The Bus

I always hated riding the bus. When I was 10 years old and in 5th grade Oklahoma City Public Schools decided to make the school more integrated which meant I was bused about 10 miles across town to another neighborhood. That was my first bus experience. It was noisy, the bus driver was grumpy, the school was gross and I didn't like it.

A few weeks ago I was talking to some friends about my concerns that my kids wanted to ride the bus. I was not a fan. I always thought of my bus experience and didn't want my kids to have that same experience. Then a friend of mine, Heather, shared with me about her first day of kindergarten where she didn't know when to get off the bus so she stayed on until 10:00 PM...PM people at night!!!! She was locked in the bus barn with the busses all by herself. That was it...my kids were not riding the bus.

Well, day two of their new school experience and they are asking to ride the bus. I caved and let them. Abi missed the bus and I had to go get her at school...thank you Lord!...Grant made it...ok...thank you Lord! He is safe and sound...at 3:40 I go out to get Paige...no Paige at the bus stop. I asked her friend Sheigh, "was Paige on the bus?" Sheigh says, "I didn't see Paige on the bus." I calmly say, "Bummer" and head back to the house to call the school. On my way back a mom says, "The bus will make a huge loop and come back to the end of this next street and you can catch it there and see if she is still on if you want to." I dump my coffee I had brought down to enjoy leisurely while waiting for the bus and walk...ok, sprint...down to the next street. All the while I am thinking of my dear sweet friend Heather at the age of 5 sitting on the bus because her mom told her not to get off the bus until she saw her house and she was locked in the bus barn until 10:00pm. I ran faster.

Then, I think of my mean bus driver and I am afraid I am going to get in trouble for losing my kid.

I get to the corner and there is the bus. He looks at me and smiles and I said, "I'm missing a kid." And he is already on a walkie talkie with someone at Liberty Public Schools trying to work it out. But Paige is walking up behind and says, "Here I am mom!" The best 4 words I've heard all day!

What I learned is that Paige was talking to her friend on the bus and didn't know she was supposed to get off the bus. She just missed her stop. I can't imagine where she would get that...must be Kurtis.