Driving

A lot has happened in life since I last typed on this blog in November. We had the holidays. We had one day of snow. There have been school projects and friend gatherings, colds and lazy Saturdays, football and more football, laughter, tears, life. But I will say, while all of our happenings have been important, as no day should be more important than another, I will admit that there is one event that kinda trumps all.

My daughter turned 15 in September, and in our state, she is eligible to get her permit and drive. And that is exactly what she's been doing since mid-December.

My reflection: if I had to do life over again with my children, I would take more risks in the toddler years and cherish the moments when she might have fallen off the monkey bars, or crashed her bike into the sidewalk, or maybe even just cut her hair right off playing with scissors. Because then, perhaps, I would not feel like this is such a huge hurdle to overcome. The fear of a new driver.

I like to think that anyway. I like to think that maybe if she had been through "stuff" that it would make this transition just another "stuff" to add to the list.

But this is all very new. And while I don't give a second thought about jumping in the driver's seat and taking off down the road when I am behind the wheel, or my husband is behind the wheel, or a dozen of my closest friends are steering ... there is something unique that happens when your daughter sits in that same seat. Your life doesn't just float before your eyes in slow motion, in addition to that, it feels like the world is surrounded by Tasmanian Devil crazies spinning out of control from all angles while your car sits right in their path.

Those same law abiding, good, safe drivers that I just passed not ten minutes earlier are now out to get us because my 15 year old is driving.

The brain can be deceptive but the reality is it is s.c.a.r.y. to sit in a new driver's passenger seat. You won't believe it until you've been there done that.

I don't care how awesome your Teen Driver is, this is an element which tests your faith and tests it heavy and quickly.

My girl is awesome. She knows the rules, she commentates on driving while driving, she is confident, ready to listen and learn. With continued practice I am learning to settle more easily into my seat using my cheerleader role through my encouraging ways (and only flinch on my right side so my girl can not see).

I long for the day when the commentary driving will ease into "What's new" and she will become the driver who is not attacked by the Tasmanian Devils in this world. I pray for safe travels of all my family and friends - my daughter now included.