One month ago I wrote a post on Facebook, I’ll include it below if you want to read it, but I’m just so terribly frustrated.  I had to call the police.

The police. With some grace, I was able to hold my composure, I’m thankful for that because it was my oldest daughter in the backseat and I want to set a good example for her (I want to be a good example for both of my children, but the oldest is prone to repeating mom right now). My oldest and I were headed to pick up my youngest from school and it could have just really turned into a terrible day.  I don’t know where you’re from but I live in a small town. It’s actually been growing quite a bit the past few years and everyone’s been flocking to our schools (we’ve got some pretty great schools). Still we’re considered a small town by most means. We certainly have the potholes that would deter most people from traveling around too much. Haha.

Moving on, the way it works around here is the lines get pretty long during the car rider drop-off and pick-up hours. Out of courtesy, most of the parents picking up or dropping off children will pull over as far as they can to the right side of the road so that other motorist can come around and pass them. Now on a two lane road this can sometimes mean some risky business, it means waiting until there isn’t oncoming traffic or just flooring it and hoping they move out of the way, too (I’ve noticed that seems to work, I wouldn’t ever do it myself), and it means that you drive your car into the oncoming traffic lane or by straddling the yellow line.

This is just how it is.

Pulled over to the right side of the road on a Monday afternoon, just waiting our turn to move up a bit, I was watching a school bus coming our way. They stopped just a few vehicle lengths in front of us and put out their stop signs, signalling to all traffic they were stopping to let children out, and then they came to a complete stop. The bus driver had a funny face and I looked in my mirror and saw a jeep coming up in my rear view, speeding (and it’s 25mph in the school zone, 35mph out of it), I noticed they were going right in the very middle of the lane, and right for the school bus, that was actively letting children off. I was terrified. I thought for one second of opening my door, thinking if they saw that it’d get them to react and slow down or stop, then I decided that would be more dangerous for everyone (especially if they were texting and driving) and so I just laid on my horn . . . and I didn’t let up off of my horn until they had passed the bus. They actually had to swerve when they got to the bus, the bus drivers face – she looked as terrified as I did – and my hands were shaking I was so scared. My phone was on red (the end of my battery power) and I told my daughter I’d have to call the police when I got home and report them, but then I noticed they had pulled into a little electric company that was near the school we were about to pass and they have a very unique symbol on their vehicle that couldn’t be confused with any other vehicle in town, so I called anyway and told them what had just happened. I asked that they would get someone over there to tell the driver how reckless it was (and illegal) and they said they would get someone over there to speak to him. I’ve since seen that vehicle speeding through two other school zones. That’s so discouraging.

I really hope you’ll stop and think about what you’re doing behind the wheel today.

My Facebook Post From October 30th:

This hurts my heart. I can’t imagine the pain of this family and community right now. One family has lost three children and another family has an injured child. I can’t imagine what the children on the bus went through to witness this. I can’t imagine what that bus driver must be dealing with as she/he went to pick up that precious cargo.

Stop at school stops.
Don’t speed through school zones.
Don’t text and drive.
Don’t drink and drive.
Don’t be distracted while driving.
Leave early if you’re in a hurry.

I don’t know the full story but I’m just airing reminders to not be distracted. We’re driving potential weapons so we need to be careful but y’all, school bus drivers are like semi drivers, they can’t just stop on a dime. (I realize they were stopped in this case-I’m making a point to pay attn). Don’t pull out in front of them and slam on the brakes, if you seem them then slow down b/c you never know what precious cargo is on board, and they’re doing a job that I’d never do (I love kids but I don’t like the noises they make), and would you want someone speeding up and around a school bus your child was on? (I’m not saying that happened here but I’ve witnessed it many times). Please have respect for bus drivers and the important little people they are transporting. They’re doing a thankless job to make sure the people we love most get to where they’re suppose to be ….. yellow means slow down. Buses are yellow. Get it?!

For the love.

*** Attached to that Facebook post was the tragic story of one of the many I’ve heard this year already of children being killed at bus stops from negligent or reckless drivers. *** More here.

Pray a specific pray tonight for your bus drivers (or whoever transports your children), for your teachers (or childcare providers), and for your children (or the children of your community).

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart”  Psalm 91:4