Why am I in Charge of Driver’s Ed?
My foot instinctively slams on the brake. My body twists to help the car veer away from the curb. I gasp (audibly) as the car takes a wide turn. My heart is pounding. I am in the passenger seat with my son, a 15-1/2-year-old with a new driver’s permit.
Every minute riding “shotgun” is terrifying. I want to be a supportive parent and let my son know that he is doing a great job, but then this yelp escapes from my mouth. “Watch out,” I scream. Then my son yells back, “For What?” The tension is palpable. In reality, the problem is not my son’s; he is doing a great job. The problem is mine; I should not be teaching him how to drive.
With each new driving session, I enter the car committed to a new sense of calm. Almost instantaneously, the calm turns to panic as I my body tenses and my mind thinks that I am going to die. I wonder to myself, “Who had the ingenious idea that parents should teach their children to drive?”
Please Help Me.
By ES
ES,
First, take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay!
Second, stop worrying! While teaching your teenager to drive might be stressful, studies show that YOU are the one you teen is going to listen to most when it comes down to learning safe driving practices (despite how it might seem at times). So stay strong, sister!
Your commitment to calm is very admirable, and I would like to offer up the site TeensDriveSmart.com for your perusal. The site comes complete with tips for parents just like you, and even advice for your son on how to be a safe driver. Maybe this will help you when you ride “shotgun;” if you know he’s reading up on how to be a safe driver it might help you breathe a little easier.
There are also driving contracts you two can sign that set some driving ground rules about your expectations for when you’re not in the car. For example, no texting and driving, no more then one friend in the car at a time, keeping to the speed limit, be home by curfew, etc.
Trust me, taking the time now to teach your son and take an active interest in his driving career will have a huge impact!
I really hope you go check out the site and I really hope it helps!