Driver's Ed

I am looking into signing my son up for a driver's education course soon. I am disappointed that this is not offered as a course through our school district. When I was a teen, I took driver's ed in high school--as a credited course. I don't know if this is a state issue, but it seems to be. Are there still some states that offer driver's ed in school? All I know is this--we will have to pay a large fee to get my son into a private driving school. There isn't a free course offered anywhere around here. So I guess we will be shelling out the money soon for him to take driver's ed at a private driving school--probably during the summer. And if we move to Florida during the summer, things may change again--I wish we could hurry up and get there! The laws seem to be different for teen drivers in different states--it is hard to move in the middle of the process. Some say that they need to do some things one full year before getting their license--others just say a quick course and they are ready.

In some ways, I want him to get his license--in other ways, I am nervous and hesitant. I really feel for his friend who lost his older brother in a car accident last year--his mother must REALLY be having a hard time making these decisions. If a mother loses one child in a car accident, it must be a REALLY tough decision to let the younger child drive. I know I can hardly stand to let my son behind the wheel--I cannot imagine how it must be for a mother in this tough situation. We pass the spot where the wreck occurred every day--there is a cross there in his memory. I think about it every day--I cannot imagine how this mother must feel as she passes by. It will be so hard for the brother to drive by--it will be so hard for the mother to let him. It is hard for all of the mothers who knew them. Losing someone in a car accident puts fear in you--it is really hard to move past that fear. But I will let my son learn to drive, no matter how hard it is to let him do so. I just cannot stop thinking about the risk--it hit too close to home and I will always be highly aware of it. My son needs to learn how to drive safely--I will find a private driving school so that he can learn to be as safe as possible. And in December, after he turns 16, I will take him to the DMV and let him take the test--if he passes and receives his license, I will let him drive. It won't be easy, but I think it is the right thing to do.