Well, my 17 YO bought her first car Wednesday night. Good news is, she titled it in her mother's and her name, so my ex gets to carry the insurance! I can see the gray hairs coming on fast and furious now, though!
i have two years to go before this becomes a problem for me. my wife and i talked about this the other day and we are both concerned about the morons who have just gotten their license and instead of concentrating on the task at hand, talk on their cell phones and play with the stero. we hope our sons won't be that way (and we will stress that) but what about their friends who drive.
We were at my son's high school graduation last Sunday. And even though it was a joyous occasion for the students, it was also somber. There were two empty seats among the graduates, two students were killed since January in accidents, one was my son's best friend. They had a moment of silence when each name was read. There was another student in an accident and in a coma for two months and rehab. He was there to walk with them. Another student was in an accident the week before graduation and needed major face surgery, but made it to graduation. They got standing ovations from their peers. And my son knows at least six others who have their license suspended.
Show your daughter this post and hope it sinks in. Parents of teens have the right to gray hair, they earned it.
Thanks guys. So far, she has shown excellent judgement, erring on the side of caution most of the time. Our state (PA) now requires that the kids accumulate 40 hours of actual driving time on their permit before they obtain their license. She has been driving 'on her own' since November of last year. I trust that she will use the values and skills given her by those who taught her. Granted.. common sense can't be taught, so that, along with the other drivers on the road... Prayer becomes a powerful tool at times like these!
Their are so many days and nights of concern as children grow, but to me, it was the time my daughter started driving by herself. Even though she is somewhat responsible and has been on only 1 accident in her 3 years of driving, not her fault with minimum damage and no one hurt thank God, I will never stop worring or praying. It's not her driving that concerns me as much as her getting hurt by some drunk or someone's act of stupidity. Like everything else in their lives, teach them, love them and pray... p.s. they also learn by example more then training.... so watch how you act, they are.
i agree that teens should be given the chance to prove themselves. however, until they are experienced enough to have dealt with the morons who are also on the road, we as parents should keep them on a short leash.
Getting them their license is a good first step. Just make sure that they know your rules (and have rules).
One thing that really creaps them out is to have some other adult (it's best if it's a friend of the family) mention that they saw the kid driving the other day. Gives the young driver something to think about when they want to drag race down the alley.
-- "No job is beneath a man's dignity as long as it is honest and supports his family" - my grandfather
