Teaching my teenager to drive

Three weeks ago the Department of Transportation was crazy enough to give my fifteen year old a learner’s permit. He’s now legally able to drive me insane a motor vehicle [with an adult in the car].

In the state of Iowa you are allowed to take the test to get your permit when you turn 14. We went to the DOT a year ago, but we didn’t have the necessary forms of ID they required. I think they require top secret CIA clearance, fingerprints and possibly a cheek swab…or maybe just a birth certificate.

I scoured the house for his birth certificate but couldn’t find it anywhere. So, after much procrastination, we ordered a new one.

Then we were waiting for his grades to improve before we would take him to the DOT again. We really did want his grades to improve, but mostly we were just terrified about the thought of one of our kids driving. It doesn’t seem right that we have a kid who can drive. It seems like just yesterday I was teaching him to drink from a sippy cup.

*sniff, sniff…wiping away tears*

A few days after he got his permit I took him out for his very first driving lesson. I was a little scared for my life. It has been snowing about every three days here. It probably wasn’t the best time to let him get his permit. We probably should have done it last summer when the roads were dry and ice-free. But it was too late now.

I took him to the baseball stadium’s parking lot. It’s a big open area so it gave him lots of room to practice. We went over the basics; how to turn on the lights and the windshield wipers and the hazards, etc. Then I handed him the keys and told him to start it.

He drove in circles through the parking lot; getting used to steering, the gas pedal and the brake. I had him slam on the brake so he could see and feel the anti-lock brakes. All was going well and I was starting to relax.

I asked him if he wanted to venture on to the street. It was a residential area with very little traffic. He was really nervous and didn’t want to leave the parking lot. But eventually I talked him in to it.

He was doing a great job. But he did take the corners a little fast. I think I might still have whiplash three weeks later. But I remained calm. Me gripping on to the door handle for dear life certainly wasn’t going to calm his nerves. So I just took in a deep breath and said, “Let’s try that again. A little bit slower this time.”

After about 45 minutes I had him go back to the parking lot. I tried to find a parking spot where we could see the lines through the snow so he could try parking. We finally found one. He turned in to the spot a little too quickly, slammed on the brakes and the van slid forward on the ice. We stopped just inches from the handicapped sign. I’m pretty sure my whole face went ghostly pale.

He turned to look at me. “I bet you were scared that time,” he said. I let out a nervous giggle.

That was enough for one day so we switched spots and headed back home. I hope my heart can take another driving lesson.

And just think…I have four more kids after this to give driving lessons too. Somebody hold me.