THE LAST BUS RIDE — Stolen By a Bohlen

May 24

May 24 THE LAST BUS RIDE

It only took one very icy day this past winter to open my mind to the idea of Waylin riding the bus to school. Though I mostly speak lovingly about “Marianne” my beloved 2001 Toyota I bought from my grandparents, it can be scary in the winter time. It’s the size of a clown car and it sure likes to ice skate!

The journey to her school includes a wind-y, windy road and a slick bridge in the country, so sometimes it’s a “white knuckle” experience. Don’t let that fool you! I am a better driver than Ben! :)

When I was in school, I had to ride the bus maybe once or twice out of necessity. Those 1-2 short times were all I needed to know about “school bus kids”. I soon found an older boyfriend and friends with cars to get me to school because the bus wasn’t cool back then!

I learned that Waylin’s bus came right to our property, and discovered that I would get 1.5 hours of my morning to myself before work, I decided to try it! I was nervous about the idea of sending your six year old on a bus with no seatbelts driven by a stranger with no daily confirmation that she made it where she needed to go!

Fortunately, for us, our bus route driver is a family friend that lives a block away! Mrs. Cathy! Waylin loves Mrs. Cathy and enjoys her bus ride everyday. When given the choice of whether she would want me to take her to school or to ride the bus, she prefers the bus every time! :D

I wanted to make her last bus ride as a Kindergartener really special since it officially meant “SUMMER” once her feet hit the pavement.

We recently went to a new grocery store to look for a gift for her teacher and Mrs. Cathy for the last day of school. She found some stuffed animals that she really liked, but I had told her no. Waylin never fusses when I tell her no to a toy. I always hear stories of parents that dread taking their kids into Walmart because they have to pry them away from the toy aisle. I let Waylin have time looking at everything, and she doesn’t pout when I tell her it is time to leave.

I ended up going back to the store and bought the stuffies she wanted as a surprise along with some other goodies.

It was so fun surprising her with balloons and signs! Many neighbors stopped when I was waiting to ask what I was doing standing on the corner with balloons!