Most Things get Easier with Practice
By MrsJ
@SophiaMorros (5044)
Belews Creek, North Carolina
September 6, 2019 6:25pm CST
Somehings, however, do not.
I am in the process of teaching my youngest child how to drive.
This process should be old hat. I’ve successfully taught two of her older siblings to drive (my husband taught the third) and she is a good student. Unfortunately, there is something just a tad stressful about being in a vehicle with an inexperienced driver and not being in control.
It would be inaccurate to say I like being in control, I’m perfectly happy when my husband is behind the wheel and have no problem trusting his ability to control the vehicle (now that I think about it, he’s the one who taught ME how to drive), but trusting my life to one of my children is an entirley different matter.
But, driving is a necessary skill. A life skill. My job as Mom (and former homeschool teacher) means doing whatever it takes to make sure my children are prepared for life. There is only one way for my daughter to become and experienced driver: experience.
So I sit in the passenger seat and occasionally hammer on my imaginary brake pedal as my daughter drives around town.
Parenting toddlers was SO much easier!
Photo: Precipice Trail was less stressful!
10 people like this
12 responses
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Sep 19
We had all of our children take a number of lessons with an experienced, trained driving instructor (who, by the way, had their own brake pedal, lol). It was worth the cost....my hair was already going gray...and my husband didn't have too much to lose.
Good luck with the lessons.
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
I looked at private lessons and the prices were astronomical. So far she's off to a good start, but I wish we lived in an area with a little less traffic to contend with. I'm not ready to let her tackle to commute into Winston-Salem just yet (I've seen way too many near misses at the 40/52 intersections.)
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
7 Sep 19
the hubs drivin' terrifies me, lol. we taught our young'uns quite young to drive. 'twas a necessity out here. 'f course, they started out'n the pasture, moved to dirt roads 'fore ol' 'nough to take 't to pavement. they're quite adept 't hookin' 'nto trailers 'f all sizes, pullin' 'em proper 'n e'en backin' 'em 'nto tight spaces - 'lso handy.
jest breathe, this too shall pass :) she's gonna do jest fine.. hopefully, lol.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
Unfortunately, we don't live in an area where kids can learn to drive off road. I can't even have her practice driving to her college classes without having to deal with a major (and poorly designed) interstate interchange. She's a good driver, she just needs experience...and there is only one way to get that.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
7 Sep 19
@SophiaMorros i reckon 'tis one 'f the perks 'f country livin' - lots 'f dirt roads, pastures 'n field access roads :) yer correct, she's jest needin' more practice. my granddaughter'll not learn to drive 's she fears the traffic where she resides (las vegas, nevada - no thanks!). can't say i blame'er none, but such's truly a necessity. she'll be 18 come november, her dad cannot drive (seizures) 'n the daughter works 10 hour days. dunno what she's planned if'n she goes to college?? then 'gain, i think such's laziness 's such'd require her to've a job... i aint certain where the daughter went so wrong? love my granddaughter, but sure don't like that air 'f entitlement she seems to breathe.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
@crazyhorseladycx I have some young"ish" nephews that don't see the need to learn how to drive. They don't need the skill right this moment so why worry about it. Never mind they live in an area that requires them to have a learner's permit for a minimum of a year before they can can take the next step and drive for themselves.
Sorry about your son's seizures. My second son has epilepsy. He currently is able to drive but we know that there is always the possibility that his meds will no longer be effective.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382465)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 19
@SophiaMorros It's good she understands. And if I'm with someone who doesn't trust my driving, it makes me nervous too.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
Thankfully she understands that it's much harder for me to let her drive than it is for me to drive myself at the moment. There have been a few times when she's wanted to practice when I just wasn't up to it.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122305)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
7 Sep 19
That is good way to learn how to be an effective driver. Lots of practice will make it perfect down the line.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122305)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Sep 19
@SophiaMorros My ;late dad always advised me "Drive defensively."
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
Lots of practice and reminding her to anticipate. You can't just watch the car in front of you, you've got to be aware of what's going on further down the road, off to the side, and behind you as well.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 Sep 19
I tried to teach my little sister, she was so stiff and white knuckled, could not make a turn.
My dad tried, no luck.
This old pot head took her to a field told her drive, ain`t nothing to hit he said, taught her.
No one taught me, I just drove it like I was in my old peddle car. I reckon I have always drove something, however, my sister in law let me drive my brothers car to get used to it aat age 13 so if she went into labor I was to take her to the hospital.
Now I tell`em drive it like you stole it.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
We started out in a big parking lot. And for the first couple of weeks I was actually driving her 40 minutes to a mostly abandoned shopping mall. Lots of room to practice complete with stop signs and minimal traffic. She's doing well, she just needs experience. And there's only one way she's going to get that.
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
7 Sep 19
I really wish I knew to drive.....omg..i just want to run over my fear
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
I've seen some video of what driving is like in India. It makes our roads here seem very calm and controlled by comparison. I understand your fear!
1 person likes this
@MainerMikeBrown (1373)
• Bridgton, Maine
7 Sep 19
I've never taught an inexperienced driver how to drive before.
And I never want to either.
I'm a fairly calm person nowadays. But being a passenger in a car being driven by an inexperienced driver would be a little too nerve wracking for me.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
For me, at least, it's part of what I signed up for when I became a parent.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
Every now and again my husband's driving stresses me out, but those times are rare.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
I know. I just wonder how many more grey hairs I'll have before we get to that point. 
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
7 Sep 19
All of our kids have waited until they were 18 to pursue a driver's license and I haven't pushed. Once they're over 18, though, I think it's important that they be able to drive.
@ihasaquestion (8273)
•
7 Oct 19
Hats off to you. It sure ain't easy trying to see them drive around town like that..
