Something happened.
Something terrifying yet exciting all at the same time. A certain someone in my house STARTED DRIVER’S ED LAST NIGHT!!!!!!
As much as I looked forward to and dreaded this day her whole life, I am not ready. Do you hear me world? I am not ready for my little girl to drive. My husband has allowed her to back the car out of the driveway a few times and each time I am struck with a massive pain in my chest.
I have read the statistics, I know how dangerous the roads are in my area. We are taking all the required precautions before she gets her license; driver’s ed, online practice tests, and lots of practice in empty parking lots. 🙂 Even though I am not ready, she is ready, her dad is ready, and deep down I am excited at the thought of not being a taxi driver for the next 16 years.
The National Safety Council has created a program called Alive at 25 for parents like me. This program helps parents and kids work through real life examples that reinforce good driving skills. Midas is currently offering this program free to anyone who registers on the website. I’ll be taking advantage of every free program available to help relieve some of these chest pains.
I know she will take the privilege of driving very seriously. Maryland makes it nearly impossible to get a driver’s license and for that I am thankful. Someone once told me that raising teenagers was harder than raising toddlers. I found it hard to believe back then. Not anymore.
Sherry says
Thank you for sharing this! Dd turns 15 in a matter of months. Soooo not looking forward to driving part. Teens are definitely harder to parent than toddlers.
Somebody's Mimi says
I think when my kids started dating and driving is when I put all my trust in God… so far He has done a mighty fine job. He knew I couldn’t handle it so He took over … and the kids never knew and I wasn’t a nag. It worked for everyone.
katena says
I am in Wa and it makes it hard to get a license. He is 16 and does have a drivers premit luckily hes not pushing too much to get his license. We have to pay for a drivers course here and it is expensive. So we are working thru it. Just breathe I believe it is harder to raise teenages than toddlers my little people are so much easier than he is. Congrats
Joyce says
Hi Toni: We live in Maryland as well and I was so happy when they passed the law recently that new drivers are not allowed to carry unrelated teenagers/children as passengers for an extended period of time…that has saved some lives for sure.
My husband enrolled our girls in a defensive driving class held periodically at one of the high schools over a weekend so they would practice taking the car into/out of a skid etc.
Also he located three spots on a map of the DC area and they had to write out the directions from our home and then drive him there following the written directions, without any help from him, before they are allowed to take the road test for their license. He wanted to make sure they knew how to follow a map properly and also to appreciate how it’s not so “easy” to get around unfamiliar areas.
Good luck! Your baby will be fine and it will be great to have some help in the carpool!
Joyce in Southern MD
Nancy M. says
It can’t be harder! I thought I had something to look forward too! Darn!
My son has been driving all over our land since he was 10. Only 2 more years before he gets his license.
Ashly Lowe says
I can’t believe it, she is taking drivers ed!!! I can remember when she was 10 and teaching her tap and ballet!!! She is Beautiful!!! Makes me sad:( Grace will be there in a few years, thankfully Indiana keeps pushing the age limit later and later. Now it is 16 1/2, they are in the process of moving it to 17.(YEA) They also have a law that teen drivers can’t have anyone under the age of 21 in the car unless there is an over the age of 21 passenger, in the passenger seat. That is for the first 3 months. I will be praying for you ALL!!!
Lana says
The first one is the hardest! One of mine is building a race car in his garage to drive in a big race in the fall and his wife is his biggest fan at the track. What can you do? PRAY HARD!
Amy S says
Alright I just had to add my 2 cents—My children are still young 6 and 4. I have already started dreading the day that they want to drive. However, I will be doing the things that my father did for me when I got my permit. I wasn’t allowed to even sit in the seat behind the wheel until I could prove that I could change a tire by myself, do an oil change, and basic tune-up. Then when I did get my liscense I had to pay for my insurance–my dad placed on his insurance but, we had to pay the difference. 2). He always kept gas in the car but, if I wanted to go somewhere without it benefiting the family, I had to record my mileage on a notebook left in the car. My father charged me 25 cents a mile. He did this so I would be responsible on where I wanted to go and that I knew that it took money to make repairs and gas. 3). I had to ask to use the car at least 2 days in advance and give the specific reason and times. 4). If I wanted to take my friend in the car with me It was my responsibility to go to her parents and say I am a new driver but your daughter and I would like to go to the mall on _________. I would like your permission for her to ride with me. This made me responsible as I was now saying to that parent that I was going to obey the rules of the road and etc…..” 5). Everyone had to be buckled whether they were in the front seat or the back–my father reserved the right to pull me over at any time and do a check 6) I wasn’t allowed to answer my cell phone unless I was pulled over and stopped even if I had hands free 7). I was only allowed to have the volume on the radio at a certtain level and if there was more than 3 people in the car I couldn’t have the radio on as it was to many distractions. 8). My grades had to stay above a B or I lost driving priveliges.
Honestly, I used to think the rules were crazy but, now I am so thankful for them. By the way, because my dad taught basic vehicle maintence on automobiles , I was able to fix the alternator on my boyfriend’s car–that day he proposed to me!!!
TheHappyHousewife says
Wow Amy, I love your comment. It sounds like your dad did a great job of teaching you how to be responsible! I am definitely going to borrow some of his ideas.
Thanks for sharing.
Toni
Lynn says
wow, I like how your dad thinks. my husband and I plan to do something very similar, except we will be requiring a vehicle inspection to be added. since my husband is a commercial driver (well, out of work right now), he has to do a vehicle inspection every day before he drives. this includes (but not limited to) checking tires, fluids, lights, signals, brakes, mirrors, gauges, etc.).
georgi says
It was the best day of my life when my daughters received their licenses (7 years apart). I paid their insurance on the understanding that they were now my runners 🙂
Nicole says
My daughter is going through this too! She just passed her written test and she will get her permit when she is done doing the driving part. We were going to wait until she was 18 because of the cost. But my MIL gave us half of the money and we let her do the class. She is about 1 1/2 yrs older than most of the kids in the class, but it actually makes me feel better. I didn’t want my not quite 15 yr old driving. So now she will almost be 17 before she gets her license. It is very hard to let go. But we will all be brave together! 🙂
Melissa Multitasking Mama says
My oldest just got his permit Saturday- I can’t even be in the car when he is driving- my nerves are shot! We can pray for each other =)
TheHappyHousewife says
I know, this whole experience seems crazy to me. I can’t believe she is going to be able to drive!
Stephanie says
This made me cry! She is growing up way too fast!
Andrea says
My oldest is 15 1/2…old enough for a permit here in Ohio. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make 18 the legal driving age!!!!!
Melissa says
The school district here is requiring Alive@25 before they will allow you to purchase a school parking permit. That’s on top of Driver’s Education classes required by the state in order to get your driver’s license. I think the largest obsticle for kids today is distractions like cell phones, radio/mp3 player and friends in the car. Also speed….they need to be taught NOT to speed. My daughter has had her license since last June and she still gets scared out there and I am still worried about her safety…not sure that will go away anytime soon.
Miss McFarden says
Don’t worry Mom, I’m learning all about how to drive safely. And just so all the readers know, that’s not lipstick that’s making my lips red; it’s cherry italian ice…
Anne-Marie says
My dad took driver’s training very seriously. At 14, he took me to practice in my aunt’s field, setting up obstacles & teaching me to parallel park in seemingly too small of spaces. As soon as I got my permit, I was “James”…as in “Home, James” the chauffeur. My dad insisted that I drive everywhere! And everywhere meant from NW IN to Birmingham, Alabama & back again….then my dad I did a two week tour from NW IN thru MI, eastern Canada, NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, RI, CT, and back to NW IN. We estimate that I had over 10,000 miles on my permit. So, when I got my license, he didn’t worry too much.
My oldest daughter got her license last year. Funny how thoughts of our children driving make us uneasy even though we were once their age and driving…for me it was with far more freedom and distance than many people my own age. I drove from Phx to LA with my friend when I was 17. I’m thinking I might let my son bike around the block by himself at that age.
Laura says
LOL! My husband and I were comparing how we were raised with how we are raising our children. At 10, we biked alone all over the neighborhood and came home in time for dinner. At 10, my son just walked 2 blocks to our house for the first time. With his sister! I want to raise independent, confident children. I’m praying I survive the process, too!
Kim says
It is so true! It is much easier to lock them in the car seat and know that they are fastened safely in the back seat. My boy turned 15 and is counting the days for his driver’s permit. I can wait…
Cindy says
Right there with ya…I use to stand in the window and wait for my boy’s car to pull in the driveway. They are both great drivers. One piece of advise…let her drive as much as possible with you in the car while she has her learners permit. It will not only build her confidence but yours also.
I am telling you when my daughter gets her license (2 more years) it will be tough on me!! It is so hard!
Lawanda says
Potty training was a piece of cake compared to this. Daughter is half way through driver’s ed. Funny, I thought that it was waaay too easy to get a license in Maryland.
TheHappyHousewife says
HA! Never move to WV then, you get your permit when you turn 16 and license when you turn 16, no restrictions (at least there weren’t when we lived there!)
Lana says
16 year olds can drive school buses in SC! Part of the reason to homeschool!
Hallee the Homemaker says
aww – poor mama. I have 2 more years – I’m not looking forward to it! ((hug))
Tonya says
Thanks for this tip. I just ordered it for my 15-year-old son who is learning to drive also. I always wondered how parents teach their kids in cities like DC or Boston or Atlanta. Our traffic here in Orlando is busy enough for me!