I am not too sure whether I am shocked or amazed after reading the results from a survey done by the car insurance provider Allianz Your Cover.
Mums and Dads spend a week a year ferrying their children around and an additional four days a year waiting in the car.
I agree with the response from the mothers who took part in the survey who said that all parents wanted in return for lifts is a ‘thank you’.
The average UK family owe Mum and Dad £7,813 for their taxi services every year, that’s a large amount of cash.
From lifts to friends’ houses and parties to pick-ups from after-school clubs, the research finds that parents across the country are driving over 1,700 miles each year and spend the equivalent of four days a year waiting in their cars to pick up their children.
It sounds like a huge amount of money and so much time so I spoke to a close friend of mine, who often is my own taxi service, about her experience of being the family’s taxi service.
What’s It Like Being A Taxi Driver For The Kids?
Having 3 kids and a car it was inevitable that I would become a taxi service as well as a mother. Some days I spend all my time in the car. Take kids to school. Come home. Take eldest child to school. Come home. But the fun really starts when school finishes.
I pick them up from school. Go home quick change then out to after school clubs. Pick them up. Then it’s back out again to other clubs like cricket or Brownies.
While it does seem like I live in the car, it is worth it. It means the children can go to clubs that they would otherwise miss out on if I couldn’t take them.
We can go further afield for days out too which are enjoyable. We tend to get in the car on a weekend and travel to attractions in different areas. That said, it can mean we don’t make the most of the many beautiful and fun things in our area, within walking distance.We will travel 30 miles to visit a castle yet have never been to one just around the corner.
My younger children offer my services as a driver a lot too.
“It’s ok my mum will take us.”
“My mum will pick us up.”
You never have 2 minutes peace and it gets worse as they get older.
Being the parent of an 18 year old (who also can drive and has a car) but wants to go out drinking.
It’s “mum will you take us here, mum will you pick us up?”
Honestly I don’t mind. I know where she’s at and that she has a lift home. She won’t attempt to walk or get into a dubious taxi or get in with a ‘friend’ who has had too much to drink or just drives in a way you feel uncomfortable with.
I would never expect children to contribute towards costs. To me it’s part of being a parent and doing whatever you can to make your kids happy. And since my eldest has got a car I do expect her to return the favour when I need a lift, which she does without me paying fuel costs.
The main downside of being taxi mum is the cost. Fuel is very expensive now. And before you know it you’ve used a full tank of fuel and never travelled further than 5 miles from home.
There’s no going home having a glass of wine with your dinner because there’s always the chance that you will have to go back out to pick up a child, and what can you do, they can’t walk.
Thankfully I enjoy and am a confident driver but I do feel for mums who aren’t. However with kids I bet you’re not for long as you will clock up a lot of miles.
A lot will think taxi mum has a hard job but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I trust my driving (and probably wrongly worry when my children get in other people’s cars) and if I’m taxiing I know where they are and that they are safe.
The top Family Taxi journeys according to Allianz Your Cover Insurance are:
1) Taking children to a friend’s house (50%)
2) Driving children to an after-school club (46%)
3) School runs (41%)
4) Lifts to parties (26%)
5) Driving children into town (22%)
Are you a taxi service to your kids?
Are you shocked by the finding, the amount and the time?
