Back in the 60's when I was a teenager (yes, I once was a teenager), there was a bumper sticker that read "If you're not part of the Solution, you're part of the Problem". I don't think it was ever as popular as my favorite Texas bumper sticker "Secede!", but it did make a point.
Mom and Dad (parents) have enough on their plate and teaching their teen drivers education was probably not what they envisioned when they tied the knot. But, faster than a speeding bullet, the day arrived when their little girl (who by now is NOT a little girl) began asking when she could start driving.
She's already volunteered a few times to warm up the car - you know, start it up, get the A/C to cool it off on a hot summer day or perhaps actually brave the winter weather just for a chance to crank it up and get it warm for you in the morning. (Although that latter scenario might not be as frequent, since early mornings don't seem to be the "favorite" time of day for most teens.)
For instance, in the mid '90s when the Texas legislature was facing the question of whether or not to allow parent taught drivers education as an alternative to public or commercial school driver education training, high school teachers and driving school owners said that parents were absolutely the worst choice - claiming that the parents are terrible drivers and would only pass on their bad habits to the kids. (Gee, since drivers education is now in its third generation, who do you think taught those "parents" how to drive - yes, their detractors!!!)
The fact is, most parents don't want to teach their kids - that's why they send them to schools.
But the fact is, almost all kids are receiving parent taught drivers education already. That's right, mom and dad, whether you know it or not, by the time your young one is thinking "Hey, one day I can do this", guess who their watching - YOU.
This is nothing new. Our kids watch us all the time and, like it or not, they are listening. That's why mom and dad (and, yes, grandpa) have to watch their language around the little ones. You know what I'm talking about. Don't you remember saying "Where'd she pick up that word?"
Have you reached the stage yet where you have an "aha" moment and realize "I sound just like my mom!" Okay, maybe it's not an "aha" moment, more like an "uh, oh..." moment. You know what I mean.
The fact is, you are teaching your teen to drive. The question is "What are you teaching them?" Hey, you are an experienced driver, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that your new teen wanna be driver could benefit.
The problem is that you've been driving for years and you don't think about how to drive, you just do it. And that's normal - most driving is done at the "other than conscious level". When a part of you recognizes that something's amiss in the traffic scene, it alerts you to pay more attention and you handle it.
Mom and Dad (parents) have enough on their plate and teaching their teen drivers education was probably not what they envisioned when they tied the knot. But, faster than a speeding bullet, the day arrived when their little girl (who by now is NOT a little girl) began asking when she could start driving.
She's already volunteered a few times to warm up the car - you know, start it up, get the A/C to cool it off on a hot summer day or perhaps actually brave the winter weather just for a chance to crank it up and get it warm for you in the morning. (Although that latter scenario might not be as frequent, since early mornings don't seem to be the "favorite" time of day for most teens.)
For instance, in the mid '90s when the Texas legislature was facing the question of whether or not to allow parent taught drivers education as an alternative to public or commercial school driver education training, high school teachers and driving school owners said that parents were absolutely the worst choice - claiming that the parents are terrible drivers and would only pass on their bad habits to the kids. (Gee, since drivers education is now in its third generation, who do you think taught those "parents" how to drive - yes, their detractors!!!)
The fact is, most parents don't want to teach their kids - that's why they send them to schools.
But the fact is, almost all kids are receiving parent taught drivers education already. That's right, mom and dad, whether you know it or not, by the time your young one is thinking "Hey, one day I can do this", guess who their watching - YOU.
This is nothing new. Our kids watch us all the time and, like it or not, they are listening. That's why mom and dad (and, yes, grandpa) have to watch their language around the little ones. You know what I'm talking about. Don't you remember saying "Where'd she pick up that word?"
Have you reached the stage yet where you have an "aha" moment and realize "I sound just like my mom!" Okay, maybe it's not an "aha" moment, more like an "uh, oh..." moment. You know what I mean.
The fact is, you are teaching your teen to drive. The question is "What are you teaching them?" Hey, you are an experienced driver, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that your new teen wanna be driver could benefit.
The problem is that you've been driving for years and you don't think about how to drive, you just do it. And that's normal - most driving is done at the "other than conscious level". When a part of you recognizes that something's amiss in the traffic scene, it alerts you to pay more attention and you handle it.
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