The rules of the bus

Stockholm has a fantastic bus policy for moms: anyone with a stroller gets to ride for free. Since the buses in Stockholm go everywhere it is very convenient to be able to hop on at anytime from anywhere, especially if Olivia starts crying and I want to get home faster. Therefore, it is very popular for moms to ride the bus and the few stroller places on the bus fill up quickly. Because of this demand, it is very important how you line-up for the bus so that you don't have to wait 15 minutes for the next one.

You shouldn't stand too far away from the glassed-in sitting area because otherwise another mom might claim her spot in front of you. Also, if you see another stroller while walking to the bus stop, you should walk faster without looking too pretentious; it is the first to the bus stop that counts. The third rule is that if you don't make a bus because of the lack of space, you cannot pass the time by going into another shop because this eliminates your place at the top of the line. Of course all of these rules are unspoken and when the bus pulls up, all stroller moms know exactly which order everyone can climb onto the bus without so much as a word spoken.

The true feat is that while playing the bus game, you have to keep your half-sleeping, half-crying baby satisfied by continual stroller movement. And don't underestimate babies; they know exactly if mommy is going in a circle or back in forth vs actually going somewhere. At the same time, the stroller cannot be positioned in such a way which allows even a slither of sun into the half-sleeping baby's eyes. Otherwise you are in for a long bus ride with a screaming baby and a bus load of people shunning you as a mother.

Good luck!