Here’s what we’re doing today. Yay, walking! Yay, biking! Yay, not getting run over by cars, trucks and vans because there are so many of us.

More later…

WM

It’s later. Our walk was such a blast — Hockey God went with us, and a bunch of the neighbor kids, and there were treats and prizes for everyone once we got to school. About half the kids at school participated — coooooooooool!

I’m writing my Thursday Thirteen early because I have too much going on in the next couple of days! Just for you, I have my best excuses, followed by my best reasons, for walking the kids to school. (In honor of International Walk and Bike to School Day.)

THIRTEEN EXCUSES FOR NOT WALKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL

1. It’s raining.

2. It’s still raining.

3. It looks like it might rain.

4. The kids want me to drive them. (A blatant lie on my part — snow, wind, rain — my kids always prefer walking.)

5. I have, uh, errands to run after I drop them off.

6. And after I pick them up!

7. I can’t find my tennis shoes.

8. The dog wants to go. And I can’t find his leash. Wouldn’t want to break the dog’s heart. Better drive.

9. Tired of people waving at me from their cars as they’re passing me while I’m walking.

10. Less chance of getting run over by a car if I’m in my car.

11. I’m lazy.

12. I’m tired.

13. And late again.

MY TOP THIRTEEN REASONS FOR WALKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL

1. The kids and I talk with each other about everything — school, their day, my day — in a way we don’t if I’m driving and we’re listening to music. (And I’m having to concentrate on driving.)

2. Who needs a gym membership? I actually get more sleep this way. If I work out, I have to get up half an hour or an hour earlier than usual. If I walk — 15 minutes.

3. It’s only a 15-minute walk one way for us. I walk home after I drop them off, and there’s the 30 minutes of daily exercise the doctors recommend. (And it reduces stress, weight, anxiety, depression and insomnia.)

4. We notice things we don’t from the car. It’s like a science and nature lesson in one.

5. We walk with our friends sometimes and visit. We say hi to the neighbors. I love looking at everyone’s gardens and yards, especially in the fall.

6. The store isn’t far from us, or the library (or the coffeehouse, unfortunately. Ha.) All are within walking distance.

7. I save on gas.

8. People look so amazed when they see us. “Walking? How primitive!”

9. We have raincoats and rainboots. Wacky Boy still rides half the time in his stroller, and the basket underneath is the perfect spot for stashing extra pairs of dry shoes for the schoolday (so we can wear our boots).

10. It’s fun.

11. Just because everyone else drives doesn’t mean I have to. People actually give me grief for walking! “You just walk all the time, don’t you?” (said in a catty voice.) “I’m late to work, I have to drive!” (said in a self-righteous tone.) Go ahead and make excuses — we all do (see above); just don’t project it onto me. My favorite line is when someone is chain-smoking, leaning against a big-ass truck, and they smile at me and say, “Walking again, huh?” This is pretty funny. It’s happened a couple of times. One of my Wacky Mommy girlfriends gave me the best line ever to use when you’re walking by a jobsite and the guys stop working to check you out: “Don’t work too hard, guys!” Heehee. Wait! This doesn’t happen to me anymore. Damn. (I’m teasing — getting older is nice, cuz you don’t get hassled as much. Wolf-whistles were never a turn-on for me.)

12. I really love to walk. It clears my head, and if I’m in a bad mood, or my thoughts are jumbled, a walk fixes the problem.

13. My mom made us walk everywhere as kids. I’m just returning the favor.