Driver’s Ed Week

Last updated on: April 17, 2012 at 9:39 am by Kathy Tuan-MacLean

Driver’s Ed Week 2012-04-17T09:39:00-04:00 Kathy Tuan-MacLean

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Wow, here we go, walking our daughter to Driver’s Ed,” I said to Scott as we walked with Ling down the street.

“Just like kindergarten,” he said.

“Another rite of passage. . . sniff,”

“Um, except I’m big enough to walk away from you guys and have nothing to do with you,” said our 5’9 1/2″ daughter who did NOT think this was a moment for sentimentality.

And I guess it wasn’t. Scott was in his running clothes about to take off on his run. We accompanied her because we thought we had to pay the balance and attend a parent info session. Happily, we don’t have to pay the balance until after her 30 hours in class and 12 hours of personal driving instruction. Unfortunately, the parent class is 2 hours and I’ll go tomorrow night.

But still, it feels big to have a kid almost old enough to drive.

Driving means she’ll be in charge of a heavy piece of equipment that can easily hurt her or others.
Driving means she’ll be capable of a new freedom and distance from the family.
Driving means she’ll be able to shuttle herself and her siblings to places I don’t want to drive. . .

Wahoo!

I didn’t get my license until I was 20, a combination of my stubbornness about not wanting to take Driver’s Ed (which wasn’t required) and my mom’s reluctance. Despite my late age and great maturity, I was an awful driver at 20 and continue to be pretty iffy in my 40s. In the past several years I’ve run our right side door into a parking meter (with a student–it was a parking lot with lots of standing meters), and backed the mini-van into our house (with my boss). I think my terrible spatial-visual abilities and lack of awareness of anything physical (other than food) are to blame.

The driving school teacher said that after Ling gets her permit (on or near her 16th birthday, May 19th), we should drive 5-6 hours with her so she gets the basics. After all, she needs to at least be able to get the car from our house to the driving school (about 3 blocks).

I can’t imagine being the person to teach her–there’s a reason I haven’t homeschooled my kids. Teaching a skill where I’m competent at a C+ level seems not quite right.

“I hope that I take after Dad in driving,” she said after returning from her first full day.

So do I honey, so do I.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 14, 2012

A Passé Post on the Hunger Games Movie

Next Post

April 19, 2012 3 Reasons I Work For Money

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2015 November 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 October 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 January 2010 October 2009 September 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is Christian stewardship?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hiding talents Caring for God's gifts Taking from the poor Ignoring others