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!

Driving Miss Melanie

Well, I promised some posts on my teen daughter's driving exploits. I was hoping for death-defying experiences, but I am happy to announce that she is a pretty good driver. She has been behind the wheel for a couple of weeks now, but it has been my wife's role to do the early driving lessons. I think it is because I am a yeller. So after a HS band concert I asked her to drive us all home...at first she protested because she had a long dress and heels on, but I think she thought about it a little and then changed her mind. She needs the practice and she knows it. She has the typical new driver problems: she overshoots her turns, oversteers and then over corrects, and her parking is attrocious! I made her get out twice to see where she was in relation to the curb. But I have to admit she is very safe and aware of what is going on around her. She is very different than her older brother. He would be extremely quiet, where she is quite the chatterbox. So we had a nice conversation while she chauffered me around town. Besides the regular discussion of boys, girls and the relational issues they have at that age, we happened on a subject that really made me think.

We talked about slang words that were popular when I was her age v. what is popular now. She asked me why "cool" is still, well, cool. Sometimes she is extremely insightful...I have another story that I will post another time. Anyway we talked about how it still fits in our language today because it describes a contemporary feeling or setting so aptly. And I think it always will. I asked her if "groovy" could enjoy a resurgence. She laughed at me and said I was nuts. I felt challenged and said that I would make "groovy" come back. But the more we talked about it, it just doesn't seem to fit any contemporary scenes or feelings. I doubt I will be able to resurrect that fun word. I tried it a few times, and got her to snicker at me, and say, "Dad, you are so embarassing!" You know, it just didn't feel right to say it. What happened to groovy settings? Can't anything be groovy anymore? I hate to put that word away, but there isn't a place for it anymore.

A friend wished me Happy Birthday and asked if I felt old at 46. I told him it was all relative...when I think about it without any other references, I don't feel too old at 46. But when I think about it in a different set of circumstances, like having a 19 year old college kid, I do feel older. What's worse is when I get news that other people's kids are graduating from college, getting jobs, and having children of their own...that is what I mean by relative.

Hey, it is Chinese New Year this weekend. The year of the Boar! Be extra generous to those that help and support you, be a big tipper and good fortune will return back to you.

Chow!