Leadfoot, on the left, has wanted to drive since she was - oh - about six. Now that she has her learner's permit, she asks to drive EVERY time we are headed out anywhere - to the point of being annoying. Mainly because she gets really pissy when told no. For example, on Halloween - it was dark and rainy and there were hoards of little kids out walking. And she was angry that we wouldn't allow her to drive home from Dairy Queen. When she does drive, she is actually not bad. Although she isn't nearly as good as she THINKS she is. She's more of a natural than the older sib who has had her license for 3 years now - except for the leadfoot thing. As a brand new driver she already has it in her head that she should be driving at 5 miles over the posted speed limit, regardless of the road conditions. So I'm hanging onto the door, pumping the invisible brake on the passenger side of the car, and holding my breath - all while gently reminding her "you need to slow down, the road here isn't in good enough condition for your speed." I'm thinking when you become a parent of teens, you should be able to purchase an upgrade kit for your vehicle that includes a brake and a kill switch for the passenger side of the vehicle. But so far I've survived. Although I'm sure I've sprouted a few extra grey hairs in the process.
Fraidycat, on the right, is an entirely different story. Could. not. wait. to get her learner's permit. Was quite put off when we couldn't go out the day after the 16th b-day because a physical was required. Since getting the permit...she has not asked once to drive. Not once. She has been out in Dad's car just around the immediate neighborhood. I offered to let her drive my car to her boyfriend's house this weekend. She said "I can't drive that boat! I haven't even driven your car yet. I need more practice in Dad's car before I can drive your car." The literal translation of all that is this - she is afraid to drive. She wanted the status of having the permit. She really isn't all that interested in driving.
Such is the life of a mother of teens.
8 comments:
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Remindsme of my dads old joke: What is the definition of a pedestrian? A man with two cars and two teenage daughters
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Remindsme of my dads old joke: What is the definition of a pedestrian? A man with two cars and two teenage daughters
Aw, hang in there! :)
Your post made me smile. How funny that they have such different feelings about driving!
With her leadfoot sister no wonder she won't drive ;) Seriously, take her to a large & empty parkingspot in the middle of the night and let her loosen up ;) LOL, can't tell but you just hang in there - good luck to you all :)
All I can say is good luck! I am not looking forward to my kids learning to drive, I think what colour is left in my hair will be well and truly turned grey when that time comes lol.
My 14 year old is already counting down the day until he can learn to drive, and he has nearly two years to wait yet!
Oh, I so feel your pain. Make sure you gently push that Fraidy-Cat though... my son is now 20 (!) and he doesn't drive yet. 2nd time on his learner's permit and he's too afraid to get behind the wheel. If I push him, we fight so bad... His older sister is a LEAD FOOT LUCY! Has already had some major tickets, including one doing 80 in a 45 zone! oh, I so feel your pain!!
I have a just 15 year old who is now all hot to get her permit the day she turns 15 1/2. She informed me last week that we need to go take a drivers ed class the week after Christmas so she will be all ready.
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