Posted on 07/31/2013 10:59:50 AM PDT by TangledUpInBlue
Ah, just think back to when you started driving...or maybe better, just start drinking heavily ;-)
He’ll be fine. So will you (after the kid turns old enough to get off your insusrance!)
My own two children were more or less enticed away by their mom 25 plus years ago. Driver’s training wasn’t something I was able to enjoy with them when the time came. I wasn’t seeing them on a regular basis.
Years later I was given the opportunity to train my niece how to drive. It’s something I’ll never forget. A few years later I was able to assist training my nephew. Good times...
From my vantage point, it’s hard for moms and dads to train kids when it comes to some things. There’s this tendency to take things personally. Some times it works out, and some times it doesn’t.
At any rate, this is a topic with an interesting dynamic regarding the ability of parents to participate.
IBTZ
I’m going to tell you something you won’t want to hear. He’s going to have an accident before he’s 18. My husband told me that about our kids, and I didn’t believe him.He was right. Hopefully it will be just a small fender/bender and try to keep your cool.
I remember the first time I allowed my son to take my station wagon to Saturday morning track practice (about 12 miles away). I gave him strict instructions on which roads to take and that he was to carry no passengers.
The mayor of our smal city happened to be sitting in my kitchen having coffee when my son came home (which saved his life). Joe came in and said, “Mom, I wrinkled your fender...”
As I jumped out of the chair, the mayor calmly said, “Oh be thankful that he is not hurt...” That remark brought me back to my senses, and I didn’t strangle the kid right on the spot.
I checked the car (A 73 Ford Country Squire with the fake woody sides). Although the damage looked minor, he managed to “wrinkle” about 5 kinds of trim, and there was grass caught in the molding. Turns out that he gave somebody a ride home (against the rules), drove on a gravel road (against the rules), swerved to miss a dog (not sure if that was even true — made up story to get my sympathy) and skidded into a ditch. I never ever got an estimate to repair it. I just drove with the wrinkled fender until I sold the car.
The other 3 had their fender benders too.
Yes, I know. I think it’s something like 80% probability before they turn 18. I had two I think. I was and did rear end someone. Like you say, hopefully it will be minor.
There are MANY more restrictions on driving now then there was when I learned, so hopefully he’ll beat the odds.
Either way, all in God’s hands.
Did I accidentally click the link for Twitter?
Please ping me when you have something to share. Maybe a prayer request - maybe some “problems to deal with”.
Then I can snark off at you and tell you to get a grip too.
Wait till he's picked up for his first DUI...........then you can panic.
My son takes his driving test on August 10th so I think I know a little how you feel. Where did the time go? Where is the little boy who tugged at your clothes and asked for a sippy cup? Don’t have a lot of advice except to say we can’t stop the tide. They grow up and they do it without our permission. Don’t feel badly... my little girl... the one who use to twirl around in her little sundresses... well, let’s just say my husband has recommended binding her chest for the next few years. Like the next ten or fifteen to be exact.
His first step towards being a grown-up! I know how you feel, believe me. When my daughter started driving, I felt the same way. When she graduated from high school....the same. And when we moved her to Baylor U for college,I was in tears for weeks! The good news is....it DOES get better, I promise! What you’re feeling is a mixture of sadness for the little boy gone and pride for the grown-up he is becoming...normal mama feelings :)
AAA is a good thing to have when the kids start driving .... get the plan that pays for 100 miles plus of towing ... I don’t remember the exact number of miles. Of course, he should know how to change a tire, check battery, fluids etc., but if there’s ever a major problem requiring towing or help, having someone to call is a good thing, especially if he’s driving any distance (beach, mountains, college eventually?). It’s come in handy for me on multiple occasions.
Always a limit to the number of passengers too.
This is when I learned my 5 kids were about to be officially “at large”.
Slowly but surely you rarely see them except for money or to fix
The piece of crap car you bought them. The last sign is you realize you
Haven’t heard thier voice in 2 months but you have 500 texts from conversations.
The best feeling is however, when they take over the damn insurance and
Put the phone plan and car in their name. Overnight you are lighter, even optimistic.
You soon are aware you have more money than ever! Get the hell out I say!!!
IMHO, pays to learn the important things...
Some...
Enter car, lock doors, start ignition. Keep doors locked at all times, other than passengers entering and exiting. This can save your life in carjacking situations. Stay out of bad areas. Notice what’s going on in the areas you drive and study maps and roads so the areas you drive are familiar to you. Learn to navigate with and without a map. Keep expanding your knowledge of what is where and what’s going on. Most young people are simply clueless, out driving and yacking, and they get goaded by friends into making dangerous mistakes. The situations where driving can be thought of as recreation are much fewer than in the past, due to the general abandonment of law and order and the idiocy or aggression of many drivers.
360 degree, as complete as possible situational awareness at all times. Concentrating on driving at all times while behind the wheel.
Adjust sideview mirrors to show blind spots instead of looking directly back (that’s what rearview mirror is for).
Constantly be ready for every other car to do anything, i.e., lock up their breaks, cut you off, etc. constantly.
Go into a field, parking lot, snow-covered, etc., with no other vehicles around (a safe area), and practice skidding the car. Must learn how to control the car during a skid. Can save your life. Can practice with a go-cart, farm tractor, ATV, etc., to some extent. But there’s nothing like knowing how your own car feels just before it slides, during a slide, and after a slide. In an emergency, you’ll do what you’ve trained yourself to do.
Learn to be a stickler about auto maintenance, poor maintenance can cost lives, for the sake of laziness or cheapness.
Learn to diminish your own anger to almost nothing, instead, keep focusing on constantly being aware of situation, driving. Learn how to simply “not be” where there are problems. Learn how to drive so that your driving does not transmit emotion such as anger, fear, showing off, etc. Learn to drive so as to no attract attention to your car.
Leave buffer space around you, this can be the difference between life and death.
In the case of an imminent crash (including if car becomes airborne), turn off lights and unlock all doors. Always have a plan for an impact, based on your car’s survivability strengths and weaknesses and the situation, i.e., what you will aim for and how, also bearing in mind vehicles behind you, oncoming vehicles and the relative masses of all. If you think this way you quickly realize the potential dangers of fast driving on crowded highways. This is why FAA regulations specify protocols for proximity, direction, altitude, etc. On the roads, however, people drive pretty much erratically.
Your “first vanity” and you’ve only been here two months?
Does this mean we are to expect your vanity posts rvery 60 days?
exactly
They got used to how the cars move and it was old hat to them by the time they turned 16. I didn't make a big deal out of it so neither did they
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.