long.

So here is where we run into a problem; Allie LoVeS the bus. She loves watching them drive past our house, she loves seeing them around town, she LoVeS them!!! Every time she asks when she gets to ride the bus I tell her to ask again when she's 12. Yup, 12!

*Side Note: In Idaho everyone rides the bus.*

So after school the other day she was walking out of class and all those bright, shiny, yellow buses were so perfectly lined up just taunting her. She just stares when she sees them so meticulous like that! Then her little friend Max ran out of school and ran to his bus so happy. I could see her wheels spinning. She looked at me with those oh-so-cute eyes and said, "Mommy can I ride the bus?" I of course, say "Nope, sorry, maybe when your 12!" Then I started to feel bad and I caved, I caved under the pressure. I told her she could ride to the high school (the high school is about a mile, yes 1 mile, from where the elementary school is, where she goes to preschool) I told her she was to stay right with Max and Bailey and not ever let go of Bailey's hand...and I let her go. I let my little, itty bitty, 3 year old get on that big 'ol yellow bus!

I drove over to the high school and watched and impatiently waited for her. Then I saw her bus and saw that she was okay. She was GlOwIng, I mean so excited that she rode that bus. I cried, like I really cried, had to wipe the tears off my face. I'm glad I let her do it but don't plan on letting her make a habit of it. I like to see and talk to her the second she gets done with school so I can hear all about her day. I also don't see any reason someone else has to drive her home. I like to do it!

Now I'm fully aware that in my days the more and more "Idaho" I become I will probably become more comfortable with the bus and at some point I will probably gladly be putting multiple kids on the bus. But for now, I'm going to stick with I really dis-like the bus!

Luckily, Bailey and Max did a fabulous job of taking care of Allie, thanks Baily and Max!