National Walk To School Day: Taking It To the Streets in Penn Valley

Now that Bruce Jenner is a Kardashian, it’s no longer appropriate to have my kids start their day with Wheaties.  What’s a mom to do? Another equally invigorating way to start the day might be a brisk walk to school. 

Today is National Walk to School Day. It happens to be a rainy, foggy day too, but that doesn’t diminish the benefits to the students who choose to walk.  But as you know, if you have been following my blog, walking to school isn’t feasible because it isn’t safe. 

My ten, almost eleven year-old son can’t walk less than a quarter of a mile to school unless I decide it’s okay for him to walk in the street on Old Gulph and Hagys Ford Roads.  If you have ever seen the speed at which cars fly down that road, or have sped down it yourself, you will understand why I don’t want my 70 lb.-bundle-of-love risking it.  

But today, on National Walk to School Day, a day that’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine, many Penn Valley students walked to school.  Parents had to accompany them and they had to walk in the street or in the mud and puddles at times, but we made it.  A group of Ardmore Penn Valley students joined us too -- families who recognize the value of walking to school.  This morning, parents delivered a giggling, happy, invigorated group of kids to school. And truth be told, we didn’t even walk briskly. A saunter got us to school at the same time most of the buses arrived.  

Someday, National Walk to School Day shouldn’t be such a big deal. Most days, barring crazy weather, the kids of Penn Valley should be able to walk to school, on safe sidewalks.  Here’s to the future and good things to come...