Comments on: Train ride http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/ Mormon women blogging about the peculiar and the treasured Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mormonhermitmom http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173910 mormonhermitmom Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:31:58 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173910 Public transportation is okay if you're in no hurry to get anywhere and parking at the destination is slim to nonexistant. If stuff is close enough to walk to, great. Otherwise, I'm driving. Public transportation is okay if you’re in no hurry to get anywhere and parking at the destination is slim to nonexistant. If stuff is close enough to walk to, great. Otherwise, I’m driving.

]]> By: Tiffany W. http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173884 Tiffany W. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:40:26 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173884 Ah, you have made me miss public trasportation. It's been two years since I've ridden a bus or a train. And honestly, I would train my van in a minute if I could start using public transportation regularly again. But alas, I live in an area where I can't even get to the grocery store without using a car. I lived in Sweden for 5 1/2 years and for the majority of that time, we didn't have a car, even with 4 children. We biked, took the bus and the train. We also walked a great deal. I learned more about Swedish culture from those bus trips than anything. Timing can be stressful, especially when going to a little town where the train only runs every hour. BUT, I love the freedom of being able to observe my surroundings, the people, the town, etc. My kids loved taking public transportation. I never worried about them on the bus or on the train. Ah, you have made me miss public trasportation. It’s been two years since I’ve ridden a bus or a train. And honestly, I would train my van in a minute if I could start using public transportation regularly again. But alas, I live in an area where I can’t even get to the grocery store without using a car. I lived in Sweden for 5 1/2 years and for the majority of that time, we didn’t have a car, even with 4 children. We biked, took the bus and the train. We also walked a great deal. I learned more about Swedish culture from those bus trips than anything. Timing can be stressful, especially when going to a little town where the train only runs every hour. BUT, I love the freedom of being able to observe my surroundings, the people, the town, etc.

My kids loved taking public transportation. I never worried about them on the bus or on the train.

]]> By: Melinda http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173881 Melinda Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:03:17 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173881 I went out of my way to take public transportation or just walk places when I was in college and grad school and then working full-time. It was relaxing to be able to sit and read, or watch the scenery. And I liked knowing that the schedule was mostly out of my hands - I would get there when I got there. Then I had children. There is no way I would take three small children on public transportation. You can't strap them in. If one of them wants to dart away, what do you do with the other two while you chase the runaway? It's exhausting taking three little bitty kids anywhere, even if they are all strapped into their carseats in a van. When they're older, we'll venture back out to public transportation. They would love a train ride. But right now, it would wipe me out for a week to take them on the train. I went out of my way to take public transportation or just walk places when I was in college and grad school and then working full-time. It was relaxing to be able to sit and read, or watch the scenery. And I liked knowing that the schedule was mostly out of my hands – I would get there when I got there.

Then I had children. There is no way I would take three small children on public transportation. You can’t strap them in. If one of them wants to dart away, what do you do with the other two while you chase the runaway? It’s exhausting taking three little bitty kids anywhere, even if they are all strapped into their carseats in a van.

When they’re older, we’ll venture back out to public transportation. They would love a train ride. But right now, it would wipe me out for a week to take them on the train.

]]> By: Cissy http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173880 Cissy Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:33:28 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173880 If we even take the city bus somewhere, we call it a field trip. Then I feel like we did something educational--"Today, we're learning about transportation and community helpers, kids!" So, really, you may have been just going to the doctor, but think of the spin you could put on that! If we even take the city bus somewhere, we call it a field trip. Then I feel like we did something educational–”Today, we’re learning about transportation and community helpers, kids!” So, really, you may have been just going to the doctor, but think of the spin you could put on that!

]]> By: Kathryn Soper http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173879 Kathryn Soper Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:28:01 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173879 Lupita! Either you haven't been commenting much lately, or I keep missing you somehow. Fun to hear from you. Lupita! Either you haven’t been commenting much lately, or I keep missing you somehow. Fun to hear from you.

]]> By: Lupita http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173878 Lupita Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:45:31 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173878 For me, it's the time element. Maybe I'm just showing my control freakiness but, out of all the things that I can't control, I want to be able to strap my kids in and come and go when I please. Once you're out of practice, public transportation does seem like more of a hassle. For me, it’s the time element. Maybe I’m just showing my control freakiness but, out of all the things that I can’t control, I want to be able to strap my kids in and come and go when I please. Once you’re out of practice, public transportation does seem like more of a hassle.

]]> By: Shelah http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173877 Shelah Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:55:05 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173877 It's funny that my mom commented, followed by Melissa, because the two comments reminded me that I was neither always so sheltered nor so nervous. The summer I was 12, my friend Emily and I took the train two towns away (I wasn't seven, but still pretty young), through a big city, to our dance class. We rode over in the morning, danced for hours, wandered the city for a while, then hopped the commuter back home late in the afternoon. When I was 15, my parents went to the DC temple and put me in charge of taking my 11 year-old brother and 7 year-old sister into the city to go to the Smithsonian. And I had countless trips into the city (including a New Year's Eve at Times Square) when I was a teenager. I'm just getting old and fearful, or else the kids have done me in. It’s funny that my mom commented, followed by Melissa, because the two comments reminded me that I was neither always so sheltered nor so nervous. The summer I was 12, my friend Emily and I took the train two towns away (I wasn’t seven, but still pretty young), through a big city, to our dance class. We rode over in the morning, danced for hours, wandered the city for a while, then hopped the commuter back home late in the afternoon. When I was 15, my parents went to the DC temple and put me in charge of taking my 11 year-old brother and 7 year-old sister into the city to go to the Smithsonian. And I had countless trips into the city (including a New Year’s Eve at Times Square) when I was a teenager. I’m just getting old and fearful, or else the kids have done me in.

]]> By: Melissa M. http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173874 Melissa M. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:46:45 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173874 What is it about trains? When I was seven I loved riding the train every morning to school and back while we lived with my grandmother (in Australia). It amazes me now to think that my mom sent me off every morning to the train station, all by myself, but those were different times, I suppose. I enjoyed the 20-minute train rides down the mountain every morning, and I loved ambling home every afternoon from the train station while I listened to the birds calling in the bush. I think I must have been more adventurous then. Having children definitely made me more cautious and reticent to attempt outings---maybe because the complicated logistics of maneuvering through town with toddlers and babies seemed overwhelming; maybe because I felt responsible for and protective of the little people in my care. So I became much more of a homebody. But my children remember the little outings we went on and the things we did that were outside of our normal routine. And yours will remember that train ride. =) What is it about trains? When I was seven I loved riding the train every morning to school and back while we lived with my grandmother (in Australia). It amazes me now to think that my mom sent me off every morning to the train station, all by myself, but those were different times, I suppose. I enjoyed the 20-minute train rides down the mountain every morning, and I loved ambling home every afternoon from the train station while I listened to the birds calling in the bush. I think I must have been more adventurous then. Having children definitely made me more cautious and reticent to attempt outings—maybe because the complicated logistics of maneuvering through town with toddlers and babies seemed overwhelming; maybe because I felt responsible for and protective of the little people in my care. So I became much more of a homebody. But my children remember the little outings we went on and the things we did that were outside of our normal routine. And yours will remember that train ride. =)

]]> By: Mom http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173873 Mom Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:42:16 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173873 Your dad took the train for years into New York from Connecticut for his job in the big city. Later he also commuted by train into Chicago from a western suburb. He loved having the time to read, work, and sometimes play cards to unwind from a long day. You may not recall one wintery evening when he fell asleep on the train and missed his Connecticut stop - he woke up at the end of the line! It was in those years before cell phones and I drove with all you kids in a near blizzard to the station to pick him up. We spent more than an hour and a half ping-ponging between two stations trying to figure out what happened to Dad! I eventually gave up and drove home only to have him call from the station to explain. I suggested that he walk home! I was teased for years by the neighbor who happened to be driving by, and finding him slogging through the drifting snow, offered him a ride home. Also - you may recall your own childhood forays into the world of commuter trains - like you, we mostly drove when we went into the big city, but 'for fun' and to save on parking fees, we would take the New York subways from one place to another during our day trips. From time to time, it was embarrassing to watch our three kids swinging around the poles and whooping wide-eyed as the trains raced through the dark underground tunnels to our destination. I think all the regulars knew we were the 'irregulars', but it was fun any way. Your dad took the train for years into New York from Connecticut for his job in the big city. Later he also commuted by train into Chicago from a western suburb. He loved having the time to read, work, and sometimes play cards to unwind from a long day. You may not recall one wintery evening when he fell asleep on the train and missed his Connecticut stop – he woke up at the end of the line! It was in those years before cell phones and I drove with all you kids in a near blizzard to the station to pick him up. We spent more than an hour and a half ping-ponging between two stations trying to figure out what happened to Dad! I eventually gave up and drove home only to have him call from the station to explain. I suggested that he walk home! I was teased for years by the neighbor who happened to be driving by, and finding him slogging through the drifting snow, offered him a ride home.

Also – you may recall your own childhood forays into the world of commuter trains – like you, we mostly drove when we went into the big city, but ‘for fun’ and to save on parking fees, we would take the New York subways from one place to another during our day trips. From time to time, it was embarrassing to watch our three kids swinging around the poles and whooping wide-eyed as the trains raced through the dark underground tunnels to our destination. I think all the regulars knew we were the ‘irregulars’, but it was fun any way.

]]> By: Selwyn http://segullah.org/daily-special/train-ride/#comment-173872 Selwyn Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:37:10 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=5767#comment-173872 Public transport isn't as huge or connected in Australia as it is overseas, but it sure does make kids excited. I took my sons for a train trip into the city when they were little, and they loved it (while I stressed over the 'grown up' concerns mostly, but did eventually relax enough to enjoy their enjoyment!) What was your answer to their wanting to go via train to the doctor? :) Public transport isn’t as huge or connected in Australia as it is overseas, but it sure does make kids excited. I took my sons for a train trip into the city when they were little, and they loved it (while I stressed over the ‘grown up’ concerns mostly, but did eventually relax enough to enjoy their enjoyment!)

What was your answer to their wanting to go via train to the doctor? :)

]]>