Needing Ride Home from School

Hi, moms! I am a new stepmom to an 11 year old boy who just moved in with us in January. It was a rather sudden move & something that, although we are happy about, we weren't very prepared for. Here is my current issue. We are paying a shuttle service $30 per week to bring him home from school. He goes to Richardson Terrace & we live less than a half mile from there. I would allow him to walk, but he would have to cross Beltline which is a very busy intersection. I am trying to find out if there are any moms who pick their children up from school there who would be willing to drop him off @ home. I take him in the mornings, but don't get off work until 6:30 pm, so can't go pick him up. I would be willing to pay gas to someone, but $30 per week seems extreme with as low as gas prices are & us only living a few blocks away. Any help or suggestions anyone can give will be appreciated.

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B.W. answers from Dallas on April 14, 2009

I don't live in the area but wanted to say that $30 week does not seem excessive to me as not only is it gas but time and it is a service not an act of friendship...I also want to applaud that you are not willing to have him cross that intersection. Good luck!

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K.H. answers from Dallas on April 15, 2009

Sorry I can't help you with the ride home, but there is a crossing guard at Beltline for Terrace students.

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C.B. answers from Dallas on April 14, 2009

$30.00 sounds very reasonable to me. I used to charge $10.00 a day for one way.

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J.C. answers from Dallas on April 14, 2009

Hi A.,

Do you have a school directory that you can use to find the names/addresses/phone numbers of neighbors whose children attend the school? If not, you might find out if someone in the school office can help you find a parent to help; maybe you could take the kids to school and the other parent could pick up after school.

Having been a latchkey kid when I was about that age, I would highly recommend finding a home or other place with adult supervision rather than having your stepson home alone for three hours or more after school each day. The PACE program another mom mentioned sounds great; here is a link:
http://www.risd.org/schools/rte/PACE/pace.htm

It could be well worth the investment in your stepson. I don't know the situation that brought him to live with you and his father, but I hope he doesn't feel like he's a financial burden. Presumably his father does not have to pay child support now that he's in your home, which was likely much more expensive than an afterschool program.

Being a step (parent or child) can be hard. Blessings to you and your family!

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R.S. answers from Dallas on April 14, 2009

How about the PACE program? It is $55 a week, bit they are given a snack, have homework time, get to play some with friends, and are kept safe. Not a bad deal. It does only go until 6, though - if you could swing it by 6, that might be a good option for you.

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