Adventures in Teen Driving

It’s a big day in a Mom’s life; the day her teenage son gets his driver’s license.  Oh, I know.  They always talk about what a big day it is for the teen, but I think it’s bigger for the mom.  And to top that, it’s an even bigger day when he gets his very first car.  Mom now has to face the fact that her little boy is growing up and that she can’t protect him from the world at large forever.

As a parent, there are so many things rushing through my mind:

• Is he old enough?
• Is he mature enough?
• Is he going to be safe?
• What if his car breaks down?
• What if he gets into an accident?
• Will he be smart enough not to get himself in trouble?
• Will he know what to do if he does?
• Did I do enough to prepare him for this?

Every time that little boy leaves the house it becomes an opportunity to worry about the possibilities. It’s a big world out there and I don’t want him to get swallowed up in it.  He seems so incredibly young and vulnerable.  Just a tiny little thing that can so easily get hurt.

I once heard a mother say that she wished she could just wrap her son in bubble wrap and hold him tight forever. I think I now understand what she meant.

Teen driving is very much like the mother bird pushing her little baby birds from the nest and letting them learn to fly on their own.  There is no safety net to catch them but OH how I wish there was.

I know it is what they most need at this stage in their lives.  It’s time to fly.  It’s time to grow up and be free.  It’s time to soar above and begin to find their way in the world. It’s time for me to trust the job I have done as a parent and know that he’ll be OK no matter what happens.

And don’t forget the real reason this day is so stressful for a mother.  All of this also means Mom is getting older!  I could certainly throw a temper tantrum here yelling and screaming that I don’t WANNA get old, but I’ll just let myself believe that with age, comes incredible wisdom.  Ya, that’s what I’ll believe!