I took Busy Girl to practice driving yesterday.
Yes, yes, I know she's only 13, I was there when she was born.
I may have gotten on my driving soapbox here before, I don't remember, so excuse me if I'm repeating myself.
I firmly believe that a new driver should have as many hours behind the wheel as possible, and those hours need to start long before a permit is issued.
My mother didn't drive, so I got a hardship license when I was 15 years old, but my dad taught me to drive long before that.
I remember him taking me to the mall parking lot, back roads in the country, and eventually around town when I was about Busy Girl's age.
Relax, back then there were still dinosaurs to dodge on the street, so I couldn't go very fast or anything.
However, by the time I was issued a license I was a very, very good driver with a lot of experience.
But, the one thing that sealed my belief in teaching kids to drive was an experience I had as a young teen.
I was born in September, so I was always young for my grade and my friends got driver's licenses long before I did, and, Busy Girl will be the same way.
As a matter of fact, some of her friends already have permits.
Anyway, one weekend evening in high school, I think I was 14 at the time, my friends and I were at a basketball game.
When it was time to go, we figured out that our driver, an older boy, had been drinking, and well, it was kinda bad.
Now, this was before the era of "no questions asked" pledges and promises kids made to their parents, and there just wasn't a logical way to call home and say, "Come get us", even when there was only one person who had been drinking.
Our driver was a belligerent drunk, and, I was the only other person in the group who knew how to drive, so we eventually talked him into letting me drive us home.
My point?
I was a very good teenager (Mechelle? Shut up.) and if something like this happened to me back in the stone age, then what must our kids be facing now?
That wasn't the only time my being able to drive alleviated a potentially dangerous situation, and I am grateful to my dad for teaching me when he did.
On the flip side, I hope I don't have a kid who is one to take a car without permission, but if they were so inclined, you betcha I would want them to know how to drive before they chose to do so.
For those of you keeping score at home, she did great.
We worked on even acceleration, stopping (where you mean to stop), turning, and parking.
So, I guess someday she'll not only drive me crazy (kidding. mostly.), she'll be tryin' to drive me to the store.
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You've always been a good kid, I would never dispute that.
Hey BM! Long time! I like that you are teaching Busy Girl to drive ealry! Heck New Orleans Tween is only 12 and I have started taking her to the cemetary to get some practice in! I think it's a good idea too! : ) ciao!
I agree! I agree! I taught my baby brother to drive at 13 too. For some of those very same reasons!
-d
I don't disagree with you about the need for extra practice. I do know that MY 13 year old isn't mature enough, although she is a bit younger than your 13 year old. Mine is still in 7th grade... for a couple of days anyway.
Good luck with the lesson. Please restrain yourself from screaming STOP 200 yards from the stop sign. I still think that I have some hearing loss from when my mother did that to me.
The first time I ever heard my mother swear was when she was trying to teach me how to drive.
My son is 10, and is Mr. "I know how to do this" whether he has any idea of what he's doing or not, and doesn't ever want to hear it when we try to tell him how to do something.
He will be going to driving school - I don't even want to think about the hair that would be pulled out by the roots (mine) or bloodshed (both of ours) that would occur if I tried to teach him.
Girlfriend! This has NOTHING to do with your post. Sorry. I just saw you mentioned in an article on MSN. Here's the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24842642/
Go You!
I had a similar experience to yours, Busymom, when I was 14, and the underage girl in our group who had to do the pinch-hit driving wasn't very good. She got us home safely, but I feared for my life at times! I wish I had known how to drive already and could've booted her from behind the wheel!
I think this is a smart move. My mom taught me how to drive at 13. When the time came for my permit, I was much more comfortable behind the wheel.
My parents also insisted that I learn how to drive a stick. It wasn't fun at first, but now I'm thankful that I can drive fuel-efficient cars.
My parents taught me young. It is probably a good thing as I am really not a great driver, so I needed all the experience I could get.
I cringe when I have to drive by the high school at 3:05. All those kids pull out in front of speeding cars, risking it every second.
Yes, I was one of them, thats why they scare me.
I agree with you. I've let my oldest (almost 11 years old) back the van up in the driveway and we've discussed general car safety and driving already.
I never drove at all before taking drivers ed in school and therefore I was so terrible, I got a B and completely screwed up my perfect 4.0 GPA. I'm still a bit bitter... Nowadays I think most people take drivers ed outside of school anyways.
I started teaching my younger brother to drive when he was 8. A tad irresponsible, perhaps...
But when he was 12 or 13 and my mom started teaching him to drive she was amazed by how quickly he picked it up.
From what you write, BG seems responsible. It's great that you're teaching her now- my folks both pawned me off when it came to driving lessons, "Sorry, just too busy today/I have a weak heart".
I totally agree with you BusyMom! I couldn't bring myself to do it with my oldest and he wound up flunking Behind the Wheel, although he passed Range and Driver's Ed class with flying colors--well, Range not so much. We should have pushed it more, 'cause now he's embarrassed that he has to make it up. Still needs lots of hours, too, in the great state of Illinois. (formerly 50 hours now 100, required) We'll do better with the next ones. BusyGirl will be an awesome driver! (Oh, and all the kids I know who took the car out illegally had some kind of an accident--happened 3 times!)
My husband taught my son how to drive stick in a parking lot on a Sunday morning. A jittery restaurant owner thought they were casing the place and called the police. They got pulled over as they left the parking lot and headed home on his maiden voyage with a stick-shift. Pretty scary for a 15 y.o. w/ a permit! Cops thought it was hilarious. My son - not so much.
Oh, and yeah, I was one of those kids who took the car when my parents were gone.
I agree with you. My oldest is taking drivers education right now and they only require 6 hours of driving time in addition to passing the test in order to pass. I, however, require much more time. I can't say that I've been brave enough yet to get in the car with her behind the wheel. My father has been working with her because my car is a manual & I'd rather she master driving an automatic before attempting the gear shifting required with my car. More experience equates to a safer driver in my book!
What a hifty idea. I never would have thought of it. You a good one.
I stuck Eve behind the wheel for a few blocks during spring break.
She's 9.
Meh, the roads were empty...
I totally agree with you. My dad had me driving on the back roads and on our street when I was 12. My husband takes our 8 year old driving down our street already. Of course, he sits on my husband lap because his legs aren't long enough yet.
I think every kid should also learn how to drive a stick, change a tire, and jump start a manual transmission.
Also how to do donuts, but that's where my husband and disagree.
Yeah, I've got one of those at home, too. Mine will be 15 in September, and we haven't let her drive at all yet. We've been talking about it, and now that I think about it (and have read your post), I think we'll do it soon.
I took my daughter out practice-driving many more hours than she needed. After she got her license, I kept asking her to drive me places. It paid off; she's a good, solid, safe driver now. Keep it up; you know first hand that driving is a life skill.
Is it wrong that I would rather my daughter not drive until she is 30?
My dad taught all my girlfriends, two foreign exchange students & I how to drive when we were 14 or 15...that's how he got his beautiful head of silver hair. Good idea BM.
I grew up in New Orleans. My mother used to take me to the cemetary to practice driving on the shell roads. The theory was that I couldn't hurt anybody there. It was great prcatice. Back then you could get a learner's permit at 14 and you were set loose with a full driver's license at 15. (shudder) I live in Georgia now and there's a kind of graduated or tiered system for new drivers. For example for the 1st six months after they get their real license they cannot have anyone but family in the car with them. This allows them time to gain experience without the distraction of friends in the car or peer pressure. The problem is that many parents do not enforce it.
I agree... I got my dad to teach me when I was 11.
I got my license with MINIMAL experience. Thus, I almost killed myself at the very first stoplight I encountered after pulling out of the DMV. I didn't realize that when you are turning left on green you have to yield to oncoming traffic. That's right. I just though green meant go. And only due to the braking action of the other driver did I not get T-boned.
Neither of my parents would drive with me and everything I learned was through driver's ed. INSANE. Please please please teach your daughter to drive.
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