Length of Commute to studio

[Guest coupe66]

Hi All,

 

I am wondering how long it takes many of you to get your dk to class. Right now, we are needing to drive about 45 minutes each way to get to a pre-professional studio, and I must admit after 2 years, the commute is becoming a real drain for me. I do have two younger dc with me during the drive, the youngest being almost 3 years old, and I think that is part of it for me as the drive gets long for the littlest one on a daily basis. Do any of the rest of you share this situation and do you have any suggestions to make the commute easier or how you resolved the situation? Thank you all in advance!

[yankee]

Have you attempted to share the commuting with another family? We have the same commute but unfortunately are the only family from our area traveling to our particular ballet school. Under extreme circumstances I have met another parent halfway in order for my DD to be driven in the rest of the way. Every little bit helps.

 

I do understand your concerns about your youngest child as the end of the day is challenging enough without having to travel to and from somewhere at a longer distance from home. I seem to recall another thread at one point about what to do with one's young child in this situation and I suggested what always worked for us which was to find a local park or library. My youngest enjoyed having an activity of his own to look forward to, and as he's grown older I've attempted to combine his activity of interest within the same city as my DD's ballet.

[boxwoodgirl]

We are 45 minutes each way, as well. There are honestly some days when I think I just can't do it anymore, so I do feel for you. I agree with yankee about looking for a carpool situation. Check with people in your child's level, and also in other levels, as there may be at least one day of overlap. Yankee has a good suggestion about going to the library - it was my salvation during my daughter's classes! I've got nothing new to add - just wanted to tell you I am in your shoes and I feel for you. It's grueling to make that drive day in and day out.

[Wendigowild]

We did drive over an hour each way for 4 months before moving to the area where my 8 yr old daughter takes ballet now. At that time my younger kids where 2.5yrs and 1yr old; luckily I was able to get them both to nap on the way to class while big sister ate a small meal as well changed in the car during the ride. I too worried about the young ones not having much to do while big sis danced. For our situation; we did many excursions to local businesses to get a feel for the area that we would be moving to. Ice cream was our biggest bribe and listening to talk radio helped me feel social in my minivan.

[positivemom]

First time posting here. I have commuted 6 hours round trip daily for 2 years and now that my DD has changed schools, commute from 1-2 hours one way depending on the traffic--Mon-Sat. Granted, my youngest is 10 and can either come with me and we go to the local library, we sometimes do mini field trips, or he can stay home and be babysat by his older siblings. I get tired of the commute at times but I look at it this way....she is at a wonderful school, she has ballet training for another 5 years at this school....driving to get her good training is worth it....5 years will be done sooner that we know it!

[Momof3darlings]

Did an hour 15 minutes each way for 4 years and did have a young one in tow. The youngest was 2 1/2 when we started. We always took time to do at least one something for the little one each day: play time at a kiddie playground, trip to a special store, we got library cards at that library, found a bead store that was child friendly, and packed a box in the trunk of special toys that had to stay in the car and were only pulled out for those trips. In other words, all the errands and things I would do if home, I did in that city. DD3 even took a kids art class in that city.

 

The real hit came the year after she graduated when I almost began to loath getting in the car and lost all desire to shop out of town like I used to. I didn't realize how burned out I was until it was all said and done. I was blessed in that DH, could help out and could schedule Wednesday evenings free so could drive those days and some weekends. But the brunt of it still did fall on me and boy was I bushed.

 

6 hours? positive mom, I'm bowing down to you. I could not under any circumstances have managed that. Wow!

[yankee]

Wow positivemom - your name says it all! I now realize I have nothing at all to complain about...

[BelaNina]

Yes, positivemom, I think we're all in awe of your commitment! I drive an hour and 15 minutes each way 5 or 6 days a week, but I don't have a little one in tow.

[drivesallday]

Oh my, positive mom!

 

I am very fortunate that we do not have a long commute. There are some girls in DD's class who do travel quite some distance, and they have stayed overnight with us (as well as other local dance families) on many occasions. If you have school then this obviously isn't an option on those days but it might, for example, eliminate some of the driving for a Friday and Saturday class.

[greyhound]

EDIT: I just realized that I posted in the under 13 section. I was reading from the new posts. Please remove if needed....sorry.

 

 

 

I drive 45min. each way to take DD to classes. Eventually I started working at the school and am now the administrator. For 5 years I drove her into DC on Saturdays for classes, 1hr 15min each way.

 

Back when she started ballet (creative movement) it was at our local community center, her school has satelite classes there, and the drive was 10minutes. Who would have thought it would have turned into a major commute!....14 years later.

[cakers]

Our commute is appx 50 minutes each way, 5-6 days a week. For a while, there were other students in our town that we could share the drive with, but they are no longer dancing, or got wise and moved closer to the studio, so now we're on our own. Because both my husband and I work, we try to share the duties as much as possible. Fortunately, my husband is self employed, so has a lot of flexibility, and also fortunately, I've worked for my company long enough that I also have some degree of flexibility. On the really long days, my husband will drive her to the studio, drop her off and come home, and then I'll drive down later to pick her up. Yes, it's double the gas, but my husband doesn't like to sit around for 4 hours or more waiting, while I don't mind going shopping!

During Nutcracker and Spring Recital season when there are extra long days and rehearsals, the local families will offer to let my DD stay overnight with them to save me from having a late night, early morning turn around. Yes, it's difficult and tiring, but as long as she displays the current level of talent and passion, we are committed to supporting her as much as possible. She's been away for 4-weeks at summer intensive, with another week to go, and I must admit, I've really enjoyed the break!

[SewRibbons]

We are in a new city, with a long way to go and lots of traffic to get downtown. For us, its 1 1/2 to 2 hours each way. Sometimes Fridays are extra bad and it can go over two hours. Basically, we get in the car the moment DD gets off the school bus at 2:45 in order to be sure we are at her 5pm class on time. At this point, its just three days per week (thankfully).

[Blanche]

DD attended the Summer Program at her new school, and in the am rush, the drive was anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour, 15 minutes; the ride home in the early afternoon was never more than 45-50 minutes. We'll see how the fall goes...we're alloting an hour fifteen even though we should be going against traffic.

[horselover]

We were driving 1 hour to/from my daughter's studio but recently made a switch to a studio that's closer to home. We got lucky. The new studio is awesome and news of it came around to us just at the right time. The funny thing is, my daughter said she actually misses the driving time. It's usually just the two of us and we did a lot of talking in the car -- about school, boys, dance... all those important things. So while I enjoy the shorter commute. Like her, I sorta miss those long discussions. Maybe the fact that we're going five days instead of three will make up for it! We'll see....

Edited August 9, 2010 by horselover