I’ve been thinking a lot lately about people, and how they think, and what they think about others.
I’ve also been thinking about the short bus.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been reminded that being told you “ride the short bus” is an insult. It means you are stupid or crazy. But my daughter rides the short bus, and my sister always rode the short bus, and neither one of them is stupid or crazy.
So I started thinking, as I was standing outside and waiting on the aforementioned short bus with my daughter, that riding that diminutive mode of transportation is awesome. Way more awesome than, say, riding a regular bus. As proof, I have compiled a highly scientific and accurate list of reasons why the short bus is the coolest bus in the fleet.
- The short bus has adult supervision. My elementary age daughter is being watched over by qualified adults, not high school kids with piercings and dirty mouths.
- My daughter wears an actual seat belt. If the regular bus has an accident, your kid is going to be bouncing around like a pea in a can. Sorry!
- In general, the short bus drivers are kinder, more patient, and far more accommodating than regular bus drivers. Sorry again!
- Sure, the kids on the short bus have problems, but I’ve met the regular ed kids on the regular bus. I think you’d better be more worried than me!
- Yeah, some of them might lick the windows. At least they aren’t making out with each other and “experimenting!”
- Lots of them still color with crayons. But they aren’t smoking cigarettes. Or drinking. Good luck!
- Most of the kids are dressed pretty conservatively, but I’d take that over the “gangsta” look, male skinny jeans, or the little girls who look like they got their clothing out of the discount bin at Hal’s House of Hookers.
- The kids on the short bus have lots of issues, but my daughter will never tell me she hates me, hit me, roll her eyes at me, or call me a bitch.
- Also, I don’t ever have to worry about my daughter coming home with a guy who looks like he just escaped from work release, telling me they are in LOVE and they are going to have a BABY!
- Likewise, I don’t have to worry about her becoming the most “popular” girl in school, if you get my meaning.
- I ALSO don’t have to worry about naked pictures of my daughter popping up on the Internet because of “sexting.”
- My daughter and her peers on the short bus don’t judge people. They don’t make fun of others because they are different, or use them as the butt of a joke. They aren’t racists, bigots, or just general assholes. They aren’t bullies. In short (get it?), they aren’t jerks.
See, riding the short bus isn’t so bad. It doesn’t make you stupid, or crazy. You won’t catch a disease from riding it. In fact, I’d take the short bus any day. I’d climb on, and sit in the back, and as we passed the regular bus, I’d hold up a sign:
SEE YOU LATER, LOSERS!
I love you!
I know.
I love you, too.
My son rides the short bus to his summer camp. Short buses rule!
Stacie recently posted..Growing Jeans
Right on!
Well said! The memories I have of the regular-sized bus I rode still haunt me to this day. Maybe one day I will write about it!
I have those memories too. I’m not sure I WANT to write about them.
Nothing wrong with the short bus! (Kids are jerks about it, though. I remember that.)
Mayor Gia recently posted..Everyone is Sick and it’s Getting Terrifying
Not just kids. Lots of adults, too.
I rode the regular bus as a grade schooler. I was also the last one to get off, which meant I could be picked on for the entire 30 minute ride.
Adult supervision would have been awesome.
My Half Assed Life recently posted..Toilet Travesty
Yep. I learned more about sex from the high school kids on my bus than from the Fifty Shades trilogy.
My daughter rides the short bus too, and I couldn’t be happier. Still, it doesn’t stop her from rolling her eyes at me!
That’s okay. Evelyn shakes her finger at me. (Not the middle one.)
I love the shorter buses, safer less havoc and easier to pass
Good point.
Glad you posted this. I hate it when I hear people use “short bus” as a euphemism for “stupid” or “crazy.” When they do, they’re just revealing how ignorant they are.
Melissa recently posted..The Big Chill
I started to get all pissy about it, but really, what’s the point? This just made me feel better.
Remember, never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or an idiot from any direction! Ha!
Brings back ALOT of memories – you captured the sentiment perfectly. I see that some things never change!
Bridgitte Raven recently posted..Incomplete
I’ve never heard of the short bus (Maybe we don’t have those in Texas?) but from your description I think I’d rather be on the short bus myself, window-licking and all!
Louise Ducote recently posted..I Didn’t Know
You’re bound to have them. How do the kids in wheelchairs get to school?
Also, as an aside, we have short buses that aren’t for the special needs kids. They don’t have lifts or anything. They are for some of the routes that go out the back roads and don’t pick up any kids. More fuel efficient and easier to handle, I guess.
You’re so right, the big bus is a moving, encapsulated Lord of the Flies situation.
TriGirl recently posted..I Will Bowl You Over with My "Unbelievable" Bowling Skills
Hahahahaha!!!!!! Wonderful.
All we can do is try to teach our kids to be understanding, sweet and empathetic… and give the finger to everyone else 😉
Katie recently posted..Putting Away the Christmas Tree
Hey, it works for me.
In our neighborhood, the short bus stops right in front of each kid’s house. I am totally jealous.
Kerry Ann @Vinobaby’s Voice recently posted..Rezoning: An Ode to my Neighborhood & School
Yep. That too.
It ain’t the size of the bus that matters. It’s what’s inside. 🙂
Jen recently posted..Learning with my hands
Indeed.
“My daughter and her peers on the short bus don’t judge people. They don’t make fun of others because they are different, or use them as the butt of a joke. They aren’t racists, bigots, or just general assholes. They aren’t bullies. In short (get it?), they aren’t jerks.” Yes, yes, yes! You hit the nail on the head! All the nastiness is not okay.
Larks (@LarksNotesThis) recently posted..What’s in a name?
But how can you expect any difference when it comes from the parents? The things I’ve heard over the past few weeks haven’t been from kids.
Right on, mama! The short bus rocks.
Kathleen recently posted..Hockey Skates and a Not-So-Lucky Cat
I can’t believe people still make short bus comments. Ridiculous.
Michelle Longo recently posted..Talking About Bacon.
I can only agree with you.