See Below: TIPS, IDEAS & SUGGESTIONS FOR BEING A TAXI MOM
The Role of a Taxi Mom
Ok, I’m not a “real” taxi driver, but as a mother of 5, now raising 2 of my grandkids, I am definitely considered the Taxi Mom among their friends and other parents! Hmmm! How did that happen?
In a world full of multiple activities for our kids, including various sports, dance, gymnastics, theater, swimming, etc., etc., etc. it’s nearly impossible for one mom, in my case now, grandmom, to keep up with all of the taxi mom demands.
And, being a taxi mom, your kids, especially at certain ages, (mostly very young children and young teenagers) won’t or can’t think of you any other way but their own personal transportation taxi!
So, basically, your children’s activity schedules will be woven into the taxi mom daily calendar of things to do. So buckle up taxi mom….or grandmom, because soon you’ll be hearing, “can you give me a ride” and then the taxiing begins!!
Here are some Amazon items to help all Taxi Moms!
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Can you Take Me to the Mall?
Depending on where you live, malls may still be hang-out places for tweens and teens. Fortunately for us, we have a small local mall where tweens and young teens spend time together on weekends.
I think malls provide the perfect environment for parents, kids, and teens. Young parents can stroll their babies through the mall with excitement to see other people, lights, and noise stimulation.
Some malls, like ours, have little children’s rides that are full of entertainment for small children. My kids loved the coin rides at our local mall and felt like they were at a funfair or adventure park. Such simple and easy fun for them and me!
And then there are the tweens and the young teens who finally come of age to spend time alone in the mall with their friends. Being allowed to spend time without parents walking around the mall with friends is certainly a rite of passage for tweens and teens.
Although this age and stage might be the most challenging for some parents, it’s actually my favorite stage for my kids and grandkids.
Why you ask? The reason is that when tweens and young teens hang out at the mall it often teaches them many life skills. Skills they don’t or can’t learn in a classroom.
Tweens & Teens Becoming Independent
Of course, we all want our children to live by the rules. But, hopefully, we’re not naïve enough to believe that they abide by all of our rules every minute of every day. If you do believe this, you may want to re-evaluate your rules!!!
All children, especially tweens and teens, learn responsibility independently. When tweens and teens are left to fend for themselves, they become very creative and productive.
In the mall environment, there are rules everyone must follow, including our tweens and teens. Although parents are not overseeing their behaviors, others are. If tweens and teens are entering stores, they are required by the store employees to behave within the rules of the stores.
Also, since the malls are local to our homes, many neighbors, teachers, or adults that know our children, may see our children during their time in the mall. This adds another supervisory level to our kids adhering to appropriate conduct.
If they are hanging out in the public areas or food courts, security will be monitoring their activities and conduct. So even though they are not being supervised by parents or grandparents, they are learning their own independence by staying within the rules of the mall atmosphere.
Additionally, malls have heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer. So, malls give our tweens and teens shelter from the weather elements during all seasons. Again, malls are a perfect setting for parents and grandparents to feel their maturing children can be in a safe place in their friend groups.
Meaning, if you’re a taxi mom like me, you are probably driving your tweens and teens, and their friends, back and forth to the mall quite often.
So instead of getting frustrated, start thinking of the mall as a big open playground where tweens and teens can learn and figure out their independence and responsibility journeys.
For a funny story for all parents and grandparents raising grandkids, read: Get Out of My Life, but First Could You Drive Me & Cheryl to the Mall?
Why I Choose to be a Taxi Service for Kids
Over the past few years, several businesses have established a taxi service for kids in various cities and towns. These services offer a taxi service for kids’ school pickups and drop-offs, after-school activities, before and after-school drop-offs, extracurricular activities, sporting events, and more.
As a taxi mom, I enjoy driving my kids and grandkids from activity to activity. However, a Taxi Service for kids will also transport your kids to friends’ houses for play dates, meet-ups or just to hang out.
Most companies interview potential Taxi service drivers in person. Taxi service drivers also should be required to complete background checks, including criminal background checks and child abuse clearances.
Services are requested through an established app that will track and monitor your child’s trip. Parents have the option of selecting their preferred driver or chauffeur for their child.
Live customer support is generally available 24/7 for any questions or concerns. Car seats are also provided for little ones.
Although I feel a taxi service for kids may be a good choice for families, I do not have any experience with any taxi service companies for kids. Therefore, I am not endorsing, encouraging, or suggesting any taxi service for kids.
Without knowledge or experience about the service, I remain a taxi mom and have my own taxi service for kids! Even though it can be challenging to figure out schedules and timeframes for driving my kids from place to place, I also enjoy it.
Teens Driving with Friends
While I am currently in the role as a taxi mom, I know in a few years my grandkids will want to start driving themselves and driving in a car with their friends.
This scares the heck out of me! It scared me with my own 5 children, and it scares me more now to think about it with the 2 grandkids I’m raising.
Knowing this, it is well-documented that teen drivers often become distracted while driving with a car full of friends. Loud music and rowdy talkative friends may make it difficult for young drivers to keep their focus and attention on the road.
Laws have been created to limit the number of passengers permitted in a car with teenage drivers. These laws have been put in place to reduce car accidents and provide a safe driving experience as possible for teens.
Be sure your teen driver understands the responsibility for themselves and their passengers when driving. Help them feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel of a car.
Feeling comfortable and confident helps your teens make better decisions about defensive driving and safe decision-making. Encourage your teen to always be a safe and responsible driver so they can develop good driving skills and the privilege to continue driving.
Parents need to establish guidelines and restrictions for teenagers and their friends to follow.
Since safety should always be a top priority on the road, here are a few safety suggestions for new drivers.
Establish Set Car Rules
It’s important to make a list of car rules for your teen driver and passengers to follow. It must be agreed among all friends driving in a car with a teen driver that they:
- Wear a seatbelt. This must ALWAYS be a rule for safety and legal purposes.
- Not be overly loud, rowdy, or disruptive in the car.
- Always support safety for the driver and passengers.
- Keep music to a realistic level. Do Not blast the music!
- Listen to the driver’s expectations.
- Be respectful of the dangerous nature of a car. One sudden move can result in a huge accident.
Be sure your teen driver understands the responsibility for themselves and their passengers when driving. Help them feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel of a car.
Feeling comfortable and confident helps your teens make better decisions about defensive driving and safe decision-making.
Encourage your teen to always be a safe and responsible driver so they can develop good driving skills and the privilege to continue driving with their friends.
Reasons Why Driving with Friends Is Sometimes Better Than Driving Alone
Believe me, I am NOT suggesting your teen drives with LOTS of friends, I’m saying that sometimes, having someone else in your car can be helpful, rather than harmful.
For example, I personally enjoy driving alone when I’m driving around locally. But if I’m traveling a distance, I prefer having a driving companion with me.
For this same reason, teens may benefit from having a friend or two in the car with them at times. Obviously, as stated above, they must adhere to the agreed-upon rules of the car. But, with that said, here are a few ways a passenger may be of support to your teen driver.
Pros For Having a Driving Buddy
- Having a driving companion can help you navigate your directions and destination. Although most GPS systems are very reliable, it is always helpful to have another person giving directions in advance of turns or exits.
- A driving buddy can also take notice of your surroundings. If you are looking for a gas station or meal stop, a driving buddy can alert you of the possibilities around you.
- Some GPS systems give alerts of accidents ahead, however, if you do not have that system, your driving buddy can keep their eye out for accidents, animals, or even police officers. Having an extra set of eyes on the road is always a good thing for drivers.
- A driving buddy can help navigate the radio for specific music and hand you things you may need while driving, such as drinks, snacks, or tissues.
- Having a driving buddy can keep you awake during long trips by singing, sharing stories, or telling jokes.
Thus, for many situations, having friends in the car may be distracting, but there are circumstances that having a friend as a driving buddy can be a positive experience.
The Joys of Being a Taxi Mom
Most times, I look forward to being a taxi mom. While driving, I love having private conversations with my kids or grandkids in the car.
Being alone in the car gives us the opportunity to openly talk about a topic without having to look directly at each other.
The casual atmosphere in the car can be very open for asking questions and talking freely knowing no one can walk away from the conversation.
Even when driving their friends, I can chat with them and ask them questions. Sometimes questions my kids don’t know or have never asked! Taxi mom time is free time to inquire about various topics!!
Perhaps some parents may find a taxi service for their kids a good option for some situations.
But, for me, and maybe other parents and grandparents, being available as a taxi mom to drive kids around can be fun….most times! Lol!
For other parents, if it is possible, take advantage of the sanctity of your car, be a taxi mom, and talk to your child! You’ll be surprised how much you learn about them and their friends!!
See additional stories about the Joys and Exhaustion of Parenting Grandkids.
TIPS, IDEAS & SUGGESTIONS FOR BEING A TAXI MOM
- Be available. Of course, you’re not always going to be available when your kids are, but when you can drive them, do it!
- Make a schedule. Plan a calendar. Events and activities are typically planned in advance. Scheduling rides and planning who will be the taxi mom can be scheduled well in advance so it doesn’t come as a surprise.
- Your kids are only involved in activities for a short period of time. Although their activities may seem overwhelming now, they will pass quickly and they may no longer be interested.
- Take advantage of the time you spend with your kids or grandkids in the car. Driving them around can encourage rich conversations and communication.
- Don’t let them take advantage of you. Be sure your kids respect your timeframes and are there when they say they will be. This goes for their friends as well. Remind them you are going out of your way for them and they need to respect your time.
