Get me to the daycare on time

People board a bus. Photo / CityLife West

In the first of his new weekly blogs about being a first-time dad, Scott Kara explains why he's transformed from calm commuter to fuming father...

There will be blood. Honestly, there will be if another tourist gets on the bus and asks directions, or an amateur commuter discusses their best route home with the driver, and those bloody school girls don't hurry up and pay (see my video of the delays - taken in frustration while waiting). I tell you, there will be blood.

You see, four days a week after work I catch the bus from the central city to pick up my car, which I park in Grey Lynn for free (instead of paying $15 a day in a parking building), before I head to my daughter's daycare to fetch her.

Time is precious because my little angel has had a long day and is waiting for me - and watch out anyone who dares slows this bus down.

I used to think "chill out'" and shake my head at those impatient people cursing under their breaths in frustration at the buses' slow progress.

Now, I'm one of them.

My wife Libby and I have been doing this daycare thing with 18-month-old Mia for six months now - Lib does the drop off at 8.30am-ish and I handle the pick up around 4.30-ish.

The weekly arrangement is a little complicated with Mia in creche three days a week - where she runs as happy as a free range chicken with a heap of other kids. On Tuesdays she goes to Jo her nanny because when she started creche there was no Tuesday available. She loves it with Jo, her three boys and Xena the big black dog.

My maddening state on the bus manifests from many things.

I can't bear to think she will be the last one left (she never has been). I miss her so much, because, you know, you love them. And the biggie: daycare is a financial necessity for us but we can't help but feel guilty about her languishing there all day long even though - and I don't care what the studies say - they are mostly wonderful places.

Mia loves it, sometimes refusing to get out of the sand pit when I arrive, and then waving a cheery "bye bye'" as we leave.

So if there is someone muttering maniacally on the bus, that could be me, but don't worry, I don't think I'm liable to break, I just want to pick up my little princess.

- Scott Kara

Pictured above: People board a bus. Photo / CityLife West