Short Update

I fell asleep in the 13th inning last night. We won without me.

So naturally I woke up at 4 a.m. I have about 20 minutes before the two younger girls wake up.

I'm way behind on blogreading. I haven't forgotten any of you but this week has been frantic. I'll catch up on the weekend.

Transportation solved somewhat. They can't ride with Elcie and I understand why. If they make an exception for one family, they'd have to do it for everyone. The kids on Elcie's bus have varying degrees of disability; some quite serious mentally and physically. Their safety must come first and they can be quite a handful for the driver without adding more kids.

So

Three school parking lots involved.

Morning

I drive them to Hoover, the neighborhood middle school they'd normally attend. It's about 12 blocks away.

They get on a bus direct to Rivera, the school they attend.

Afternoon

They catch a bus at Rivera which for some reason does not go straight back to Hoover. ??? They transfer to another bus at Cruickshank middle school which will take them to Hoover. They can walk home because time won't be an issue.

The morning bus is at 7:10 which means they'd have to leave here at 6:30 at the latest (still not quite light and will get darker). I'll drive them at least until I see if there are other kids walking that early. There might be. I think Hoover classes start at 7:30.

And they will take Ray's phone with them until I decide which one to buy. I'm nervous about that afternoon transfer. Cruickshank is our newest school on the far northeast side of town. There is almost nothing out there except the Cancer Center down the street and Raley's about 4 blocks away. It should be off one bus and onto the other but I've had too much experience with bus delays and confusion over the past 10 years (counting Elcie's special pre-school).

They can call me from Hoover and let me know they're starting for home. If they were attending there they'd be walking most days although many parents drive their kids. There is one main street with a signal light and the same railroad track with crossing gates they've been crossing for a couple of years by themselves. They should be okay.

I may pick them up this afternoon so I can drive the route they'll be walking and make sure the streets have sidewalks. Not kidding, some don't.

It's made my decision for me on the cell phone. They can use Ray's for now while I begin researching the best one for us. Thanks to all for the good advice. And thanks for not saying I was an irresponsible person spoiling kids with gadgets. It was never about that; it was about trying to keep them safe while allowing them some room to grow. Driving every day wouldn't have done that and I don't think I could have done it in our foggy winters. I'll do well to get them to Hoover then.

We traded the convenience of our neighborhood school for what I hope will be a better experience for them. Rivera is the second best of our middle schools; (Cruickshank is probably first but already overcrowded because of all the new housing on the outskirts of town).

Almost 6:00 a.m. They have to arise. Elcie woke up at 4 but she was asleep very early.

Math has begun. Elcie and I worked through reducing fractions. She remembered most of it.

Rebecca is doing simple equations. She and Elcie both seem to grasp basic Algebra. Good news? Rebecca finished most of her work in class and had only a few problems and her spelling words to do here. It's early in the year but she may have finally learned that working hard in class will be to her advantage.

Rochelle has no homework until next week and she never has too much. She's definitely over her boredom at least for now.

Take care - talk to you later.