driver's education
This is a beat-up, second generation Camaro in Leschi with no tabs, my youngest and I spotted it on a long walk after school. When I was a kid, I went through a phase where I sketched a lot of 1980s era IROC Z28s, haha! However, in my increasingly advanced age, I've yet to own a "cool" car or even a pickup truck.
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This week, my oldest started driver's training, five weeks of classes. We also applied online for his learner's permit, which I had no idea was a thing. Believe it or not, any random fifteen year old in Seattle can operate an automobile with the simple mouse-click of an icon. This seems like more than a minor insanity, to me!
It's not that I don't think my son's ready to at least start practicing. I'm confident he'll ultimately grow into a careful, considerate driver. He's very smart, mature and polite for his age. Still, you always worry a little about executive function when it comes to teenagers. We live in a neighborhood with some of the steepest streets in the city and there are no stop signs at a lot of intersections. I figure, if he can drive competently here, he'll be fine. I'm not sure he's going to experience the same thrill of independence or freedom that I did, when I earned my automobile license. I grew up in the boondocks, miles from anywhere, while he already has the luxury of taking the bus or train by himself. We live in the middle of town, he rides Metro home from school. Some days, he eschews the bus ride for a long walk.
He drove us to his school, this morning. He did quite well. I was reminded of my early teens when I'd drive my dad around on dirt roads, in the Monte Carlo, while he sat in the front passenger seat, sometimes he'd be nursing a beer while I crept along at ten miles per hour. Needless to say, I will not be having a beer while I take my son out for driving practice. There's something about letting one of your babies get behind the steering wheel that reminds you how potentially dangerous or lethal the act of operating a motor vehicle is: To pedestrians, bicyclists or the occupants of said vehicles.
driver's education
This is a beat-up, second generation Camaro in Leschi with no tabs, my youngest and I spotted it on a long walk after school. When I was a kid, I went through a phase where I sketched a lot of 1980s era IROC Z28s, haha! However, in my increasingly advanced age, I've yet to own a "cool" car or even a pickup truck.
_____________________
This week, my oldest started driver's training, five weeks of classes. We also applied online for his learner's permit, which I had no idea was a thing. Believe it or not, any random fifteen year old in Seattle can operate an automobile with the simple mouse-click of an icon. This seems like more than a minor insanity, to me!
It's not that I don't think my son's ready to at least start practicing. I'm confident he'll ultimately grow into a careful, considerate driver. He's very smart, mature and polite for his age. Still, you always worry a little about executive function when it comes to teenagers. We live in a neighborhood with some of the steepest streets in the city and there are no stop signs at a lot of intersections. I figure, if he can drive competently here, he'll be fine. I'm not sure he's going to experience the same thrill of independence or freedom that I did, when I earned my automobile license. I grew up in the boondocks, miles from anywhere, while he already has the luxury of taking the bus or train by himself. We live in the middle of town, he rides Metro home from school. Some days, he eschews the bus ride for a long walk.
He drove us to his school, this morning. He did quite well. I was reminded of my early teens when I'd drive my dad around on dirt roads, in the Monte Carlo, while he sat in the front passenger seat, sometimes he'd be nursing a beer while I crept along at ten miles per hour. Needless to say, I will not be having a beer while I take my son out for driving practice. There's something about letting one of your babies get behind the steering wheel that reminds you how potentially dangerous or lethal the act of operating a motor vehicle is: To pedestrians, bicyclists or the occupants of said vehicles.