In my mind, there is a difference between running errands and being a courier. After all, often errands include necessary household tasks like buying groceries and getting the car serviced. Being the courier usually involves hauling people or things back and forth. It always feels to me like that courier-by-default job can suck up the most amount of time!
As a single parent, we often find that all of the jobs and titles eventually fall to us. We are the one adult in the family so we are the one who manages all of the tasks. I do not think this means that we have to do everything and anything, however, and there may be more “self management” that can occur and less running items and people all over town.
Do you run your child’s lunch to him if he forgets it? Do you drive carpool more than your fair share or at times that is incredibly inconvenient for other responsibilities? Do you make extra trips to grandparents’ houses or to run people here or there when they could walk, ride a bike or take the city bus? I imagine you can see where I am going here—you may be clinging to the courier role when you could start to let some of it go and encourage your children to either help out or be more self-regulating.
Encouraging our children to take alternative transportation when they are old enough and responsible enough not only frees us up from being the eternal courier—it also prepares them for independence and living in the “real” world. Letting our children know that we will not be available to run after lost or misplaced items or bring them things whenever they need them also encourages independence and responsibility. Of course, you cannot expect a young child to be totally self-regulating, but you can start by letting some of your courier duties go.
See Also: Cut Down on Time Spent Waiting