It is amazing to me how many expert drivers there are at here at the age of 15, although this happens with little or no experience at all. Now, we may have let them drive around the block a few times or in the subdivision or maybe down that lonely country road that no one uses much, but turning 15 presents a unique phenomena. Now, we know every state has their own laws on age, but you will get my point, no matter what that age is, the behavior is all the same.
Somewhere around the 15th birthday the hype starts with getting a drivers permit. So, on their 15th birthday you have to be at the DMV bright and early before it opens so you can be the first in line because that’s what you have to do cuz that’s what all their friends did. Surprised they don’t want to camp overnight like for concert tickets or something like that. I think mine would have had he thought about asking about it, of course I would have said hell no.
Ok now, the permit is in hand and the voice starts and never stops whenever you are getting ready to go anywhere. Dad, can I drive? Dad, can I drive? Dad, can I drive? And far be it for you to say No…. The whining starts and again does not stop. “Why can’t I drive there, I have my permit?” They have learned intimidation through repetitiveness. It’s kind of like when they were younger and would watch the same movie over and over and over. I think I must know every line and every song to “The Lion King” You try to give them a sound reason why they cannot drive this particular trip and you hear. “Why can’t I drive there, I have my permit?” Somewhere in this time frame they have taken a driver’s education class through school or a private company and they ARE the experts at handling any type of driving situation.
You are now strapped in the passenger’s side of the car which in itself is a scary feeling if you are the one used to doing all the driving. You look for the extra seat belt to strap yourself in double but realize there is only one and you do not want to insult your child by putting on a football helmet just in case. You go into the situation knowing that any constructive criticism you have can just tossed out the frickin window because they do no wrong and your words go in one ear and out the other.
After time, you get used to the situation and soon the badgering starts about cars and this friend and that friend and they just got a brand new car and why can’t we get one and why can’t we get one right now. Trying to be practical is totally out of the frickin question, because practical and 15 just do not correlate. You finally decide to bite the bullet and get a used car for the kid. The fun and internal negotiations start, looking at web sites and cars and small cars and big cars and this pickup truck and that pickup truck and this does not have that and that does not have this and on and on and on and on. You write the check finally for what you believe is the best vehicle based on your losing the negotiations with your child. Children are the best negotiators because they just do not take NO for an answer, at least till you beat the crap out of them, but mine is bigger than me now so he would beat the crap out of me.
So now there is a car but no official license yet, so know you are being chauffeured in their car in which you own. Yea, that makes sense. Finally the day of the driver’s test comes and they have you up as early as a Christmas morning to be first in line at the DMV. School? Who cares about school when it is driver’s license day? Kind of like.. “Badges?. We don’t need no stinkin badges." Some pass first time, some fail and have to wait that week to go back… Man, I feel for those parents.
So, you are now the parent of an official teenage driver. What a rush of mixed emotions and feelings, you should be excited for your child but you really want to puke because your gut is all wrapped up the first time they drive away by themselves to go wherever. However, it took me a few time of going through this to find the solution to the anxiety…… VODKA!!!!!
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