Three Dads at the Bus Stop

Not a mom in sight…

It was the beginning of what promised to be another beautiful day. Parents chatting about the coming day, kids running around waiting for the bus. That’s when it hit me. There wasn’t a mother in sight.

For at least several days a week, every week of this school year, there’ll only be fathers waiting at the bus stop. Funny thing is – it didn’t strike me until this morning that this might be odd…

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Busy wives

Each of our wives has their own schedule to keep. The wives of the other two guys work in business, and it makes sense for them to be out of the house and on their way to work before the school bus drives through.

My wife is home Mondays and Fridays and enjoys her trip to the bus stop on those days, but during the middle of the week she also leaves the house early.

Contracting can be flexible

The first neighbor works through a contract – and as long as he can fit in his contract hours during the week, the contracting company doesn’t question how he allocates his time. He’s able to shift his day a bit and make it work out.

We don’t need no stinkin’ office

The second neighbor works for a company based on the West coast – he visits the “office” once or twice a year but otherwise works out of his home. Telecommuting is a great option in today’s marketplace. (I’ve heard of entirely virtual companies with no office!)

Working for myself

I’m still at a stage where my work is based out of my own home as well. The commute is short, and it keeps the costs low. I try to make sure to schedule events later than 8:30am on Tuesdays through Thursdays so I can go to the bus stop. (Once and a while I goof up and it takes some maneuvering to re-settle things, but it works fairly well for me)

Wasn’t always this way

I distinctly remember previous years where it wasn’t like this. I had the 8-5 job and stayed to see the bus off only on the first day of school or for other specific events. The other parents at the bus stop were almost exclusively the neighboring moms.

Funny how things evolve…

Last year outside for the bus

I’ll only have this school year to comment on it as things change again next. This is my youngest child’s last year in grade school, and as some of you know, parents just aren’t allowed to get near the bus stop for the middle school kids. Oh, you can see them off at the door, but pretty much anything beyond that is forbidden. ;-)

Things change – and then change again … but isn’t that the nature of life?