Why You Walk To School

Dear Kids,

Many years ago, you began walking to school. We had just moved to Boise. Mason was our only student. We were lucky, the neighbor kids walked too-just across the park to the school yard. Every morning a flock of children made their way into the halls of learning, with parents watching from their windows or walking along with. It was "Leave it to Beaver" nostalgic for me. I loved sending you off each morning.

Then, we moved. And when we moved I looked for a house that wasn't too far from school. You walking yourselves became something more than a happy idea that we lived in Safeville America, where kids wouldn't be crossed by stranger danger and drivers looked out for pedestrians. It became a social experience for YOU. For you as sisters and brothers, to watch out for each other.

Walking to school was a 20 minute a day exercise in sticking together, watching out for each other and learning how to put up with, enjoy, and love one another. You against the world. You without your parents....a band of brother (and sister) hood.

You didn't like this so much. Sometimes I walked half way to meet you. Sometimes you came home hollering that so-and-so wasn't at the tree where you met one another. Or whose-a-ma-callit made fun of you in front of their friends on the sidewalk.

sometimes you didn't stick like glue to each other. But you knew it was expected that you'd help one another arrive safely home.

We moved again. The next time we went to public school, you had your most difficult walks to make. Not because it was so far away, but because NO ONE ELSE walked to school. Sometimes the neighbors just couldn't understand why a mother would allow her children out the door unattended for any length of time. Sometimes they picked you up in the golf cart-well meaning darling neighbors who wanted you delivered safely to school, and sometimes even safely home.

I learned to endure the criticism, the looks from mothers who didn't understand. And I tried to go out and watch you come and go-and even walk up to meet you. But it was as important then to me as it had been when we had started that you took care of each other. That for a few precious minutes of each school day you had to rely on each other.

That has continued at the Spruces. The walk is shorter than ever. Some of you who started our walking tradition are now walking yourself home from high school. The ones who walk now tend to linger, to wander. Those who are the shepherds have straying sheep to herd. But the lessons for you younger ones are as valuable as they were for the older.

You need to stick together.
Sometimes it will be just you-your family-against the world.
You've got to look out for each other.
Stay safe, and head for home. And try to arrive there TOGETHER.

And that is why you walk to school.