Buck up, kids; we had it worse

Really? Really? I have read several comments about how U-46 is routing buses this year for schools. Some parents are complaining about how their child has to walk up to a mile and a half. What?

When I rode the bus to high school we only had three stops in my entire neighborhood, which was the whole east side of Route 25 from Hazard Road to Helm Road. Look it up on MapQuest; it’s a pretty large area.

Some of us walked 10 blocks. We all walked some distance and we all waited at one of three corners. The bus was loaded, and off to school we rode.

I watch the bus on my Elgin street stop at more than three corners just on my block alone, Hiawatha Drive.

The argument is that it’s not safe; it’s dark out still; it’s cold in the winter? Answers: We all learned to get along, stand up for ourselves and solve problems. Are your children afraid of the dark? We played outside a lot after dark. Don’t you own gloves, hats, boots and jackets? It seems it’s not too cold when kids want to play outside in the winter.

The real problem isn’t that it’s not safe, too cold or dark, it’s the parents who want to put their kids in a protective bubble and solve all of their problems. It’s the parents who want what’s best for them and to complain about how much everything costs.

How about let’s do what’s best for the school district bus routes, what’s best for your kids like growing up with some self-taught life skills, knowing what it’s like to be cold and appreciate a warm bus, home or school.

Parents: don’t complain about the cost if you’re not willing to pay. Teach your child that walking a mile can be fun, good for them and maybe they will even get new pair of gym shoes — ones that actually wear out because of use not because your child needs the next best fad of gym shoes.

Matt Schacht

Elgin