First Time Driving
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118442)
Gainesville, Florida
April 1, 2019 8:56am CST
My son turned 16 recently, and he's now old enough to get his driver's license. When he turned 15 he got his learner's permit, but hasn't done any driving since then. I think he's driven my ex-wife's little Honda Civic a few times, but for the most part he has done very little driving over the past year.
This morning I have a rehab appointment for my knee at 11 AM. And because I can't bend my knee yet, I can't drive. My ex-wife, my gf, and my daughter are all at work today, and my son is hanging out with me because it is spring break. Anyway, I told my son he is going to have to drive me to my rehab appointment.
He has never driven my truck, but he seems excited to give it a try. I have confidence he will do well. I'm going to let him practice backing up, accelerating, and braking in our neighborhood before letting him get out on the roads.
My only concern is that it is pouring down rain. What a great day for him to finally learn how to drive my truck!
Wish me luck everyone, I'm going to need it! Not for the rehab work on my knee, but for getting there safely! haha
25 people like this
29 responses
@wolfgirl569 (95134)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Apr 19
He will do fine. You maybe not so much 
I remember how tense I was the first few times with my boys. And they had driven around the fields for a few years by that time.
I remember how tense I was the first few times with my boys. And they had driven around the fields for a few years by that time.4 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@wolfgirl569 Me too! Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to close my eyes!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
For the most part I didn't have any moments of terror or stress, although I did close my eyes a few times and trust that he got us through safely. He did pretty well.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@CarolDM It was painful, but it went okay. I survived.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
He definitely was extra careful. A few times I had to tell him to speed up a little bit though because of traffic on our heels. But he did good for his first time.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc That is great! Hope the appointment went well for you.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458038)
• Switzerland
2 Apr 19
@moffittjc It has always been 18 in Europe, they even wanted to rise the age, but for the moment it stays at 18.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458038)
• Switzerland
3 Apr 19
@moffittjc I think that 18 is a good age to be considered "adults".
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Yes, it is awfully young to be driving, but it is what it is.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc was he nervous? I know I was when my Dad taught me how to drive.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@simone10 Yes, he was very nervous. I thought he was going to chicken out, but maybe he figured he had no choice but to do it since I had no other way to get to my rehab appointment.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
He did a great job. And the rain let up for a little bit so there was only a slight drizzle when we hit the road.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
We made it safely! He did pretty good. Only one or two white knuckle moments of terror! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@DianneN He did okay. Not the best driver in the world, but also not the worst. I give him a solid B for his efforts today.
1 person likes this
. So glad you made it home safely. He did well it appears!
@Hannihar (129458)
• Israel
2 Apr 19
@moffittjc
What a time to practice his driving in the pouring rain. I hope it all works out. Good luck at rehab.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 19
Thank you! My son did great driving, and rehab was tough but manageable.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 19
@Hannihar Haha, yeah me too! I live to see another day!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129458)
• Israel
3 Apr 19
@moffittjc
I am so glad he did a good job driving.
1 person likes this
@MainerMikeBrown (1373)
• Bridgton, Maine
1 Apr 19
I learned how to drive via driving school, which was at my high school.
As soon as I graduated high school, I got my license. I never made any huge mistakes while driving despite my inexperience.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Many schools don't offer driving school anymore, which I think is a shame. It definitely was a good way to teach kids how to drive responsibly. I think only one of our six high schools in my city still offer this to students.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 Apr 19
Good luck, I hope all goes well. I'm sure you will let us know.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
7 Apr 19
@moffittjc I'm sure he will be a pro in no time at all.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Apr 19
@BelleStarr I'm sure every one of us were just like him when we all first started driving. I still remember how nervous my dad was when I started driving!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Everything went well, and we're back home safely now. Only a few tense moments out there on the roads. He did pretty well.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
1 Apr 19
I'm sure your son will do fine and you'll get here and back in one piece 
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc hope he's able to spend more time behind the wheel. Glad you got there safe and sound and I'm sure this boosted your sons confidence.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
He did a great job, and I'm back home in one piece. I took him out for some ice cream after lunch to celebrate his newfound driving skills.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@Marilynda1225 I'm not sure if he's going to try to spend more time behind the wheel. He really seems to have no interest in driving at all. Maybe a lot has to do with the fact that he has no job, so he has no incentive to buy his own car (or need to borrow ours to get to and from work). But he's only 16, I'm sure that will all change when he gets closer to 18, or when he starts dating.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 19
Thank you! That truck is my baby! lol
Yes, we made it there and back in one piece. He was nervous about driving such a big vehicle, but he did well.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Apr 19
@noni1959 I would love to save up money for a rhino liner. I've only been talking about getting one for 5 years or so! lol
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (9886)
• United States
3 Apr 19
@moffittjc You having confidence in him bet helped him have it in himself. I love my truck too. I have a few scratches here and there so planning to body shop it in a few months. I want a rhino liner and a deer guard too.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Apr 19
@just4him The only problem is, he hasn't driven since that day. It's weird, but kids these days have no interest at all in driving. I read an interesting article the other day about the future of driving and car ownership, and it said that the trend will be away from personally-owned vehicles, and instead people will use ride sharing (Lyft, Uber) to get everywhere they need to go. It will be interesting to see how that trend plays out.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Apr 19
@just4him It took my daughter a while, but she is finally coming around and realizing how important it is to have a car. She's been working hard over the past year to save up enough money to buy her own car, and she has been saving every last penny she earns at work. She is very determined now to save the money she needs to buy her own car. Now, if I can only get my son to see the light....
1 person likes this
@just4him (306110)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Apr 19
@moffittjc Considering that this generation expects the parents to take them everywhere, it doesn't surprise me.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
2 Apr 19
You made it, I read the other post first.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 19
Haha, yes I made it safely. He did good with the driving.
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
1 Apr 19
Hopefully you don't end up back in the hospital after the adventure. Lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Nope, I'm back home safely now! The boy did pretty well. But I'm driving myself tomorrow! haha
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Apr 19
@thislittlepennyearns I'm not going to die on your 21st birthday, You can't get rid of me that easy!
And I know I'm early, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Did you figure out what you want to do tomorrow?
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
2 Apr 19
@moffittjc Were having salmon croquettes with lemon garlic aioli. And going to watch Doctor Who all day. I mean what else could I possibly want.
I fully expect you to spam me with birthday messages tomorrow as well.
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
1 Apr 19
I'll be teaching my youngest daughter how to drive in a couple of months...
Good luck with that trip to your rehab appointment!
Just out of curiousity; does the truck have a standard transmission? That might make things a little more interesting!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Good luck teaching your daughter! I had no problems at all teaching my daughter. She was a natural at driving my truck. My son, on the other hand, was much more hesitant about wanting to do it.
The truck is an automatic.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros I never learned to drive a stick until I bought my Jeep CJ7 when I graduated college. I remember asking the sales guy if I could take it for a test drive by myself, as I didn't want him to know that I had no idea how to drive a stick. He said of course, and I spent the next couple of hours driving around town in the Jeep practicing driving a stick. It was hilarious. I thought for sure I was burning up that clutch and destroying the transmission, but would you believe I owned that Jeep for 15 years and put 316,000 miles on it and never once replaced the clutch or had transmission problems!
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc The automatic transmission makes it easier. I taught my oldest son to drive a stick. That was the most entertainment I've had in a while. Most things come easily to him and he figured he'd be able to hop in and drive it. It proved to be a bit more challenging than he anticipated 
.
.2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169937)
• United States
1 Apr 19
Wow, that is a big responsibility! I hope you get there safely!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
It was a tall order for the kid. But I had to get to my rehab appointment and he was the only one around who could drive. So it was like trial by fire. He did great though.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169937)
• United States
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc That is good. I bet you both breathed a sigh of relief when you got there and back.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@snowy22315 I know I sure did! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@sol_cee oh yes, I was holding on for dear life! My knuckles were white from holding on so tight!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
For his first time he did really well. He’ll get better with more practice.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc you weren’t holding on for your dear life? lol
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Apr 19
He must be excited to master driving.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@JohnRoberts My son is a gamer. He just wants to play video games all day. He doesn't even text that much. Luckily, he has a good balance of technology and nature though. He plays soccer, we go camping and hiking a lot, and he plays on a tournament paintball team like I do. He loves the great outdoors. But if we're not out doing something in the great outdoors, he just wants to sit in his room and play video games. So between all that, he has no desire at all to drive or own his own car.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc At least he likes the outdoors and plays soccer. So many don't do that.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc That's another incredible aspect of today. Car culture gone. Boys aren't interested in cars anymore. No fast rides, No thrill at having that first car. Being independent. Impressing a girl. No, they want a self driving car so they can spend more time texting and playing games. What do they have to be constantly be texting about? When you do nothing but text in life what is there to text?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@ARN4567 yes, it’s nice to know i’m Home safely. I kissed the ground when I got out of the truck!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Thanks! We are now back home safely. He did a really good job.
1 person likes this
@ARN4567 (1061)
• Baguio, Philippines
1 Apr 19
@moffittjc That's nice to hear...good job...
1 person likes this
@isweartokira (3465)
• United States
1 Apr 19
good luck to your son! learning to drive in the rain isn't great but it's better to know how sooner than later. hope the knee rehab (knee-hab? ) goes well :)
) goes well :)1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
Thanks Bree! Knee-hab went well, although i’m very sore right now. Do you have any massage experience by chance?
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 19
@isweartokira That’s okay. A guy can dream, right?
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
3 Apr 19
I managed to survive three lessons (daughter 10 years ago, and twins 5 years ago). You will survive! But do buy bumpers for the car, that go all the way around them ;-)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Apr 19
I've already been through this with my daughter (she was a natural at driving my truck), and as soon as I get through the current lessons with my son, I'll be done for good!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Apr 19
@DocAndersen That's awesome! My daughter is an excellent driver, I'm hoping my son will end up being one too.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
4 Apr 19
@moffittjc I've been done for four years. I am proud of all three. They are very good drivers!
1 person likes this
