My thoughts on this were provoked by an article in the Wall Street Journal of September 7th that posed this question to its readers. It made me think about what I see around me.
Living and working in Florida certainly has its problems for moms and dads as there are many children that live far from their schools. In addition, we don’t always have school bus services, and that leaves the mom mobile as the only way for children to get to their schools. There are many busy roads here that pose their own difficulties when you want to cross – as I have experienced for myself!
All the same … in the community where we live, the school buses come in to the community center to collect the kids for the various area schools and what astounds me is that I never see children walking to the collection point. They are always in cars! Come on parents – what are you doing to your children? Tubby Tina and Chubby Charlie would benefit from the daily walk to the bus (and maybe you would too – it sets you up for the day!) Kids would benefit, too, by talking as they went, instead of texting from the back seat – it’s a much better way of building long-term friendships. The idea can be made to work for car-poolers too. The driver for the day might have to drive to the bus stop – but everyone else can walk.
You might wonder who I am to talk – but I’m a grandmother with 9 kids, all of whom walk to school (and of course I always did too). The benefit for children is endless, and for you working parents I can promise that this slower-paced start to the day will ensure you don’t arrive at work quite so stressed and frazzled. So how about it? Give feet a chance!