Have permit, will drive…
My son, the one who doesn’t like doing homework, was on the computer yesterday for almost five hours. Five hours of reading and studying. Five hours of diligent concentration and five hours of staying on task and passing detailed tests.
[sidebar: He sometimes makes these amateur mistakes. I know he can do this, this homework thing, now he knows I know, ya know?]
My son, who six weeks ago turned 15, is one step closer to being a driver ~ a car driver, on the road, on the public roads. My baby!
Saturday was spent online taking the two pre-requisite tests necessary to obtain his official Florida Driver’s Permit. Come Tuesday of this week, once he gets a embarrassing photo taken and adhered to an official looking piece of holographic plastic, he can legally get behind the wheel of a automobile and take his place on city streets, county roads and interstate highways.
Now, just guess who will be his driver’s education instructor… that’s right, your’s truly. I’m under no illusions that I won’t be taking the boy out for driving practice every single night that he can talk me into letting him get in my car.
[This could be some seriously powerful negotiating fodder. I need to make a 'honey-do' list and we can trade. Folding clothes = 1 hour driving, unloading/loading dishwasher = 30 minutes, cleaning the bathroom = 1 hour. This could be huge.]
We will become a fixture in the local community college parking lot, taking turns around the campus, learning how to park, working on staying in the lanes. It will be fun… really it will.
Um, is that a gecko in your header?! You are torturing me Tara!
Oh, as for the driving, I think the tit-for-tat is a great idea. But you should add some things onto there: 1 hour driving = 1 foot massage, 30 minutes driving = 1 manicure, etc. Think big, woman!
[Tara R.] Dingo… I don’t think it’s a gecko, just a tiny little lizard. Sorry, about the scare. I like the massage idea, but I could trade that with Hubs. ‘I’ll take the kid driving, IF you massage my feet. I’ll take the boy driving IF you rub my shoulders.’ I think this could work in my favor.
That’s a great idea! And you are a braver woman than me. When it comes time for Isobel to drive, she’ll have to take lessons and figure out how she’s going to practice – us not having a car, and all.
PS. I am so jealous that he can take the tests like that. We have graduated licensing here, so you have to take a knowledge test, then have a learner’s license for a year, then take another test and get a ‘new driver’ license, then after another year (I think it is, I’ve never made it that far!), you can get a REAL license.
[Tara R.] Zoeyjane… it was just recently that he could take the tests online. He has to drive for a year supervised, so many hours during the day, so many at night. When he turns 16 he has to take another written test, and a road test before he can get his permanent license. I taught my oldest and Hubs how to drive a straight-shift, this should be a little easier… I hope.
Oooh, that’s a great idea, the bargaining…I may have to try that.
My son got his permit this summer….it’s been interesting and quite eventful at times!
[Tara R.] Cyndy… I think even the boy likes the idea… I may even link it to school work. ‘get your homework done and turned in on time = 1 hour’. I’m liking this more and more myself!
A list! A list! I love lists–especially blackmailing…I mean BARGAINING…lists created for our offspring. You go!
[Tara R.] Angela… bargaining, that’s it, bargaining, not blackmailing.
hi TARa,
the deal/trade off sounds like a good idea. hope you’re feeling okay. take care, beany
[Tara R.] Beany… it’s been a good weekend. Hope you’re having a great time too.
Buckle up! It could be abumpy ride!!!! I had my first and only verbal screaming fight with my father when I could not go from stopped to first on a incline….I got out and walked home!!!
Good luck!
[Tara R.] Laura… I think my mom had the same screaming match with my dad for the same reason. Fortunately Florida doesn’t have too many hills, and the boy is learning on a automatic. The straight shift comes later. ;D
Yikes, good luck to you on that one.
I fear the day I will need to do this. Beyond fear it!
Keep it safe!
[Tara R.] Melinda… this is my second time through… I’m still nervous. Thanks for the good wishes.
Ella Numera Dos is the independent sort, and we did a TON of negotiating to get her behind the wheel and toodling around town on her own! Just last week, she told me, at the Ripe Old Age of 18, that she was a gonna go up the Jersey shore (ain’t it quaint? They don’t say going to the beach in Jersey–they’re forever going up and down the shore!) to see her recently acquired friends. She met this hole gaggle of Jersey kids in Spain, so now she’s planning this trip–to see them, in a car, solo bueno. Well, the Big Bad Mama got in the way of the Road Trip Plans. Seems Mom and Pop were a tad nervous sending their little darlin’ scurrying up I-95 in a Honda Civic with no one but God as her shotgun. So we but the big ol’ Kibosh on the trip, til we huddled and came up with a compromise. Mama Bear would drive the chica and a friend, since Moms needed a break and had never been down the Jersey Shore before, but would get a cheapo motel far, far away (well, 10 miles), so Ella Numera Dos could do her fraternizing with the gal pals with no parental interference. And, I’m happy to report, a Good Time Was Had By All. She stayed with the friends in one little beach town, and I got a room in Asbury Park, home of Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Van Zandt, and others of Rock and Roll fame. I picked up a couple of souvenirs, too! You should check them out tomorrow morning–I’m going to give away all my Asbury Park loot to a couple of deserving souls! Good things often come from well-planned road trips–that’s the lesson I’ve gotta teach my daughters!
[Tara R.] Melissa B… I like your style Mama Bear! My oldert turns 19 this week. That is a milestone I could have put off a little while longer.
I love it when I remember to negotiate! Good luck – I think you may be in the throes of what requires more patience from parents than any late night with a baby
[Tara R.] April.. I think the boy is going to be more trouble than my daughter. He already knows a lot about cars, I’m afraid he’s going to think that translates into knowing a lot about driving.
Make sure you give him the ultimate rule of drivers license…must lie about weight.
[Tara R.] Krissy… LMAO, that is funny right there.
“It will be fun… really it will.” Just keep on telling yourself that. Over and over again. At some point, you may actually convince yourself it’s true. By then, of course, you’ll be taking so much Valium, you could probably convince yourself of just about anything. You know, like, “I like GW.” Nah, that would take WAY too much Valium.
[Tara R.] Lou… at least I’m not teaching how to drive a stick shift… yet.
Ahhhh – young drivers. I still remember learning how to drive a stick shift with my dad… His car was a 1978 Datsun 280 Z – 2+2. Original – with no power brakes or steering. Awesome! First time I drove it, I took my foot off the clutch and it lurched forward in the garage – and broke the extra refrigerator out there. Boy was my mom pissed.
Good luck – I don’ t know who will need it more!
[Tara R.] Jill… I learned how drive a stick on my first brand new car, a Honda CRX, couldn’t even drive it home. Since then I taught both Hubs and the college kid how to drive one. This should be a piece of cake… I hope.
I love your negotiation fodder, and plan on using it as well. I have two drivers coming up too soon… Thanks for the great tip!
[Tara R.] Kori… I hope it works. If it does I will extend it to include school work.
I just made the comment on another blog that discipline is what scares me the most about parenting, but now I think it’s driver’s ed, to be honest. You are one brave woman!
Though the negotiating power might just be worth it.
[Tara R.] Mozi Mom… I have laid down a set of ground rules, and hopefully he will be good about listening. I’ve already told him that he argues with me once, lessons end – immediately. I hope he wants to learn to drive badly enough that he’ll do what I say, when I say.
Isn’t it interesting that your left leg has grown an additional 8 inches to help you reach the brake pedal?
[Tara R.] Nuke… the hand brake is strategically located on the dash, well within reach of a panic-stricken mother sitting in the front passenger seat.
Isn’t amazing what kids will go through if they want something? We should make it a pre-requisite to have a HS diploma before anyone can drive.
[Tara R.] Chris… Hubs and I debated whether to let the boy get his permit, but felt we would have more leverage if he had it and wanted to use it, then if he didn’t have the permit and knew he couldn’t get it unless he met certain requirements. I agree, 16 is too young to be driving unsupervised.
I’m liking your trade-off system that you’ve got going. It sounds marvelous
Although, I think he should have to do double the work unless he’s paying for gas too…well, it was just a thought. Haha
[Tara R.] Ashley… double the work to pay for gas? OMG… brilliant! I love how your mind works. Thanks for that idea.
Oh, my. Almost makes ya wanna have another, so you can go thru this again, right? *Sigh*. I’m not outta the proverbial woods yet–the youngest has been licensed for a year, and I still pee my pants every time she takes to the road!
[Tara R.] Veggie… yep, my first born attends college about 4-5 hours away. If I could I’d make her call every 30 minutes until she gets home. I couldn’t live through having to start over with a new born.
This post made me smile.
Ever since Kyle got his temps, he has been a car FREAK, especially for Mustangs. Of course, he’d love one, and he has saved $800 so far, but I think it’ll be a while…
[Tara R.] Forz… funny! My boy’s is also named Kyle and my first car was a Mustang. Cue spooky music! Good luck to you both!
Maybe you came come down to NOLA and teach me to drive stick!!!
[Tara R.] Nola… we would have too much fun with that!