Driving by herself.

I was also 16 and you need to tell your hubby that she's not a child any more...she's 19!!!

Oh... the baby. She's the last in ya'll "hood line (motherhood, fatherhood). Things were WAY different when I was a kid. I lived in the middle of nowhere (and I was the oldest) so I had plenty of room to make mistakes... Does he ever ride with her the way you do? Encourage him to ride with her. She'll not only get used to a potential "backseat driver" and gain valuable experience as well as boost his trust in her as well as her abilities to handle driving situations. Even if it's to Walmart. Perhaps she could pick out a college to visit and you guys could do a "road trip" together. She can drive through some things and he could drive through the others he feels are "bad areas". I think this is going to be a little give and take on your daughter's part. I hope she understands his POV, but to be sure he probably understands her's also. Perhaps she could drive him somewhere that he thinks would be a good place to drive... and practice maneuvers that HE believes are important. She could share her concerns with him about maneuvers that SHE believes are important. They could bond over driving. I realize this seems like a lot to ask, especially if she's really active in school activities and time is premium for him as well with work. Even a couple of episodes as the ones I describe above would be worth it. Not only from the "allowing her to exert her independence standpoint" but also from an "I'm losing my baby-est baby girl standpoint". I wish you the best of luck.

I didn't get my license until after I got out of school and had a full time job. That was because my parents were not in a position to buy me a car so why bother? I did however take driver ed. I knew how to drive. I have 4 girls. I have taught all of them to drive. I took them out in even the worst traffic and the worst snow in my beater car. I had insurance and as scary as it was, I wanted them to know how to drive in all situations. I do understand your husbands worries. They were mine also. The best way to get over them is to take them out and teach them how to drive in all weather and traffic conditions. Then....pray a real lot. It's really scary when they first start driving on their own even when you know you've taught them well. It's like every other major step up in their lives....you can't protect them forever.

When I read your post I remember the movie I watched some two weeks ago "The last house on the left" where the girl is only 17 and she takes the car to go and meet friends, her mother is always a bit reluctant to give the car and the father is always easy to let go the girl as he believe she should have some freedom too then one day the girl got in the hands of some really bad men and one of them even raped her. I felt very bad when watching the movie. To drive is very good but to drive with safety is better.

Hmm I think you should have as erious talk with your husabnd. It is nothing but a case of being over protective. Parents never see their children grow up. May be he is concerned over her driving in harsh climate or may be he thinks that she isnt mature enough to handle a car. Ask him to think in her shoes, also ask him to remeber about his first drive or the moment he got his driving licence.

It is hard to let them go out on their own for the first few times. I still get a tad nervous when my daughter is on the road, especially late at night or in really bad weather, and she has been driving for almost a decade already. I know my mother still worries when one of us has to go any distance in bad weather, and we have been driving for years and years. However, she is of legal age and pays for her own insurance and gas, so there is very little you can do to stop her from driving. Hubby will have to back down a bit on this one! I was 16 as well when I got my license. Less than five moonths later, I drove in my very first blizzard/ice storm. Yikes! I still remember that so well.

The youngest! It has to be hard to just let her go! It was hard letting my older two go and my youngest will be the hardest. I used to make up excuses for the kids not to go somewhere or for me to go with them, even if I didn't have to, it's scary and sad to let go sometimes. I came to the sad conclusion that no matter what I do, they are still going to grow up & do what they want, when they want and I have no control over them anymore. There have been a few times where I started thinking, wow, if only they were little again! and then I think...Naaaahhhh!! It takes a little stress off when they can come and go and you don't have to chauffeur them around anymore but then the stress from worry gets you. I was 16 when I got my license, don't remember my first thunderstorm and had drivers ed in school in the snow.

It is really hard to let our children go on their own. But we have to since we can not be on their side for the rest of our lives. They need to learn on their own, manage their own life and survive even without us- parents.

my parents are that way with me too but now that i'm older they let me drive whereever i want. Sooner or later he'll have to let her grow up. Just like my parents finally did for me.