Daughter got her license today...am I the only one who cries?

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Ok, I'm home now and still crying. Her dad wants her to drive to school tomorrow, but she has a 5 speed and hasn't mastered balancing on a hill. Her school has 2 hills to go up during car line. I'm afraid she will roll back and hit someone.
Thank God in this state they cannot drive past 9pm for 6 months. That is my only consolation. I know I will get over it, but I will always worry.
THIS is why I want to move my family to NYC....you don't need to drive. Ever.
But thats not gonna happen, of course. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences...it helps knowing I'm not the only emotional parent when it comes to things like this. Honestly, I have been dreading this day for about 4 years. I'll just keep praying.
This is the visor clip that arrived yesterday:
http://www.catholiccompany.com/cath...ter-Than-Your-Angel-Visor-Clip/?category=1194

 

[dhcoffey]

My oldest has been driving coming up on a year now and I'm finally at the point where I don't make her text me when she gets to the store or when she's about to leave the store. It's only maybe a mile from our house . It's hard. I worry the entire time she's gone but it's getting better.

Heather

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My oldest has been driving coming up on a year now and I'm finally at the point where I don't make her text me when she gets to the store or when she's about to leave the store. It's only maybe a mile from our house . It's hard. I worry the entire time she's gone but it's getting better.

Heather

My name is Heather too


I just told Haley to text me when she leaves the house and when she gets to school. Thank GOD for cell phones. I dont know how our parents got thru it.

 

[Cinerbelle]

My niece got her license 2 months ago and proceeded to rear end a mercedes today... UGH

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My niece got her license 2 months ago and proceeded to rear end a mercedes today... UGH

You aren't helping me!!! LOL

 

[lucyanna girl]

My daughter is 18 and every time she leaves the driveway I pray that God sends his angels to ride with her and keep her safe.

Penny

 

[tinkntraining]

This.

I think this is where if you have faith, it kicks in. Just like raising kids, at some point you have to trust that they are ready for these steps towards independence and hope, pray that you have done all you can do to be sure they are ready. But even with the best, most experienced driver you can't account for the other drivers out there.......so you just have to trust and hope and pray that a power greater than yours will be taking care of your child.

Each of my girls has a clip on angel in their car that says "Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly!" Still need one for my son who got his license a few weeks back!

The bottom line is that you can't keep your children safe forever at home, they will have to take a lot of scary steps along the route to adulthood and your job is to make sure they are as ready as you can make them. Then let them fly and pray and trust!

I'm sure you'll be feeling better soon about it.

What a beautiful post! This has been my one goal in life since I found out I was pregnant all those years ago. A reminder sure will help when DD goes for her license in a few months!

I hope you're feeling a little better, OP.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I have a 36 y/o ds, a 33 y/o dd, and a 16 y/o dd...so this is something I'm pretty conversant in. I cried like a baby when my ds drove off for the first time. In fact, when he drove to Florida, all by himself, four years ago, I made him call me every time he stopped somewhere...I was worried sick.
Now...my 16 y/o dd has been eligable to get her learners permit since late Oct. She just completed her classroom driver's ed course. She is really dragging her feet on the permit issue...says it really scares her to think about driving a car. She tends to be timid in any case, so this isn't surprising.
But...I am taking her next week to take her permit exam. If she gets it, then we will hit some parking lots, with no cars around, and practice there for quite awhile. It's something she has to do.....but we aren't going to rush her into getting her actual license. All in good time. There is nothing worse than an over-confident driver or a timid, scared driver. They are both really bad traits.

 

[js]

I am bawling like a baby at work right now. My daughter got her license. I'm scared to death. I have lost friends in car accidents when I was a teenager. And there are so many drunk drivers, bad drivers, etc on the road. Everyone around me is acting like I'm a drama queen. I can't help it...I'm panicking and crying. Please tell me I'm not the only one who freaks out when their child gets their license!!!
I know I should not be crying or Dising at work...but I really need some encouragement or kind words or something.

I'll try to be encouraging but I am right there with you!!!
My dd is 16 and can begin taking Drivers Ed this summer (my sil just gave it to her for her Sweet 16 gift ). My dd told me on Monday she thinks she wants to wait until the Fall to take it so she doesn't have to wake up early in the summer for Drivers Ed and she cannot miss more than 3 classes (we have two big trips planned for the summer). I was like OK WITH ME!!
I've been to Compassionate Friends with my mother (they are a support group for parents that lost children, and my brother died over a year ago ) and the number one reason why about 1/2 were there were from car accidents. I was shocked and it made me VERY VERY nervous!!!
We just have to let them grow up and hope they are safe but it is VERY VERY hard. Just a little over two years from now, they will be leaving home and going to college AND driving
I've always tried to raise my children to be independent, even when very young, so I guess I am doing my job and this is the next step but still very nervous!

 

[NMAmy]

Look on the bright side--now you won't have to drive her to all her activities. That's what I focused on when dd got her license.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I'm with you! MY 16 yr old DD got her license last November. We just got her a used car about a month ago. Where we live our county doesn't have a high schools so the kids get to choose where they want to go. My dd has to drive 30 miles one way to get to school. That is why we got her a car as it is so much easier for me now that I don't have to bring her and be late for my job!

You know what? It's been about a month and my DD said this week "Mom I miss riding into school with you"

Have faith that you've taught them well and they will do fine. Do I worry? All the time She still texts me every morning when she gets to school.

I buried two friends when I was a teen due to auto accidents and I worked 11 years in auto claims so I've seen it all!

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I can sympathize with you as the thought terrifies me, but i cant convince my nearly 16 year old to even get her learners (which she could have gotten when she was 14). She is terrified of driving since losing a close friend 10 months ago due to a car accident while the teen was driving.........

I do try to persuade her that it is a good idea to get her learners even if she decides to not learn to drive quite yet, as driving to me is a life skill that she will need in the future, but i understand her fears completly. She is also very cautious about driving with others and always asks me if its okay if she gets in so and so's vehicle...........the only thing i can tell her is thats a choice she needs to make as she knows these kids better than i do to judge how responsible they are when driving..........so far she has made good choice even if it meant a phone call home because the kid ended up drinking beer and she did not want to get a ride home with them.............ahhhhhhh the joys of letting go and letting you child grow up, why wasnt i told how difficult this was gonna be????????

 

[MichelleVW]

Look on the bright side--now you won't have to drive her to all her activities. That's what I focused on when dd got her license.

That's how I look at it! Especially tomorrow morning when DD17 has to be at school at 6:45 A.M. for a tennis tournament and I'll be still in bed sleeping!!

It's nerve wrecking, but I try not to think about it and honestly I've gotten way better about not worrying. Maybe it's easier because she's the second one driving.