To bus or not to bus.............that is the question.

Ever since I can remember, driving all 4 of my kids anywhere has been absolute chaos, but unfortunately it is also a necessary part of child-rearing these days. Gone are the days of walking to school, walking to the nearest ice rink for skating lessons, walking to a friends house for a playdate, etc.. Seeing as though we live on a farm, even if these things were still acceptable in a big city, they wouldn't occur in our particular circumstance anyways, but hey........................what would parenting be without looking back to your own childhood and seeing a simpler way of life, right?
Anyways....................since my two oldest boys are no longer attending the same school as my younger two, I decided last fall that in order to avoid complete and utter chaos in the mornings (ie. driving to two different schools), that I would pay for the two older boys to be bused. It has worked out very well, as far as I was led to believe, until the subject of signing them up to be put on next years bus route came up during a dinner conversation the other night. Apparently both older boys absolutely detest the bus, and both BEGGED and PLEADED with me to drive them next year, saving them the excrutiating hour long trip that it takes them to get home every day(the school itself is only a 10 minute drive away). Well, I must say that I was surprised to hear how desperately they wanted to resume their dependance on me since I thought to myself "High School?................ chatting with friends?................ walking to the corner store?, checking out the opposite sex?" I thought that these things would be something that they would appreciate at their age while hanging around waiting for the bus. Apparently not!
Hence, it looks as though I will be returning to the land of utter morning chaos next September, as once again I become responsible for getting 4 kids in the car and off to school as opposed to just the two that I've been used to this year.
I do have two or three weapons of choice that have come in handy during stressful car-rides over the years. I'm sure they will soon be re-implemented as we all ride together once again. For anyone else out there who may also benefit, they are as follows......................
#1 The Quiet Game
A good friend taught me this one, and it has become the saviour of my sanity on numerous occasions.
directions : upon reaching maximum noise levels, and after having tried every threat in the book, one merely has to yell "Quiet Game", and the noise immediately ceases. This occurs because a previously determined reward is on the line, and the child who is able to stay quiet for the longest period of time, knows that he will receive this award should he be able to hold out the longest. This game works great with brothers, cause younger children have no less advantage than older siblings, and what boy isn't instilled with a huge dose of competitiveness?
#2 Monthly Seat Rotation
I overheard this idea while getting the kids hair cut about 8 years ago.
directions: put all children on a monthly seat rotation.
A month is long enough so that you don't forget from trip to trip whose turn it actually is to sit in a particular seat, and it saves numerous arguments over seat preference. This one is a life saver!
#3 (The biggest cop-out) Invest in a vehicle with a dvd player.
When the kids were younger it was kids sing-a-long music tapes, but now that I have teenagers this just doesn't cut it anymore. Movies are fantastic. I find I spend so much time waiting in parking lots all over town, and I'll typically have at least one child along who has to wait with me. What better way to keep him happy than to pop in a movie, while I take the opportunity to enjoy the novel I'm currently engaged in. I love it!

Well, as you can see I've pretty much resigned myself to adding yet more hours to my daily driving schedule next year, and have cleary opted to give in to my childrens complaints and drive them to school next year. If anyone out there has any more life saving tips for the daily commute, let me know..........................
Until then,
Happy trails!