My son spent a LONG time preparing to get his driver's license! When he was 15, he studied the driver's manual from our former state and took the written part of the exam soon after his 15th birthday. He received his learner's permit and began driving around town with me in the passenger seat...I doled out a LOT of advice and instruction to him during this time(he often called it nagging, but I don't see it that way!) and I was always ready to take over as soon as I felt he had driven enough for the day. He also practiced night driving and driving in the rain and other situations...with me sitting nervously next to him and hoping and praying that all went well each time! He continued this learning/practicing routine throughout the year, then he turned 16. I assumed that he would be ready right away to take his driving test and become a fully licensed driver soon after his 16th birthday, but this was not the case. He had to complete a lengthy online driver's education course, and I was surprised that he took so much time to complete that...it wasn't very hard, but it was very time consuming. Procrastination and finding other things that he would rather do with his time often took precedent over completing the coursework. I tried not to push him, though...if he wanted to take his own sweet time to become a solo driver, it was fine with me! So time went on, and he spent most of the year continuing to prepare for the big day of taking his driving test and getting his official license. Once we moved to Florida, he wanted to spend some time getting to know the new roads and routes around town. I have to say that driving and road conditions were MUCH better in our area of Florida than they were before we moved here...I felt MUCH better about letting my son drive ALONE on these roads than on our previous roads. Finally, after several weeks of driving around town with me as a passenger, my son announced that he was ready to take his driving test. He went online and signed up for an appointment, found out what paperwork he needed, and asked me to take him to the DMV at the allotted time. When we went, I was both excited and nervous for him...he seemed quite calm and confident about the process. I watched from afar as he completed the official Florida driving test...he did very well! He passed his driving test, and became a fully licensed driver!! :) Oh boy...here we go!! He drove me home and dropped me off, then, for the first time ever, he drove off without me to pick up his girlfriend and take her on his first real car date! That was one scary moment for me, watching him drive off alone!!! But I took a deep breath, said a silent prayer, and decided to accept the fact that time is moving on, he is growing up, and things are just as they should be. Still...it is REALLY hard on parents when their teenagers are off driving around town without parental supervision!! I immediately thought about my own parents and what it was like for them when I first began driving alone...AH!, so THAT was what THEY felt like!!! I suddenly had a new appreciation for the "other side"--the PARENTS' perspective--the side that I am now on!! My son really enjoyed being able to pick up his girlfriend, drive her to the mall, and take her out to dinner...she already had her driver's license, so she had been the driver in the relationship up to this point...but now he could finally be the one to pick HER up and take HER out on a date...he LOVED that! So now life is moving on...my son is now driving and dating...and that is actually fine with me! :)
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