Another Driver in the House

My last teenager just got her driver's license on Tuesday. This is the final sign that we are officially becoming empty nester's. I have been nagging her since August to study, practice, and take her driver's license test so she can be one of the "cool" kids and drive herself to school. She was content to let her mom drive her everywhere...since Mom was on speed dial and was willing to jump at a moment's notice to pick her up or drop her off at all hours of the day and night. But no amount of coercion could convince her to take that last driving test. She had already aced the written part.

Secretly, I think she was worried about not passing. So she let that beautiful, nice, 2000 RAV-4 sit in the driveway. Her mom made her drive them both to school, to band events, and even to do her paper route, but that car was sitting there begging for her to drive it, and she did nothing really to get her independence. Don't ask me why I was so eager for her to get her independence. I wanted her to get a social life, and become less dependent on us, I guess.

I would drag her out on Saturdays to practice her parallel parking...I don't know, isn't that the toughest part of the driving test? I just thought it would build her confidence. I even made her set goals for herself...ones that she wouldn't reach, for some reason. She promised she would get her license before her cousins came to visit at Thanksgiving...that came and went. Another promise during Christmas break was broken.

Well, she called on Tuesday saying she passed her driver's test on the first try! She was pretty proud of herself and immediately went out to get a parking permit for the school parking lot. She now feels, "normal" whatever that means. She pulled off the parallel parking in one try. She said the test was easier than she thought, and that she was worried for nothing...so it was true! She was afraid of failure!

I never worried about her as a driver. She is a good driver, in command and control, and relaxed behind the wheel...or so it seems. She has decision-making issues like all new drivers, but overall I am not too worried about her. I actually worried more about my son, but maybe that is because he was the first one.

Anyway, she is now happy she has her license (duh!), and feels cool pulling up to the parking lot with all the other upper classmen (another duh!). She will never admit that I was right, but the way she wanted to surprise me with the news tells me it was on her mind...right at the very top.

I am not so happy about the added insurance costs, cough, cough, but it is a rite of passage that all kids have to go through. I am really happy for her (and her mom!). Now her mom has all that extra time in the morning that she doesn't know what to do with.

For all of you kids out there stressing about that driving test, think about this...you only need 80% to pass...that isn't too hard. You can almost cause an accident and still pass...maybe not, but close. Too many times you all are focusing on perfection. Not necessary with that final driving exam. So, focus on passing, not perfection. Okay, enough advice. Be careful out there, there is now one more teen driver on the road.

Chow!