I am much more relaxed this time. I guess it's because I've done this before, and I'm still here to tell about it. I remember when Carrie began driving with her learner's permit. I was so nervous. She used to tell me that she knew when I was really uneasy, because I would grab onto the handle of the passenger side door and hold tight. And I would use my imaginary brakes. I still do that. William has noticed. Like the first time he turned right onto a side street. I didn't think that he was going to get slowed down enough to make the turn. We laugh about it now. And his turns are much better.
It's only been two years since Carrie did all of this, but a lot has changed. Back then I remember thinking, "Oh good! We finally figured out what we need and when we need to do it. It will all go much smoother when William does this." Nope. Lots of things have changed, and we have to learn it all over again.
Things change on the government's side of it all, but not on the kids' side.
Just like Carrie, William wants to practice every chance he can get. I forgot that for the next year or so, I won't get to automatically hop into the driver's seat. I'm also seeing some of the same things in William's driving that I saw in Carrie's during those first weeks...like the fast turns. Or the complete stop when turning...and then the turn.
William has already asked to drive to homeschool group today, but this morning it is pouring down rain with lots of thunder and lightning. And we have to drive on a bridge across a river. And on a highway where he will have to get his speed up to 55 miles per hour for the first time. Maybe today isn't the day for doing that for the first time. Especially driving across the river. And going 55 mph. In the rain.
I do have to say that even with the fear of having my baby behind the wheel, there is this joy that I feel when Carrie and William ask me to go driving. The blessing of being there, in the moment, holding on tight to the door handle and pumping my right foot frantically.
And then I remember that it's another seven years or so before Josh begins driving. Seven whole years.
I don't think it really has to do with new drivers....I still hold onto the door and use my imaginary brakes :) Uncle Robbie just laughs at me. I get more nervous because of the weather conditions or the other drivers on the road; he knows it's not him. Especially this winter after I hit the pole last year I was a nervous wreck in the snow this year. AB
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