It doesn't look like fun to me, and I even like the radio. Alas, the alternative is kids sitting at home watching tv instead of going to dance class, lessons or jobs. We pack so much more into childhood these days.

I'd like to be fired from chef, taxi driver, and maid...PLEASE!

hysterically funny and so so true

The responsibility of driving carries so much risk. My 5 children were so appreciative of my efforts AFTER they had their licenses. They have all experienced the stresses & challenges associated with driving. And, now that a few of them are parents...they are understanding the lectures & consequences I imposed as a parent. I am hopeful that teens enjoy being chauffeured as the stress load is gladly shared by mom...am I correct?

I love this story because it is so so true. I had five kids involved in just about everything, going in five different directions at the same time and friends who had parents who volunteered to car pool. Supposedly. But then, that's parenthood. One doesn't really think about it until later when it's over. After all, it was done out of love.

It will be nice to be hired back on in a few years as grandparent chauffeur.

Chris, what I find awesome is that when you told me this story was going up, you said you were late taking your daughter somewhere. Oh the irony. :)

Ridiculous. Kids can get on bikes, right? Take the bus? WALK? Southwest Minneapolis is safe and walkable. And yes, people do walk and take the bus in the rain. My son is still too young to strike out on his own, but you can be sure that he won't be the kind of wimp who depends on his parents to drive him everywhere (good thing, too, given that his parents don't own a car). I realize that parents driving their kids everywhere is the reality for many families, but it certainly isn't a given, and it doesn't have to be that way. To live a car-dependent life is a choice. If you don't like it, just get out of the car and buy yourself a bus pass, buy a bike, or hit the sidewalks.

I agree with B martin Looking at Cedar Phillips comment, I see an absence of respect . Later, how you respond and act in the interest of your child will show in their relationship with you. Trust me, kids are not stupid.

Calm down. I'm not calling your kids wimps -- I was being flippant, but I think the line about there being no other form of transportation because it was raining was, well, a bit of a cop out. I think the problem of kids not being able to get around is due to the parents, not to the kids, however. It's part of a parent's responsibility to help their children learn how to navigate in the world. That means helping them to learn how to ride the bus, perhaps how to safely ride a bike, how to walk to the park. If you, as a parent, prefer to drive your children everywhere and to spend hours of your life that is indeed your choice, but to hear people talk about it you'd think it was the ONLY option out there. I also tend to think it's a very limiting view of the world; I doubt most teenagers want to feel dependent on their parents to get around. But if they've never been given the opportunity to learn how to navigate on their own (or use an umbrella?) how can we expect them to suddenly become independent? In any case, if you don't want to drive your children everywhere the solution is easy: DON'T. (although admittedly with young kids you're still going to need to go with them, but in that case why not use it as a learning opportunity and go via bike, foot, or bus? Not everything has to revolve around a car! And if you decide to drive everywhere, well, again, that's your choice. It is one option out of many. Don't like it, don't do it.)

Right on Cedar Phillips, your last two comments make more sense than the first one. Years ago when I was in this situation, there was no bus service available and distance was a problem. I drove my kids to and from because I didn't want them to miss the opportunity to do things like sports, library, swimming etc. It was a hassle at times but the rewards were worth it.