Experience the comedic side of public transportation through the eyes of a bus driver. Managing gears, routes, and little passengers’ antics. Do you recall the big, yellow school bus that used to take you to school and back home? Well, guess what? That’s me now. I’m a school bus driver, steering my way through school’s days ups and downs, just like the roads I travel. So, hold onto your juice boxes as I take you on my ride as a school bus driver.
Why Did I Choose to Be a School Bus Driver?
I know, I know. You’re scratching your head, wondering why anyone would voluntarily leap into this yellow-canary metal tube with flashing lights drawing attention to itself, full of 50 or so kids under the age of being a normal homosapian, at ground zero for the flu/cold/covid/pink eye/red eye/black eye chaos? Why trade quiet mornings to start your day for a mosh pit of kids full of Mario, Pokemon, and magic spells banter? Well, as a mom that was going to be driving her daughter to school anyways and wanting to earn some extra dough while working around my daughter’s school schedule. I figured why not put my already honed skills and drive a few more kids that are going the same way! And let’s not forget the tantalizing allure of having holidays, summers, and weekends off. That’s like finding a unicorn in the job market, am I right?
The Chaos in the Morning, or What I Call, ‘Rise and Shine’
Whoever said the early bird catches the worm, clearly wasn’t a school bus driver. My day kick-starts when the roosters are still in REM sleep. Remember Bill Murray’s line in Ground Hog Day? “It’s going to be cold, it’s going to be dark, and it’s going to last the rest of your life.” Yes, you heard that right. And that’s just what it feels like.
Oh and add a 6 year old doing it with me in the mix. I’ve met the moon more times than I can count. That first jolt of caffeine is downed by the romantic glow of my SUV’s dash lights. Amidst this crack-of-dawn chaos, the highlight is being the first face the kids see outside their house. I give them a smile and good-morning fist bump. They’ll half-asleep stumble onto the bus to their usual seat (that I get to know like a pro party planner that’s memorized the seating chart of the whole convention). Sure, it seems sucky when you’re not a morning person, but there’s something oddly rewarding about waking up when the world is still quiet and being the first to punch the day in the face! You’ve heard of farm-to-table? Well, this is bed-to-bus, my friends, and it’s my brand of morning madness.
Navigating Through Traffic and Life
Say goodbye to car chase scenes in action movies and shout out a big hello to the daily adrenaline rush that is driving a school bus during a snow storm. Picture this: I found myself behind the wheel of a yellow brontosaurus they call a school bus, navigating through a snowstorm that seemed to have a personal vendetta against clear roads. The kids on board were a lovely mix of energy and chaos, their excitement level comparable to a caffeinated kangaroo on roller skates.
As if the snow wasn’t enough, morning traffic joined the party, creating a commute that felt like trying to waltz through a room full of overgrown toddlers with loaded paint ball guns throwing an angry tantrum at eachother. Every time I asked for quiet, it was met with 3 full seconds of silence then sarcasm that could probably be heard from the moon. At one point, I questioned if I was driving a school bus or the Hogwarts Express headed to the North Pole. It was a snow globe of chaos, and I was just trying to keep the wheels on the bus going round and round while mentally preparing for my future career as America’s Next Top Ninja or 80’s American Gladiators, cuz no double dare obstacle course could ever scare me after this adventure.
The Sweet Connections and Sticky Fingerprints
Ah, the perks of being a school bus driver – it’s not just about navigating traffic and dodging wayward squirrels. It’s also about building an invisible repoire with those pint-sized darlings. Sure, their sticky, candy-covered fingerprints often form a new design on the windows, but the real magic happens in the heart. These little guys, with their endless questions, tattle tales and boundless energy, leave their adorable imprints on my soul, more lasting than the stubborn gum turned cement under seat 7. I am more than just the lady behind the wheel; I’m a secret keeper, a life coach in the making, and their personal chauffeur driving them in their limo (even though that limo isn’t black, it is looooong). So yes, along with paper airplanes and candy wrappers, this job also offers a generous serving of love and life lessons. All in all, it’s the sweetest kind of chaos.
Forget GPS, You’ll Become a Human Map
Who needs that fancy-schmancy GPS technology when you’re a bus driver? Trust me, it takes about a week before the route gets imprinted on your brain like a misspelled tattoo. It’s like you become part human, part sat-nav. Your brain automatically syncs with the bus route and, voila, you’re a living, breathing, yellow school bus driving map. I’m talking every left turn, every pot hole, and each stop sign, all on memory autopilot. And this superpower doesn’t just come in handy during work hours. Ever tried to navigate the labyrinth that is the grocery store and recalculate when that annoying person parks their cart in the middle of the aisle? I can zigzag my way to the caffeinated drinks aisle faster than you can say “Red Bull”!
The Bittersweet Goodbyes at the End of the School Year
Just like an episode of your favorite sitcom, the school year wraps up with mixed emotions. Sure, there’s the anticipation of swapping early mornings for lazy ones, and bracing myself for a summer filled with family, BBQs, and tan lines. But the school year finale is also a tearjerker for me. The tiny troopers who hopped on my bus at the beginning of the year, have transformed into my buddies that are ready for the next level. I’ve spent time and gotten to know each one of their personalities almost every day of the school year.
The thought of bidding them farewell makes me as teary-eyed as peeling a bag of onions. And trust me, there’s no tougher crowd than saying goodbye to the same kids who’ve spent months imprinting their tiny handprints, both literally and figuratively, all over my yellow limo and red heart. But, like any binge-worthy show, there’s always a new season to look forward to. So, come fall, I’ll be ready to press play on another school year. Bring it on, the saga continues!