Parent taxi service

sheramber

I live in a rural area with no buses and no street lights on our single track road.

Yes, the parents here are taxi drivers for their children but where possible will share responsibily with another parent.

The children learn to drive as soon as possible.

As the parents are either crofters or work in the area moving is not an option.


But nobody complains, they just get on with it. It is part of the cost of raising a family like feeding them and clothing them.

Melon91

My parents lived in rural area, and I had to wait for the bus home from college.

As long as the college is still open and has access to things, I think it's fine. I used to hang out with my friends at this time, do homework, go for walks around the college. It was fine - fun in fact. I often looked forward to the afternoons off in college!

But I do think, every once in a while at occasional request - you could pick them up when needed. That's what my mum did for me

Elisecas

First, if he's at college presumably (a) he's at least 16 and (b) he should have some college work to do.


Second, you just said you can't afford the petrol. In my book that's an absolute. If you cannot afford it then you cannot afford it.


At 16+ there are lessons to learn about what you can afford and what you can't; there are lessons to learn about how to make the most of your time when things aren't exactly to the timeable you'd prefer; there are lessons to learn about if you want something as a luxury, then you have to earn the money to pay for them.

Pixie5740

i've often wondered about this when watching Grand Designs or Home in the Country where parents choose to buy somewhere quite literally in the middle of nowhere. I think to myself, you are going to be a busy tax service when your toddlers get older.

I grew up in a village with poor public transportation. It was great when I was younger (in primary school) but in secondary school I really began to resent living there. Even now when I go back to visit, if I don't have my car with me I start to feel trapped.

pollypenny

The lad should be able to get on with some work in the library for much of the time, plus a little time off to chat.

Maybe there are also sports facilities that he could use: swimming or badminton?

One afternoon a week is not a big deal for him, surely.

Jagraf

Pixie5740 wrote: »

i've often wondered about this when watching Grand Designs or Home in the Country where parents choose to buy somewhere quite literally in the middle of nowhere. I think to myself, you are going to be a busy tax service when your toddlers get older.

I grew up in a village with poor public transportation. It was great when I was younger (in primary school) but in secondary school I really began to resent living there. Even now when I go back to visit, if I don't have my car with me I start to feel trapped.

My DD sees both - her father lives is the middle of the countryside and we live in a small town. She's 16 now. When she's there she wakes up to the sound of chickens, when she's here she wakes up to the sound of buses . However, the most important thing to her now is her social life and she prefers town life, and wouldn't want to live in the countryside. I think trees, blackberry picking and cockerels are overrated for teenagers lol.

Talent

You must follow your heart, not you head.... :grouphug:

joehoover

If he's college age it's a good time to start the road to independence, cycling, driving lessons, a part time job in the afternoons, or studying. Surely has other friends to hang out with, go see a movie or go to the pool. Can't imagine it is all home-college-home again, would have thought most teenagers would be yearning for this anyway.

As far as where you live, depends when you moved there, if it's been your family home most of their lives it's obviously been fine til know but it is only an inconvenience whilst they transition to adulthood, pick them up sometimes, but let them step out on their own, finding something to do of an afternoon isn't asking much.

But moving anywhere you have to take into all considerations for at least the immediate future, I don't think people need to plan 15 years ahead, if people feel a life growing up in the countryside is beneficial for their kids what's the problem. Even living in a city you have to weigh everything up, in London I still do a 2 hour journey to work and 2 hours back, even with access to tubes and buses means it's still not plain sailing.

SingleSue

Youngest's college is a 30 mile round trip, on a Friday he has a half day and although he would love for me to come and pick him up every week, he knows the reality is that I won't.

He generally uses the time to do coursework or improve on older coursework at the college until the bus arrives and has found this has reduced the stress felt at home trying to get things completed whilst there are other distractions. To him, it is not a waste of his time but time well spent (although it took a couple of weeks of moaning about it to come to this realisation :rotfl:)

There have been occasions however when I have picked him up, he struggles from time to time with his ASD/energy levels/asthma and it is at those times when I will concede and pick him up...saying that, he also knows that I know when he is trying it on, so leaves asking until he really really needs to and not to make a habit of it!

Socially, I have to run him everywhere as he is not able to go anywhere unaccompanied due to his disabilities (he is accompanied on a buddy system for the college bus), plus of course, we live at the back of beyond, miles away from any of his friends.

Ebenezer_Screwj

Why should you act as an unpaid taxi service? It is only a few hours, he should wait for the bus and spend the time engaged in profitable study.