teens and driving

[cheermom1]

I have 2 teens driving it was official today as my son got his permit!

My dd has her DL and my son has his permit.

I am just so stressed and worrying all the time.

My babies are growing up too fast.

 

[Feralpeg]

You are not alone!

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm right there with you!! DD21 has been driving for 5 years and I have stopped worrying about her on the highway, etc - other than the normal Mom worry which I will probably be doing all of her life (ie I hope she doesn't hit bad traffic or run into a storm type stuff.)

DD16 drove on the highway for the first time "solo" last week - that is, without a parent or her older sisiter, just one friend. I was a little bit of a nervous wreck - she has driven on the highway before with me and with her sister, 2 to 3 hours each time - but it's still so scary to think of her out there with 4 lanes of 18 wheelers, all going 80 miles an hour!! She drove to a freind's house about an hour away and then back, on Sunday. Still pretty busy on the highway but not a normal workday kind of traffic.

She is the best, most carefuld driver in the family, though, and I know I have to let her have the experience. But I am looking forward to the day when I make the transition from freakout to normal concern!!

 

[Sgstuckey]

My DD got her permit Saturday! I am right there with you! Where does the time go!?!

 

[Mary•Poppins]

I have a teen too! He is my first to teach to drive ... and it is A LOT harder than I thought! I am a teacher too ... and this has been a very hard teaching/learning experience for him and me (he seems to do OK with dad - figures!) I think the thoughts of how much can go wrong within one split second of a decision makes me a nervous wreck! Why can't they stay little?

 

[cheermom1]

I have a teen too! He is my first to teach to drive ... and it is A LOT harder than I thought! I am a teacher too ... and this has been a very hard teaching/learning experience for him and me (he seems to do OK with dad - figures!) I think the thoughts of how much can go wrong within one split second of a decision makes me a nervous wreck! Why can't they stay little?

I was thinking the same thing when I took my son out and I could only go around the block!

 

[minkydog]

We have DD17 in drivers ed this week and I have mixed feelings about it. Sad that she's growing up and almost ready to leave the nest, happy that she's growing up and almost ready to leave the nest I'd feel better about it if she were a better driver. She hasn't got her confidence yet so she seems "shaky", although she says shes not nervous. My DS23 was sooooo much better at this point than she is. DD doesn't know what she doesn't know. We live in the suburbs of Atlanta and I've had her driving on I-75 & I-285 lately. First thing I discoverd is she doesn't know how to read the big green signs! So we're working on that, and a whole bunch of other stuff, too. I can't send her off to college in another year if she can't find her way back home!

 

[ORMom2Four]

I'm in the same boat. DD & Dh are on there way home now from practicing. She takes the test first thing tomorrow morning

 

[Planogirl]

I take DS (17) out and he is still a nervous driver. Until he gets past that he won't be driving on his own. I just hope that I survive!

 

[Mom2Ty&Lins]

DD16 is taking a drivers education course in July before we will allow her to get her permanent license. Quite honestly, it is more of an excuse than anything. I nearly have a full blown panic attack when I think about her driving on her own. I keep wondering how she is going make it without me along to tell her what to do every step of the way. I can't seem to get her to understand that she has to be aware of EVERYTHING around her when driving...The person in front of her, behind her, on either side, people pulling out of side streets, out of shopping centers, bikers, pedestrians, etc... She seems to have tunnel vision when she is driving. Then again, I wonder if I am making it out to be worse than it is to keep an excuse for her not getting her license quite yet. I am so unprepared for this!!!

 

[cheermom1]

DD16 is taking a drivers education course in July before we will allow her to get her permanent license. Quite honestly, it is more of an excuse than anything. I nearly have a full blown panic attack when I think about her driving on her own. I keep wondering how she is going make it without me along to tell her what to do every step of the way. I can't seem to get her to understand that she has to be aware of EVERYTHING around her when driving...The person in front of her, behind her, on either side, people pulling out of side streets, out of shopping centers, bikers, pedestrians, etc... She seems to have tunnel vision when she is driving. Then again, I wonder if I am making it out to be worse than it is to keep an excuse for her not getting her license quite yet. I am so unprepared for this!!!

That sounds just like my son! My dd was a quick learner and she is a very good driver. However I took my son around the block and this is all I have to say. Can you tell how frustrated I am!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Same boat here. My DD16 got her license in Feb, my DD15 should be getting her permit Friday. She took the book work during the school year, and this week she is completing the driving part. Tomorrow is her last day.
It kind of gets easier, once you get over the initial shock. I'm still scared though. THANK GOD for cell phones.

You know what I have figured out? We freak out about our kids driving because we remember the stupid driving me would to at that age. Well, that's my theory anyway. I was a horrible driver...I knew how to drive, just not responsibly. If i saw my kids drive like I did when I was their age, I'll be confiscating a VW Jetta!

 

[minkydog]

I can't seem to get her to understand that she has to be aware of EVERYTHING around her when driving...The person in front of her, behind her, on either side, people pulling out of side streets, out of shopping centers, bikers, pedestrians, etc... She seems to have tunnel vision when she is driving.

I think this is very common. Being able to look up, down, and all around while interpreting information instantly and constantly is a learned behavior. It takes a lot of practice and unfortunately, some kids(and adults!) think they know it all already.

I know this because I was that kid. I thought I really had it going on when I got my license, although looking back on it I just didn't know what I didn't know. All it took was one low speed rear end collision in 1974 to change my ways. The accident wasn't my fault, technically, because the guy in front of me didn't have any brake lights, but I think had I not been following him closely and thinking about everything else but driving I *might* have been able to avoid hitting him, or at least not hit him so hard it totaled my car. After that little incident I became a MUCH better driver. That was my one and only car wreck.

 

[clh2]

I'm in the same boat. DD & Dh are on there way home now from practicing. She takes the test first thing tomorrow morning

Good luck to her! Tell her to just relax, and try not to be nervous!!!My DD got her license 2 months ago I think I was more excited than she was that she passed.

I have LOVED, really LOVED my DD having her license. I hope that she gets a parking permit for high school next year. There is no street parking by our high school. NONE. And, we live 9 miles away from the school.

 

[cheermom1]

Good luck to her! Tell her to just relax, and try not to be nervous!!!My DD got her license 2 months ago I think I was more excited than she was that she passed.

I have LOVED, really LOVED my DD having her license. I hope that she gets a parking permit for high school next year. There is no street parking by our high school. NONE. And, we live 9 miles away from the school.

I have to say i have enjoyed my dd being able to drive as well! No more having to get out late at night to pick her up from games and ect!

 

[golfgal]

Our twins got their permits about a month ago. DD15 has pretty good skills but still needs to learn to pay attention to things around her more, DS15 is a very nervous driver and almost pays too much attention to everything. DS17 has been driving for almost 3 years (one with a permit, 2 with a license). I am going to miss having the extra driver around when he goes off to college though.

 

[newbie2disney]

Add me to the nervous parent club. My DD (14) got her permit two weeks ago and starts drivers ed in July. She's a pretty good driver and even does a decent job horizontal parking. She LOVES driving!