Home > Opinion > Commutants! > Archives > 2005 > November > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCommuting, with children …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I normally drive my two children to pre-K and daycare and then drive to the H.E. Holmes MARTA station and catch a train to work. I ride MARTA by choice; I don’t want to deal with parking downtown, and I want some time to read something other than Dora, Little Bill and Spot. Today, as a Commutant, I left the car at home and set out with the girls to catch a bus to school and daycare. At 7 a.m., I was standing on the corner, in the cold, waiting for the bus with my euthusiastic 5-year-old Danielle, my protesting 13-month-old Jocelyn and a stuffed gorilla named “GJ” on his way to show-and-tell at Danielle’s school.
The bus arrived 22 freezing minutes later. We only rode seven blocks or so before having to get off and walk the rest of the way to Danielle’s school. By now baby Jocelyn has fallen asleep. Fifteen minutes later after dropping off Danielle, we catch a bus to Holmes station and then walk 15 more minutes to the family daycare that Jocelyn attends. Then it’s back to the station for me.
I see other walkers, including a woman who dropped trash on the street just a few feet away from a trash can. I finally catch the train and get to work about 30 minutes later than normal.
I do not envy mothers who have to make those treks to schools, daycare and then to work. They have to get up earlier, get their children up earlier and spend more time just getting around.
Once aboard the train, I pull the newspaper out and am greeted by stories on terrorist bombings and genes that raise the risk of heart attack in African-Americans. Important things I need to know, but now I’m starting to look forward to another Little Bill book.
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By Lilburn mom
November 11, 2005 02:17 PM | Link to this
Veronica: I applaud you. I have young children, and a teen. I will likely not do what you did today.
My stress levels are pretty high. This is all just part of life. I am not complaining. I drop kids off, then come to work. I pick kids up, take them to tutors, school events, practices, libraries, scouts etc.
I grew up in an urban environment. Things were close, and we walked a lot. There was a transit system that went everywhere, and taxi cabs. So suburbia is a bit different for me.
I am always uncomfortable about needing to leave to pick up a sick kid, and having to use / depend on public transportation to do so. Like it or not… there are a lot of moms that feel this way.
I have modified my life-style so that when I run errands, I plan a route that allows me to use my gas wisely.
By Becca
November 11, 2005 02:25 PM | Link to this
Ugh. Your story reminds me of the first two years of my child’s life. I lived in Marietta and had to use CCT to get to Atlanta, where I had to take my child to the Lindbergh Station where we would brave the weather to walk to my mom’s house , then I would walk back to Lindbergh to take the train to Brookhaven. I would NOT ever suggest anyone attempt to commute on MARTA with kids.
By lamonica
November 12, 2005 01:09 AM | Link to this
Veronica,
Kudos to you for acknowledging the plight of so many Metro Atlanta moms who, as you pointed out, have no choice but to wake up early in the morning to catch MARTA with babies in tow. Perhaps those of us who do have a choice whether to ride or not to ride, should remember these moms and count our blessings as we woefully fill up our tanks these days. :o)
By Sonni
November 12, 2005 01:36 PM | Link to this
Yes it is hard. I understand completely. I once lived in Atlanta and used MARTA. It was not that bad. I lived in Midtown and worked downtown. I was able to walk across the street and get on the train with my son. That was three years ago. Now I live in St Petersburg, and I miss MARTA buses and trains. The transportation system in this city is the pits. I wake up at 4:30 and we leave the house at 6:00 to start (for me) a 2 1/2 hours trip to get to a job that is only five 5-10 miles from the house.