The Joys Of Teenage Driving
February 23, 2010 | Filed under: Stuff
Today Youngest is taking her test for her driver’s permit. You know what this means, right? It means I’m old. Dammit. I didn’t see that coming …
In dubious celebration, here’s a repeat from last year on teenage driving:
When Oldest first started driving, I used to hold my breath when she’d leave the house. I’d hold my breath until she got to her destination and would call me. My cell would ring and my heart would stop. Just completely stop. Because I was never sure if she was going to say “I’m here safe and sound” or if she was going to say she’d been in a wreck.
It’s a silly fear, but knowing it never stopped me from that beat of panic.
Then one day she left for school and three minutes later there was a knock at the door. I opened the door to Oldest, holding her broken side view mirror in two hands, sobbing. She’d hit the mailbox.
For some reason, given how bad my fears were, this made me laugh. I still laugh when I think of how upset she was.
And that’s when I had to confess to her. I’d been the same age as her when it’d happened, sixteen and pretty sure I knew everything there was to know, when my mom made me drive my brother on his paper route.
I hit our mailbox and destroyed it.
Like mother, like daughter.
Now Middle is driving, and my panic has renewed itself. Fingers crossed that the worst thing that happens is a broken side view mirror and a dented mailbox.
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
Judy F says:
Congrats to youngest.
Have some cookies you will feel better
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 3:58 amStephanie P says:
Haha. Like Judy said… Congrats to Youngest. And by the way, just because your kids are all driving doesn’t mean you are old.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 amStacy ~ says:
Time flies. Kinda bittersweet. Good luck to Youngest. Hang in there, Mom!
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 4:23 amLiza says:
My middle niece got her permit yesterday. I’m pretty sure cookies are the cure for children growing up.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 6:53 amAshley says:
Good luck to youngest! It’s scary to think about them behind the wheel of a car because we still think of them as babies! My Oldest nephew will get his at the end of this year, I told my sis-in-law I would avoid their part of the woods!
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:09 amLeigh Duncan says:
Oh, and it never stops. I still pray my grown kids to and from their destinations. Of course, it is a little easier now…because, now that they’re on their own, I usually don’t find out they’ve taken a road trip until after they’re safely home.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:23 amKara says:
My oldest has his temps and is getting ready to take his test…I have a feeling I am going to be doing a lot of worrying like everyone else.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:31 amJennifer M says:
My daughter is only 5 but the thought that one day she will be driving scares me. Good luck to Youngest and Jill hang in there and have some Girl Scout cookies!
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:55 amD says:
Parenting is scary shit! My 16 yr son is counting the days till he’s seventeen, so he can get a motorcycle license, as if him behind the wheel of a car isn’t hard enough on my nervous system…he is too much like his father at times. This is why I drink a bourbon every night after everyone is home safe. I have alot more respect for my mom, no wonder she starting turning grey once a became a teenager.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 10:28 amBrandy says:
My oldest is eligible for her Learners Permit in two months. I am scared out of my mind.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 11:38 amJen R. (emeraldsunshine.org) says:
I can well remember how terrified my mother was to let me drive. She had good reason. I rolled my Ford Bronco around my 17th birthday and totalled her Grand Am months later.
I’m glad I’ve become a much safer driver, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have heart attacks when my children are driving.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 11:58 amDonna M says:
Thank heavens my daughters are grown and all that is behind me!
No wonder we get gray hair!! My youngest had a birthday yesterday–she is 41, not sure how that happened. Now days my worry is pretty minimal. I’m just hoping I survive the grandchildren growing up, they are almost 21, 14 & 11!! They are growing up much to fast. 
Actually I’ve never been much of a worrier as my mom & grandmother did enough for 10 people, some things are just can’t be controlled. 
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 12:46 pmHang in there Jill, you won’t have to do this again since it is Youngest!
Diana says:
Good luck!
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 6:37 pmtennismom mary g says:
Oh yes, the days you go from being up late because you have to go pick them up to being up late because they’re out with the car.
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:55 pm