House prices/schools

LAR73

I'm moving to the east side of the city because as far as i can see house prices are just climbing on the west side with no hint of stopping. This has filled my teenage daughter with dread and she is insisting on staying in her secondary school and is intent on making the jouney back and forth each day. I honestly think that she will regret it and would much rather her join a new school when the move is confirmed. Anyone else's child do this commute every day?

I wonder at the usefulness of both the question and any answers you will get when the details of the commute are not provided

LAR73

Apologies! We are, all going to plan, moving to Doughiska and my daughter attends school in Taylor's Hill. It would seem bizarre to me to travel that distance every morning if there was another option but she wants to stay where her friends are.

Mrs OBumble

I know a few kids who've done the commute from Doughiska to Taylors or to Salerno or Oranmore. They did it because Merlin hadn't opened or was only just opening when they were starting secondary school, and they didn't fancy either the Mercy or GCC.

They seemed to think it was possible. Exam results ok so far.

xckjoo

LAR73 wrote: »

Apologies! We are, all going to plan, moving to Doughiska and my daughter attends school in Taylor's Hill. It would seem bizarre to me to travel that distance every morning if there was another option but she wants to stay where her friends are.

There'll be plenty of people making a similar trip no doubt, so I don't think it'll be odd from that respect. Plenty coming from further afield too.

Is she going to be making her own way to school by bus or is she expecting to be dropped by car?

drumlight

My kids have been making the trip back and forth all through primary and now secondary, 409 bus is great, every 12mins and I just get them a leap card,

GalwayGrrrrrl

My cousin made the trip from roscam to Taylor’s for the whole of secondary. You can walk into city from Taylor’s Hill then get bus to roscam (or get two buses if you wish to). I see a few young ladies walking to city centre every day.

Nettle Soup

I know of students that commute from Tuam/Athenry to Taylors and Salerno.

McTigs

It's not a big commute and worth it not to lose contact with her friends or to have to settle into a new school with new teachers and new friends.... some kind of bus/bike combo would get her there and back handy enough.

"Bizarre" to you may be perfectly reasonable to her.... being a teenager is trying anyway without moving from the environment you are comfortable in.

ggg16

Having worked in a secondary setting for most of my life I can tell you such a change, particularly when she is not keen, would not generally be advisable. Leave her be. She is settled and happy.

Thegalwayman

Stay in the better school

dazzeremo

I would second this. With the caveat that you must work together to find a workable commuting solution for her. This may involve buses, bikes etc. If she's happy there, leave her to it.

fergiesfolly

If she's in or coming up to LC year then I'd leave her be. If she's TY or pre JC, look at Oranmore and Merlin College. Merlin College is getting good reports and is a new well equipped, modern school.
If she had a look, she might have second thoughts.
I know kids that make the trip across the city to Taylor's and it seems to be an hour each way. A waste if there are good alternatives close by.

Mr Man

LAR73 wrote: »

Apologies! We are, all going to plan, moving to Doughiska and my daughter attends school in Taylor's Hill. It would seem bizarre to me to travel that distance every morning if there was another option but she wants to stay where her friends are.

Your daughter's feelings and intentions are completely normal. Your friends are your friends are your friends - especially when you are teenager. We moved out to Athenry and our son continued to attend the Jez (we were driving in every morning anyway).

TBH - saying something like 'sure, you'll make new friends' is fairly condescending.

JustAThought

I was made move mid school after JC and to this day it was the most traumatising tbing that happened to me in school -the new class had already been together and bonded 3 years before and I never had proper friends or fitted in. And I was always social and outgoing /easygoing/friendly . It didnt improve over 2 years and to this day it was the most unnesessary and difficult time and set me up with a lode of other subtle but significant embedded issues around socialising and fitting in. I'd absolutely let her commute.her school and friends are at yhe core of everything she knows and does and she has grown up with them -they are the ones that will be her friends for life - but only if the shared memories and experiences continue over these next most important years. The time commuting could be built in as reading time for history or biology on the bus or as all important exercise - everything will be changing for her - house,room, environment, neighbours, community resources - let her keep her friends and stay where she is happy & try the commute. If it becomes too much and she wants to you can initiate or discuss change later. If her happiness, heart and attitude arn't right you will have far bigger problems to deal with than property prices. Get her to join simething mixed and local in your new place though and make it a condition - you dont want her to be a friendless stranger in the area either -ventures or a sports team/running club -something where there will be a big mix of people to choose from. In 2 or 3 years she will be working or going to college and it will be all change again and she will need new roots locally to belong to as well as her old embedded roots and lifelong school friends.

We hear so much about all kinds of happiness issues and depression in teenagers and mental health issues. She is telling you how important it is to her and how she feels. Listen to her -dont shrug it off because it means nothing to you or because you dont understand it. It is up there as one of the most potentially damaging and unsettling thing that can disrupt a teenager -along with moving house or having to move job for adults - its not listed for no reason. Let her commute and leave the door open to her changing in the future if she starts to feel strongly about changing later. My guess is that she is honest with you and has made her feelings known -why ignore this or disregard it. Isnt that what we want -open hinest communication and expressing and discussing fears and issues to find solutions?