Mom of high school and preschool student considers leaving 17-year-old behind when doing school pick up: 'I have to leave my house 4 times a day'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Oct 15, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

It is easy to think that once children reach school age, parenting gets a little easier. Assuming that parents have done their job right and there are no other underlying issues, they should be slightly more capable and independent than when they were toddlers, and unless they choose to homeschool, they get a few hours' peace in the house five days a week. 

However, there is one big issue that can make things complicated, in particular for those who have multiple kids at different schools. This is, of course, the fact that kids have to get to and come back from the place where they are getting an education one way or another.

For those moms and dads who commit to doing the commute themselves, it can become a real chore. Acting as the personal chauffeur to more than one child becomes a full-time job on top of all the other challenges of parenting.

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    Cheezburger Image 10564198144
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  • In this story, one mom deliberated over whether it was a good time to stop giving her 17-year-old daughter a ride home after school, right after class ended. She also had a preschooler and a 5-month-old, and was struggling to juggle responsibilities that included giving two separate rides home. 

    Her daughter finished school early, as she didn't have to take as many classes as many other students. She also didn't have her driver's license yet, meaning she was dependent on her mom to drive her to and from school. The mom wondered if she would be taking things too far if she picked her up at the same time as her preschooler, leaving her with extra time at school after class.

     

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    WIBTA if I refused to pick my daughter up from school?

    I, 34f, have 3 kids, 17f, 4f, and 5month old baby boy. This school year I have a senior in high school and a preschooler. Originally, I assumed that I would drop the preschooler off, then the senior and pick up was going to go the same way. But the senior's schedule threw a wrench in my plan. Because of all the credits she earned, she only needs to take 3 classes. Which
    via Bitter_Pangolin_5861
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    is great news but that means she's only in school for less than 3 hours. I would have to drop her off after school already started and pick her up 2 hours later. My issue is that she doesn't have her license, so I have to do the driving. I feel my life is literally just picking up and dropping off. I have to leave my house 4 times a day. I feel like anytime I start
    via Bitter_Pangolin_5861
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    something, I have to stop because I need to do a drop off or pick up. The bus isn't an option because I would still have to drive to and from a bus stop. I proposed that instead of picking the senior up after 2 hours, I would pick her up after 3. Then I could pick her and the
    via Bitter_Pangolin_5861
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    preschooler up at the same time. I could have a longer block of time to get things done and have the 5 month old actually get a decent nap that doesn't involve a car seat. WIBTA if I pick her up later?
    via Bitter_Pangolin_5861
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    Commenters confirmed that her desire wasn't wrong.

    Kind-Pop-7205 Buy the kid a bike.
    via Kind-Pop-7205
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    SuluSpeaks No! My son got out of school senior year at 3.15. I left work at 4 and picked him up at 4.15. She can goto the library and wait.
    via SuluSpeaks
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    GahhhltsMilk I don't think an hour is a big deal at all. Maybe have her drive on the way to/from school so she can get some practice in. She can use the extra hour as a study hall or to prep for college. Maybe encourage her to pack a lunch and eat during that hour too.
    via GahhhItsMilk
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    pikminlover20 Only way you would be is if the school won't allow her to stay past her classes. Ik my high school didn't allow that
    via pikminlover20
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    East-Tangerine 1673 Can she take another class for fun? My daughter took welding, auto mechanics, art, and photography classes
    via East-Tangerine1673
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    External-Challenge93 I dunno, would it really be that big a deal for her to sit in the school library for an hour and work on homework or something? That seems like less of a pain in the ass to her than having to do two separate pick-ups an hour apart is for you. I feel like there's more than likely a way for her to find something to do for an hour until it's time for you to pick up the younger child too...
    via External-Challenge93
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    I'm thinking YWNBTA, maybe unless there is literally nothing she could do for that hour if you don't pick her up right when she's done with her classes, but even then I'm not entirely sure I'd say you'd be an AH for it. It wouldn't exactly kill her to be bored for an hour a day, and if she has a smartphone and doesn't have to leave it at home entirely when she goes to school, then she can surely occupy an hour of waiting for you to pick her up anyway.
    via External-Challenge93
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    EconomyAccomplished9 NTA. Set the boundary. Your kids will treat themselves as you treat yourself. You are worth it. Your senior in high school will adjust.
    via EconomyAccomplished9
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    Jerseygirl2468 NTA it's unreasonable to spend your whole day running everyone around. She's the one with the unusual schedule, so she needs to look at other options. 1 - go sit in the school library and do her homework 2- take an additional class - some elective she doesn't need for credits but something to occupy her time 3- she gets part time job she can take a bus to and you pick her up from there.
    via Jerseygirl2468
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    Efficient-Ladder-870 Imagine asking our mothers to pick us up early from school. Tell her to get a license, catch a ride, walk home, find a job near school or do her homework.
    via Efficient-Ladder-870
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    mtngrl60 I'll be honest with you. I have three daughters. And if I were in your situation, I would tell my daughter that literally, I expected her to take one more class. Some sort of an elective that would look good on her college applications... Or even when she's just interested in.
    via mtngrl60
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    But no, I wasn't gonna be a taxi service all day long. It's impressive that she only needs a couple of hours of classes. But since she doesn't have a license, that's the reality of the situation. We were not gonna be wasting time and gas when she could easily be putting that one hour to good use in one way or another.
    via mtngrl60
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    No_Anxiety6159 When I was a senior in high school, I had a couple free hours in the day, but it was a long time ago and we weren't allowed to leave early. So I 'worked' in the athletic office. Made copies for the coaches, got equipment out for practice, inventoried supplies, etc. it was also got to use on my college applications.
    via No_Anxiety6159
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    Jumpy-Sail-6851 Absolutely not! When my kiddo has the option for a short day I requested that she carry a full schedule so the pick up schedule would remain the same. This is part of being in a family. She can do her homework and whatnot while she waits.
    via Jumpy-Sail-6851

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