How are Elizabeth Rivera's children affected by her job loss?

Elizabeth Rivera's three children are impacted by her job loss at the Amazon warehouse, as she now has to find a new job to pay the bills while also ensuring her kids get to school.

What challenges does Meredyth Saieed face in getting her two children to school?

Meredyth Saieed, a single mother, lost her job as a bartender and server due to repeatedly missing the dinner rush to pick up her children from school. She now faces the obstacle of a broken-down car, which she had to sell to a junk yard, making it even more difficult to get her kids to and from school.

How does Officer Dorothy Criscuolo's work schedule affect her children's school commute?

Officer Criscuolo's typical 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift means she only gets about 3 hours of sleep per day during the school year, as she has to drop off and pick up her two neurodivergent children at different schools at different times.

Home / Education / Mothers Struggle to Balance Jobs and Kids' School Commutes

Mothers Struggle to Balance Jobs and Kids' School Commutes

5 Sep

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Summary

1 in 3 parents miss work due to school transportation needs
Lower-income families disproportionately affected
Mothers more likely than fathers to lose jobs or opportunities

Mothers Struggle to Balance Jobs and Kids' School Commutes

As of September 5th, 2025, a new poll has uncovered the significant challenges parents face in balancing their jobs and their children's school transportation needs. The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and HopSkipDrive, a company that provides school transportation solutions, reveals that around one-third of parents have missed work, lost jobs, or been prevented from seeking or taking work opportunities due to the demands of driving their kids to and from school.

The impact falls disproportionately on lower-income families. Around 4 in 10 parents with a household income below $100,000 a year said they've missed work due to school pick-up and drop-off needs, compared to around 3 in 10 parents with a household income of $100,000 or more.

Mothers are especially likely to say school transportation has interfered with their jobs and opportunities, with 55% reporting such impacts compared to 45% of fathers. Stories like that of Meredyth Saieed, who lost her job as a bartender and server due to repeatedly missing the dinner rush for school pickups, highlight the challenges faced by single parents.

While some school districts offer bus service, many parents find the available options unsuitable for their needs, leading them to take on the responsibility of driving their children to and from school themselves. As the school year begins, families across the country are grappling with the difficult choices and sacrifices required to ensure their children's education.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.