Cody – My Mum is a Bus Driver

My Mum’s a Bus Driver

When Mum first told me she was going to be a bus driver, I thought it would be a bit weird. I hoped she wouldn’t be my school bus driver. Because I catch the bus a lot – to school and to sports and things.

Mum’s always been more into teaching-type jobs. So when she started driving buses, I was surprised. I thought it might be cruisy, but I see now it’s a lot more work than people think. All the early starts, late finishes, driving around town.

She likes her job. Sometimes she doesn’t have the best day driving, but she comes home, tells us about it, and it cheers her up.

Saying thanks or being appreciative is a pretty easy thing for people to do when they catch the bus. You’ve just got to appreciate that they’re giving you a ride. Without them, it’s one less way to get around.

It’s good manners, just polite. It only takes two seconds to say thank you. You never know – they could be having a bad day, and a little thank you might cheer them up. It just lets them know someone appreciates what they do.

Since Mum started driving, I’ve realised how much bus drivers actually do. They get up early, get ready, organise everything, deal with traffic and time management. There’s a lot more behind the scenes than you’d think.

I definitely appreciate bus drivers more now. I’ve seen what Mum does – early mornings, 5am starts, coming home late after driving people all day. It can get really tiring. I didn’t use to think it was much of a job, but now I do.

There are about 35 of us on the bus in the morning, but after school it’s packed. I usually have my headphones on, listening to music, looking out the window – that 15 or 20 minutes before school starts where you can just think about stuff before the day begins.

Some of my mates have caught Mum’s bus. They come to school saying, “Your mum wouldn’t let us on because we didn’t have our card or $2 or whatever.” That’s Mum though – she follows the rules. But they get it. They still appreciate she’s the one getting them where they need to go.

Honestly, most people are good. I haven’t really seen anyone be rude to a driver. Even the ones mucking around still say thank you when they get off.

Bad drivers are the ones who are grouchy and can’t be bothered talking. That’s not Mum though – she’s strict when she needs to be, but she’s kind too.

Having Mum as a bus driver has changed how I see things.

I notice the effort, the long hours, the early mornings. And every time I hop off the bus now, I say – thanks driver, mum would have something to say about it if I didn’t!