This week, our family experienced every parent's worst nightmare a milestone: my son got his driver's permit. It was inevitable, I suppose; Boy's first word was "car," after all. By the time he was two he could point at nameplates and say Ford or Chevy or Chrysler. (We're not quite sure what accounts for the fascination; we're not auto buffs, so I suspect the genetic influence of my father.) Anyway, that little car fanatic is now fifteen, tall enough to see over the dashboard, and able to drive a motor vehicle with an adult riding shotgun. I even let him drive my car from the Secretary of State's parking lot ... right to the post office, where I mailed the payoff for that car. Maybe that was tempting fate, but he has to practice sometime, right? To my credit, I didn't clutch my seat in fear or stomp an imaginary brake pedal once.I'm sure next summer, when I don't have to drive to school ten times a week because he can drive himself to band practice, I will appreciate the fact that Boy can drive a car. Right now, though, I'm seeing a steep, slippery slope headed downhill: he'll learn to drive, then he'll drive away, then he'll grow up, then he'll leave home. Without him to nag me, I'll talk to the cats all day long, forget how to interact with people, and my husband will send me to the funny farm, where Boy won't visit me because I'm so totally, over-the-top embarrassing, and he really didn't think I could be any worse than I am now. (Good thing he refuses to read this blog.) It's tragic, really.
But wait a minute. The SOS info says that Boy's new Level 1 license may be cancelled at any time. Hmmm. I've noticed Boy has been extra polite this week, with no complaining about chores. (He even cleaned up some cat barf!) He needs parental cooperation to obtain a Level 2 license, so this could really work to my advantage. He may only be home for another three or four years, but with the proper motivation, they can be the most cooperative and useful years of his life! {evil cackle}
I can totally sympathize with you - Breanna takes her Segmont Two class in April and then its the road test. I cringe when we get in the car with her because she hasn't mastered the smooth lift and push of the pedals. We all had whiplash by the time she'd driven us from Red Robin to Meijer - and that was maybe 200 yards!
ReplyDeleteI know we all remember the drive to the stadium when you had your learner's permit. I trust you won't be going anywhere so stupid with Boy at the wheel.
ReplyDeleteThat's to the stadium on football Saturday, just before the game, for those of you who wonder why I said it was a stupid thing to do.
ReplyDeleteNo, it wasn't stupid, it was a challenge, that's it, and it gave me a great story to tell. Especially the part where you stuck your head out the window to yell at a student who was razzing my shifting technique. I'm sure Boy would love for me to take him somewhere crowded (like the high school at dismissal time) and yell at a whole crowd of people to give my baby a break.
ReplyDeleteThat only works when the crowd is older than said driver.
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