Last week, finally I agreed to let my Teen get his Learners permit; He wasn’t really bugging me and the only reason I agreed to get him the learners was, I signed him up for Drivers Ed during the summer break, in order for him to participate he needed his Learners… so off we went, he did awesome.. We went to the next town over to get his License and the 30-40 min trip my Teen asked me all kind of questions about the traffic Law and stuff like that; we had a ball. I was kind of excited for him and was determined I will be a good teacher for him.
He went and took the test and he did great, he missed 2 questions and missed none for the Street signs; he was excited and the Clerk at the Drivers license office announced that he passed the test however MOM can revoke the license at any time for not cleaning his room, dishes etc.. and she smiled at me 
it was fun…. we were both excited; yet I can’t believe that I actually have a son old enough to drive….. SCARRY…
So far so good, the newness wore off and this past weekend I decided let’s do this, I will let you drive and show you how to do it. I’m the mom, I can do this… right…??
So off we went, I again went over the rules, buckle up, no phone, no radio.. all the stuff Mom’s talk about and kids probly will not do when I’m out of the car.. so far so good.. we went down the driveway, still okay, went past the gate… still okay… now we are ready for the road… OMG.. there is a road… Let’s wait, there is a car…. and well 1/2 mail down the road there is another car, let’s wait on him, too…
I could have sat there and waited ALL DAY… okay, finally it was clear and I couldn’t come up with another excuse.. let’s roll… foot on the gas and on the road we go….
Now Honey, watch your speed limit, you are okay going 15 miles an hour.. we have a “Student at the wheel” sticker on the back… ..lol… he said “Mom, I’m okay”… okay honey.. okay.. just drive careful.. take a right.. so far so good.. I’m still okay… all the sudden about 1 mile down the road, I started to get nervous, I told him to watch the road, I felt like I was falling off the road, I freaked out, which made him freak out….. and that was it .. I MADE him stop the car in the middle of the road…. and switch. I could not after 1 mile sit there and watch my BABY drive on the road… this was not gonna happen…..
My Teen just said “Mom, you freaked me out”….lol.. he did great actually, he really did, he drove careful and perfect, it was me freaking out.. I have issues as a passenger… so we went back home and my teen joked around “well Mom, only 49.8 hours left on my driving before I can take the test… not bad mom… at least I got 1 mile driving experience in case anyone asks…lol…”
Boy this was a lot of stress… I can not believe this is so hard; after we returned back to the house my SIL took him for a nice long road trip for a good 30 min and he did perfect, she was able to take him.. I’m not.. I feel soo bad, BUT I can’t let go of my baby just yet….I hope this won’t make me a bad mom….
So about the Student at he wheel sticker.. I think they are a wonderful invention and I will buy 500 more so I can plaster my entire car when my Teen is driving, maybe I need to get some flashing lights, too…. I’m overreacting am I?? But in all honesty these stickers are wonderful, people will know right away that there is a “NEW” driver on the wheel and will back off a bit, or be a little more patience.
The teen on the other hand, didn’t think they were all that cool, BUT he understood my fear and he was okay with ONE sticker ( and under his breath he hoped for the sticker to fly away while driving..lol).
How do you guys handle the first driving experience? it is so scary and I just can’t get over that he is ready to go on the road… HEEELLLPPPP
Michele L says
It’s VERY scary. My son has had his license for 6 months, and I still get nervous riding with him. SO many things could happen. Maybe it gets better, but it hasn’t yet.
Beth Hill says
My oldest starts drivers training next month !!! I feel just like you, I am not even a good passenger when my husband drives ! You mean he has to drive MY car !! I laughed at your story but I have a feeling I will be reacting the same way you did ! I love the idea of that “new driver” magnet. Well, good luck to you and your new driver and I will be right there with you next month.
Lori Thomas says
Loved your post, made me laugh lol. I like the sticker idea, very kwl. It does get better, I still worry when my daughter drives, but she has a good head on her shoulders.
Good luck to your son, I`m sure he`ll pass the drivers test with flying colors!!
CrazyMom says
Thanks Lori…. good to hear that the fear will get less …I hope it will be soon…:-)
Jackie says
My 16 year old daughter just got her permit. In NJ, the kids take drivers ed in school, take the written test, then when they turn 16 they have to have 6 hours of behind the wheel driving with a professional driving instructor. Then they come home with their permit (they don’t get their license until 17). My daughter got hers last week, and I havent been out with her yet. My husband let her drive the other day, and freaked out because she almost hit his van pulling into the driveaway (I reminded him she’s never pulled into the driveway before). I know I’ll have to get out and practice with her…but I’m stalling as long as I can. I also have a 20 year old daughter, so we’ve been through this already. One thing I’ve learned is that the view of the road is different from the passenger seat than the driver’s seat. I always think they are too close to the curb, other cars, etc…..I am going to wait until school gets out in three weeks, then we’ll have the summer to practice driving. I wish we had “Student Driver” decals or magnets….I think people might be a little more understanding and patient on the road. Good Luck!
CrazyMom says
Wow Jackie.. I love how they handle it up there.. down here in Fl the day they turn 15 they can take a written test and they get their permit and then it’s up to the parents to teach them… sooo scary.. I do have my son signed up for Drivers Ed in the summer, was my requirement for him to get his license… The Student Driver magnats are actually available on Amazon.com and very affordable; I will not let my Teen drive without them, that way other people know why he is doing what he is doing.. slow driving, slow turning etc…
Marlene V. says
Good for you … I couldn’t drive with my daughter when she was learning — I think I would freak her out. My husband did it all — she is now been driving for 1 year on her own. She is doing great and really responsible about it:)
stephanie long says
Wow, they grow up so fast! I hope he wasn’t a scary driver!
CrazyMom says
Stephanie, he actually did great, I was a scary passenger 🙂
Judith says
My grandson is fast approaching THE age. I scares me silly. I had girlS and they had commom sense. This is a boy, a boy with all the boy qualities. You know the ones the endear us and make us shake our head and yell “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING”.