A New Chapter Of Parenthood. Driving.

If I'm looking a bit twitchy and you see extra wrinkles in my brow, it's because we have a new driver in our house. The driver's permit has been obtained and now begins the process of teaching the young lad how to navigate the road. His little plastic card shows a serious scowl much like a mug shot. Guess you've gotta look tough when you flash your id around.

He took his first spin up the block in his Grandma's car, turned around in the parking lot of the Mexican restaurant, and back down the street to our house. It was the most terrifying four minutes of my life. Talk about feeling out of control! I never stopped talking, giving the poor kid a non-stop running narrative of directions. Gas, gas, gas, brake, brake, slow down a little more, ok now take these turns nice and easy, easier, easier, get to the right a little bit, a little bit more, too much, now speed up a little, no, no, slow down, now signal, (he fumbles to find the turn signal) no, no, just forget it, go ahead and turn, slower, slower, turn, now stop, not that fast, ok now go, take it easy, easier, easier, now accelerate, now slow for the turns again, slower, now speed up just a bit, just a little more, not that much, now start braking for the driveway, brake, brake, turn, ok you did it. And then I thanked God that I was still alive and prayed for strength to make it through the next two years of instructions with out us killing each other. Bonding moments, I'm telling ya!

To his credit, he never stopped grinning despite my inadequate and never ending directions. It's good to be a driver, even with your mom riding shotgun.