Re: Busing Question

[Guest guest]

> I am mad at myself

> because for almost a whole year I could of been doing more for my son but I

> was too ignorant and did not know the system. And no one (from the school or

> the system ) volunteered any information.

Don't be mad at yourself. I don't think there's one of us here who doesn't think

they

could have, or should have done something more. You do what you can do with the

knowledge,

time, and abilities, and energy you have at the current time - and that's the

best you can

do. The information vacume that seems to surround diagnosis really bothers me -

and I'm a

victim of it also. In fact, that's the main reason I set up the Listen-Up

website (once

the Internet became an option for parents).

And for those new-comer's who don't know, you'll frequently notice I say " Hugs "

in my

signature. I don't do that out of habit or because it's in a file that's

inserted

automatically. I believe in hugs, and the power behind them. So when I say

" Hugs " , I truly

am sending out an emotional hug to each and every one of you.

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

Great advice Kay! I've come to realize that too, you do what you can and

try not to worry about " what ifs " . I'm continually amazed by how resilient

our kids really are. I thought I could have done more for my kids too, but

they are doing great now. We parents will eventually find the right path to

help our kids.

, mom to (8, HAs), (6, no loss), (3, Clarion

CI 7/99)

Re: Busing Question

> I am mad at myself

> because for almost a whole year I could of been doing more for my son

but I

> was too ignorant and did not know the system. And no one (from the

school or

> the system ) volunteered any information.

Don't be mad at yourself. I don't think there's one of us here who doesn't

think they

could have, or should have done something more. You do what you can do

with the knowledge,

time, and abilities, and energy you have at the current time - and that's

the best you can do...

[Guest guest]

It is funny that now that I am a parent I see things so differently than

when I taught! My 3-5 year old students rode on big yellow school buses,

some for 45 minute rides 4 days a week! Yes, they did have an aid, but they

only had restaining seat belts for behavioral problem children.

And here I am, my 6 year old rides a mini bus after speech to her private

school, and I want the school to call me when she gets there and to make

sure that she is never the only child on the bus all by herself! I only use

the bus because I also have two smaller kids at home and one is usually

sleeping at that time.

I believe the seat belt laws are only for cars. It is too dangerous for too

many kids to be seat belted on a bus. If there is an accident, the driver

would have a much harder time getting everybody out quickly.

Randie

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

> I believe the seat belt laws are only for cars. It is too dangerous for

too

> many kids to be seat belted on a bus. If there is an accident, the driver

> would have a much harder time getting everybody out quickly.

Randie,

I'm am CERTAIN there are laws or guidelines in such cases. I can't imagine

this argument (made by a school district) would hold water anywhere. If the

driver is transporting that many children who cannot exit the bus on their

own in an emergency, there is something seriously wrong...and possibly

illegal. When I worked in an early intervention program, we had to have two

adults on our van because the driver was not allowed to leave the

van...ever. I know that's true for our school district too...that the

driver must remain with the van and a responsible adult or parent must load

and unload the younger kids who can't get on and off by themselves.

Okay, this discussion finally pushed me to do what I kept meaning to do:

check our state's laws for child restraints in a motor vehicle. I did a

simple web search with just " seatbelt laws washington " and came up with

several excellent sites that led me right to the answers. They had

everything! The upshot for our state is that NO vehicle is exempt from the

child restraint laws (or ANY seatbelt laws) except the buses that drive

people to and from the airport from those park-and-ride lots and hotels or

vehicles for hir (i.e.taxis). Every other motor vehicle on the road must

comply with the law--which varies from state to state, I believe.

I did learn that my child is not required to ride in a booster seat (even

though in my car he would be) because he sits where only a lap belt is

available and he weighs over 40 pounds. If he were under 40 pounds, the

school district would be in violation of the law if they did not provide the

proper child restraints. This would be true for full size school buses as

well.

CB

[Guest guest]

> Subject: Busing Question

>

> Have a question for all of you.

> My public school told me that my son , who will be 3 in August

> will have to ride the " big yellow school bus " along with his two

> older brothers to attend the preschool. Is there some type of law

> that states " little ones " need to be in car seats at 3 years old.

> would not even be able to step up on the first step of the bus!!!

>

> Debbie

> 's mom- (seriously considering keeping him home until he is 5)

In California they have to install seat belts on certain seats for

the little ones and we had to supply our own car seat that would be

fastened on with the seat belt. I requested riding with her the first

week and they agreed. And I have to admit there were a number of

days after that that I followed in the car. The reason I kept on

allowing her to ride the bus at 2 1/2 is that she loved it! Beats

me why, but I guess it was exciting and it was what all the other

kids were doing. When the bus trip turned into an hour during

summer school, I took her myself. Everyone said I could bill the

school district for mileage because 1 hour was too long on the

bus for anyone, much less a 2 3/4 year old, but I didn't bother.

That's our experience.

Terri , Mother of Kathy, 6 1/2 HoH, future paleontologist and

Pokemon Trainer