Why the School Car Rider Line is a Blessing in Disguise
Inside: Every year parents commiserate about the hassle that is the school car rider line. Here’s why the extra time spent in the school drop-off and pick-up line is actually a GOOD thing! Sponsored by Toco Warranty.
This summer we moved to a new house in the country (which has been a lifelong dream of mine). It’s been an adventure so far and we are loving every minute of it! Except for the car line…
The school drop-off and pick-up line is a brand new experience for us. In our last neighborhood we lived only 2 blocks from the school — an easy 5-minute walk.
Now it is a 15-minute drive to school…and that is NOT accounting for traffic or the time spent waiting in the school drop-off line and pick-up line.
Why the Car Rider Line is Actually a Blessing in Disguise
At first I hated the car rider line.
It seemed like such a waste of time!!
And then I saw the light…
For all my fellow car line skeptics, let me share why I’m now a car line enthusiast! I’ll also share how a vehicle service contract from Toco Warranty gives me peace of mind with all the extra time spent in our car.
1.You Can Get a Ton of Stuff Done While You Wait
At first, I wondered why all these parents were getting to school so early just to sit in line for an hour.
And then it hit me…
You guys…the car rider line is brilliant! Where else can a mom find 30 minutes or even an hour of uninterrupted QUIET time?!
It’s practically a luxury!!
When I know we’re going to be parked for a while, I bring something to do so I’m not just sitting there. On some days I make the car my mobile office and use my laptop with a mobile hotspot (only while parked of course!)
Other blogger friends have told me that they use dictating apps on their phones to write new blog posts while waiting in the car rider line.
My mom used to bring a book to read in the days before cell phones and computers.
Read a book?! Without interruptions?! That is not even a thing when you get home and have three kids running around in a state of exhausted post-school delirium!
Believe it or not, my time in the school pick up line is sometimes more productive than when I’m at home because there are fewer distractions!
2. It’s an Awesome Opportunity to Bond with the Kids
Once we get home from school, the kids immediately run off to their room to play, read, and just unwind from a long day in the classroom. At that point, the last thing on their mind is sitting down with mom or dad and chatting about their day.
We make family dinner a priority in our home, but riding in the car together is another way to hang out with the kids. Even if it’s because they’re buckled in and can’t go anywhere else!
Immediately after school is the best time to ask about what happened that day. Otherwise everything evaporates from their brain and it’s all “I don’t know” and “it was good.”
Seriously — my kindergartner can tell me something that happened on the first day of school…or five minutes ago…and nothing in between.
We also make playlists of the girls’ favorite songs to get them pumped up in the morning on the way to school, or to relax on the way home.
I dare say, we actually have fun in the car rider line! Who would have thought?!
3. Cars are a blessing
I must reiterate — the car rider line is a luxury. Not only for us, but our kids too!
My husband not-so-fondly recalls the hours he spent riding a bus to and from school each day.
Yes, I said hours. Plural.
Our house is at the end of the bus route for our district, so our girls would likely spend about an hour on the bus each way too. That means we’d have less time to spend with them, less time for activities or sports, less time to be away from school.
So while it might seem silly to spend all that time in the car when there are buses available, I counter that at least in the car we are spending that time together.
And in today’s culture of perpetual busyness, that together time is precious and I’ll take it whenever and wherever I can get it!
Before You Go, Make Sure Your Car is Ready!
Traveling to and from school twice a day adds up to quite a bit of driving time, especially depending on how far away from the school you live.
That’s why it’s especially important to make sure that your car is working properly beforehand. This printable car maintenance checklist is a great place to start!
However, even with regular maintenance, stuff happens. I’m diligent about oil changes, but I’ve still dealt with too many breakdowns in my life to count!
That’s why I made sure our family is covered in case of a breakdown* with a vehicle service contract from Toco Warranty.
What is a Vehicle Service Contract (VSC)?
A vehicle service contract is a way to make sure that you’re protected in case of a covered breakdown. That way you’re not stuck with an unexpected repair bill!
I’ll be completely honest — I used to be skeptical about extended warranties because I worried that they would try to lock you into a contract or require an up-front payment to get started.
However, Toco keeps it simple with pay-as-you-go plans for as long as you want coverage, no money down, and no binding contract. Choose your plan, make an affordable monthly payment, and you’re covered when breakdowns happen!*
But what I think truly sets Toco Warranty apart are the extras:
- Reliable customer service — they’ll walk you through the entire process to make sure everything goes just right, and they offer a dedicated concierge for all of your needs.
- 24-hour roadside assistance — for 365 days a year, help is always just a call away!
- Nationwide repair facilities — you can choose the mechanic from a nationwide list of covered facilities.
- MyToco Portal – view your account information, download electronic documents, manage payment plans, send a referral and live chat with a Toco Customer Care specialist.
We’ve been with Toco Warranty for a couple months now, and I’m super impressed with their customer service. Customer service is huge for me, and I feel that it is something a lot of companies are cutting back on — at the customer’s expense! Toco is different — they go above and beyond to check in on us, even when we’re not having any car trouble! I know that whenever we DO need them, Toco Warranty will be there!
Deal Alert: I’m excited to share with you a special offer ONLY for fans of The Soccer Mom Blog! Use promo code “SOCCER” to save 50% on your first month! CLICK HERE to make every mile count with Toco Warranty!
*for covered breakdowns; exclusions apply
A Final Thought:
I didn’t always love the idea of the car rider line. In fact, I dreaded it!
But since it is unavoidable, I looked for ways to instead make the experience a positive one. Life is all about perspective, after all!
Knowing that we are together as a family and as safe as possible in a car that’s maintained and protected in case of unexpected breakdowns is enough to keep my mama heart happy!
If nothing else, I hope that this might help you to look at the car rider line with a more open mind and gratitude for the blessings we have to be able to get to school relatively quickly and easily!
Safe driving mamas!
Related: Before the weather turns cold, be sure to learn how to winterize your car and keep your family safe in snowy or icy driving conditions!
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