Olive Green

We are a one car family. Due to some unforeseen occurrences over the last two years we have “lost” our second car. First, I tried to see if a minivan could take on a Prius. Prius won. The minivan was replaced by an older Saturn which decided to die a cruel death of transmission malfunction. Who needs reverse anyway, right? So we have a trusty Subaru Forrester now.

But hubby and I both work and the kids are in different schools, how do we do it? I have been asking myself that since November, when this started. Luck plays an important role. We are lucky to both work at the same office. We are lucky to have next door neighbors who have a daughter in the same school as M. We are lucky that I can come in early to work so I may go back and get the rest of the family.

My day runs like this. Out the door by 4.30 am. Go to work. Come back home at 6.30 am (10 minute drive thankfully). Finish up getting kids ready for school while hubby finishes getting ready for work. Out the door again at 7 am. M goes next door for a ride to school from our neighbors (charter school equals no bus). We drop B off at preschool and go to work. I leave work at 2.30 pm. Pick up M and neighbor girl from school. Drop of neighbor girl. Get B from preschool. Get hubby from work. Go home.

There is not a lot of room for error in our schedule. This means planning ahead. Need to stop quickly at the supermarket. Plan ahead. Need to make a doctor appointment. Plan ahead. My route to the school or back to work varies depending on what I need to get done. And when we arrive home, we are home for good.

One car has saved on the following:

Car insurance

Gas-- every trip is planned out to maximize the route and carpooling with neighbors

One car has given us the following:

Time – since our car usage is so planned we have more time to enjoy each other when we get home.

Communication – we are all in one space. There is nowhere to run; nowhere to hide so just tell me what is bothering you.

It is not for everyone, but it is working for us.