I’d like to say that getting my teenagers through their first driving experiences and the necessary disappointments was an easy transition.
I’d like to say that, but it wasn’t.
One smart thing I did was to get an inexpensive second-hand car for their first car.
It needed many repairs, for many reasons. But it proved a valuable learning experience each time.
Now they are responsible for their own “wheels”, and they are very responsible indeed.
And I still have that old beater.
We have the Purple Car. Tom can his learner’s permit after his next birthday (October 31) and then someone will have to take him driving. The driving school manager gave out a book with suggestions for how to help your teen practice his skills.
My father was a flight instructor in the Navy, among his other jobs, and he said teaching 22-year-old guys to land planes on carriers in the dark was less stressful than teaching my brother and me to drive. Maybe he figured he’d die nice and fast if they went SPLAT on the flight deck.
Russel (oldest of three) was eager to get his drivers license: We got him to the DL exam office - he passed the written and “driving” test with no problems.
He wanted to drive home -> No problem, we let.
He pulled out of the DL office, turned right, drove 600 feet and stopped for a red light.
....
(Dramatic pause.)
....
Guy hit him from behind at the red light.