Saturday, March 19, 2011

milestone

I took Max to get his driver's permit this week.

He's not exactly been anxious to get this done. He turns 16 in 3 months, which means he won't be able to get his license until 3 months after his birthday. A lot of people might be surprised by this, but I get it. He's nervous. He knows that a car is a big, potentially dangerous piece of machinery, and that driving is a big responsibility. I felt the same way at his age.

But driver's ed. starts next week, and you have to have your permit before class starts, so... he had to dive in and do it. It's funny – this feels like a rite of passage for me just as much as for him. I've never taught anyone to drive before!

I took him to the church parking lot on Thursday and he got behind the wheel for the first time. I think he was simultaneously thrilled and terrified. Especially when I invited him to drive home (only a few blocks). He held his hands in the 10 & 2:00 position. He might also have had white knuckles.

Personally, I'm glad he's nervous, that he's taking this seriously. I'm not so glad about having to have him at the school by 6 a.m. for 22 days in a row.

6 comments:

Claire said...

Learning to drive is intimidating! I'm sure he'll get the hang of it soon though!

Tasha said...

Wow! Drivers Ed! I've been blogging for like 4 years now, so in my head he's a tween! I can't imagine teaching someone to drive. I think that will be one of Dave's responsibilities!

Kristen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melinda said...

So is it bad that I have been letting Blake drive home from Church for the last few months? He's 15 next Sunday.We are only a block away and it's good practice.

jt said...

Well I am relieved by this, because somehow I got it in my head that he as turning 17 in June, and that he was a full-fledged dating, driving, 2 years from a mission boy! It seemed to sneak up on me which would explain it since I was a year off.
Whew.
I was afraid to learn to drive too. I had nightmares about driving a garbage truck without breaks, but then they just stopped right before it was time to get my license! I might be worried if he were not afraid...

Rebekah said...

Oh my goodness, he's so old! Yikes. But this will be an exciting time for him. The first time I drove on my own I couldn't believe that my parents were just letting me go. I'll never forget, I had to drive down PCH to my volunteer job at a hospital in Newport Beach and I was scared out of my MIND.

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