So let me just express my passion for communicating with teachers, your childs school, your children,and neighbors about children riding school buses home from school.

My daugher, turned 6 last week, is in kindergarten.  On Fridays I let her ride the bus to school and ride the bus home from school because normally I am off work.I am a  married, single working mom and this particular Friday (yesterday) I had to work.  Yesterday morning I took my daughter to her daycare which is at the school she attends and  told her she had to go to daycare after school as well.  I also put a note in her backpack for her teachers.  On her bus card which is attached to her backpack it states she is to ride the bus Fridays (maybe) and it has my cell phone number on it.

 I have my cell phone at work however I am a nurse and was with a patient when my cell phone rang and  I didn't recognize the number when it rang so I didn't answer.  I checked my voicemail after work (5 p.m.) - keep in mind school is out at 330.  When I heard what my voicemail said someone had put a 10 thousand pound weight on my chest.

 My daughter had not remembered to go to daycare and obviously my note was not found in her backpack.  She had ridden the bus home.  No one was home - my son had left 7 minutes before she got off the bus and I was at work.  She then went back to the bus stop and was crying and cold (snowing).  A stranger had picked her up.  My daughter is very loving, energetic, has no fear and loves everyone - she would go with anyone. Long story shorter .... the lady who picked her up thankfully called my cell phone (the number I didn't recognize)  and left a message stating she had found my daughter and picked her-she had figured out who my daughter knew (we live in Alaska and have no neighbors) and took her there -hysterically crying it took me 45 minutes to get home- it was the worst feeling in this world to know that there was a huge communication breakdown between me and the school.  Also, knowing a stranger picked up my child and my child actually went with her is another distressing experience.  I praise God that it was a nice woman and she took care of her. I just can't imagine if the person who picked her up was not of sane mind. I found my daughter safe and sound- a bit scared but ok

I can't express the importance of communicating with your child over and over and over on where they are to be at all times and communication between the school, teachers, and yourself is essential.   The world gets so busy and at times we don't realize or appreciate the simple, precious things in life until something like this happens.

 Have a Happy day and hug your kids.