Kai and Yang started coming home from school on their own from January 2022. I was anxious, not least because they had to cross roads near the school. So I bought a GPS watch to stalk them. They already started going to school on their own since April 2021. But I was more anxious for the returning journey, maybe coz Kai slept past the bus stop before??
With Yu going to primary school, we started the sending and fetching again, before letting them go on their own from January this year, and return on their own from March. So the watch had a break before resuming service.
And then, in September, student concession cards could finally onboard Simply Go! So happy! Now I can get instant updates when they alight and when their balance falls below $5.
Even though student cards allow them to board with balance as low as $1, I'd rather be safe as I've had a few close brushes already. Once, the boys went to Stevens MRT to change but Yang couldn't get through coz the bus ride to Stevens put him at below $1. His brothers had to exit the MRT and waited for the direct bus home, with Yang paying cash.
But the instant updates are the best. I know when they get to school. I know that they alight at the right bus stop - Yang and Yu had fallen asleep / stoned on the way to bus and alighted only two stops later *.* I know whether they are taking the direct bus home or changing to MRT when coming home.
The limitation is that I would get the notification only when they tap out of the bus/MRT. If the train stalls, I would not know until I start to worry about the long time they take to get home!
And this happened to Kai before - he was coming home from his penultimate Chinese tuition class when the train stalled. I was so worried coz he was late. It took me a while to think of checking the trains. What a relief when I saw that there was a train fault! But then I got worried again - is he ok, scared, tired? Luckily, the aircon in the train was working, and he had a seat and was doing homework while waiting. He could have borrowed a phone to inform me though *.*
So I'd still have the smart watch ready. They can use it to call me. Now it's one for all to share. Next year, Kai will have his own phone.
Sito and I were talking about going to and from school. We thought it was great that our kids can take public transport by themselves. In fact, they themselves learnt to take the train instead of the direct bus home; they don't like to wait long long at the bus stop so would hop on the first bus. And depending on the bus, they may change at Stevens or Botanic Gardens.
Once when I fetched Yang and Yu home, I purposely let them lead the way. We were on the upper deck and these kids kept talking and talking but remembered to press the bell to alight at Botanic Gardens. To be honest, I would need to look and look to be sure it's the right bus stop!
And on Thursday, after dinner at Mother's place, Kai suggested taking the bus from just downstairs to Bishan instead of walking to AMK MRT to take the train to Bishan. He remembers that route and decides it's a better one - I agree!
Don't think I was so good with public transport in primary school. But then, I never had to take public transport with my school just across the road, and also, bus stops now have the route details... I'm glad the boys know how to make use of the information and remembers the route to take.
Only the Mama is worried about them crossing roads. I have a whole lesson on crossing road ready for them!
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