WWYD Scary Bus driver.

My 8yr old catches the school bus and has had the same driver for the past 3years. Driving her to school twice a day is not an option as we live a significant distance out of town. This is also the only bus to school.

Now his never been friendly. I make a point to wave as a sign of respect for taking my daughter to and from school. He has never returned this despite me continuing to do so. My eldest daughter who catches a different bus in the opposite direction always waves. She often has different buses and every one of them waves in return.

About a month ago my daughter told me her bus driver was scary and he wont stop starring at her. I asked her a few questions like does he stare at everyone and asking her where she sits thinking perhaps she is in easy sight compared to other kids. This doesn't sound the case. My 4yr old catches the same bus home from preschool 2 days a week and occasionally falls asleep resulting in me having to climb in the bus to get her. Each time I say hello and try and be friendly and he doesn't speak to me at all. Although this week he did actually growl at me. Its all very odd and I am starting to feel quiet disturbed he is the man driving my kids to and from school.

I am not sure what to do. Do I put up with it knowing there are around 20 other kids on the bus all at the same time or say something to the bus department. It would be a bit odd calling them to say his weird and apparently scares my daughter by starring at her. He would of had to have a criminal record check. I have also spoke about him recently to another mother who also finds him odd.

That's a tough one, as he hasn't actually done anything improper, but I personally would still say something. Ultimately your child is being put under the care of an adult that you feel uncomfortable with. I would put it in writing and mention specifically his rudeness, and that your daughter has spoken about how uncomfortable he makes her. He probably isn't a paedophile creep, even though he gives you the heebies. But if it came to something happening on the bus (e.g. flat tyre) how much do you trust he would act in the interests of the children, being the only responsible adult there at the time? If you don't trust that in those quite possible scenarios that he could be trusted to take care of the kids adequately then I think you are within your rights to lodge a letter.

It's not good that your DD feels uncomfortable, but at this time you don't really have anything that's sayung he's anything more than a strange man. Maybe he has learning difficulties or social difficulties, and doesn't understand. Maybe this is a situation where you could talk DD through what to do in this situation and how to respond. She is allowed to tell him "please I feel uncomfortable when you're looking at me like that". Perhaps it's a learning experience for her.

I guess everyoneis different and it and it would be a shame for him to lose a job based on, not much. Perhaps it's the only job he has been able to get because of these social issues.

But you you have to trust your intuition as well. It's tricky :(

That's the problem I have as he has not done anything wrong and I am sure it will stay that way. It all sounds very petty but it also concerns me that he has always given off a bad vibe from the first time I met him in person and now my child tells me his scary. In 3 years I've probably attempted to socialise with him for various reasons about 20 times and none of them I'd say have been successful. Its very odd to me that the bus company would employ him in the first place as I know they have plenty of other bus drivers. I don't want to cause any problems for him as he has not done anything wrong but I have this niggling thing going on about him and wish my children were not exposed to him at the level they are.

Tough. I think I would still say something.
I would stick to the facts. He is abrupt, rude to adults and children, doesn't acknowledge parents, even appeared to growl at you.
if the children say good morning and hello, he needs to respond to them. It's decent and human and he's in a role where he needs to behave in an appropriate way.

I would be saying something to the company, sounds like he doesn't have any people skills and your daughter needs to feel comfortable on the bus. Stick with your instincts, all the best.

Regards,
Dianne