I guess if I wanted it to be easier I should have bought a farm

Back in January Em passed a written test and gained her Learner Driver permit. Since then we've clocked up the requisite 120 hours of driving time with me as her supervisor, though we have to wait until she's 17, in January 2010, until she can sit the driving test. When Em attained her Learner's Permit I was worried we wouldn't be able to clock the hours up within the 12 month time frame. Every family we knew who had teenagers who had gone through this before us told us how difficult they had found logging the hours. The 120 hour requirement has only been in force for the last 2 years, prior to that the requirement had been 50 hours and many families told me they struggled to meet that requirement.

I decided that Em would drive at every opportunity - if she was to be in the car she would be the driver, and that strategy has worked for us. With 3 months to go before Em sits her test she's driving well. In our automatic station wagon. If Em is ever to learn to drive a manual car, now is the time. So, I've taken the plunge and bought a cheap 21 year old car for her to learn in. This same little car I'm hoping will grant me some freedom from family driving duties next year.  Em will be able to drive herself and Davey places.  If I stick to just 1 car I'll still have to do all the driving in order to have us all in the right place at the right time.  A second car to go with the second driver will give me a reprieve which I'm more than ready for.

This isn't the car I bought for Em, but it's the same model.  Em's car is faded lime green and doesn't have roof racks. 

It's all style, no?  Well, it's Em's style.  Em would really prefer  something a bit quirkier, but she's happy to not have a bubble car.  A lime green box is much more to her liking.

Anyway, a whole new aspect of driver instruction has begun.  Oh. My.

I grew up on a farm and drove tractors before I went to school.  I don't remember not knowing how to drive a manual transmission.  That's the easy way to learn.  Em's learning the normal way.  I think the gear box on the little Lime Splice (it's a type of ice cream sold in Australia and what Em's named the car), will survive this new learning process, but it's sure getting a work out!   We're on school holidays here at the moment, so I figure a week or so of driving in the industrial areas after businesses have closed for the day will do it.  Then I'll be able to stop gripping the edge of my seat so tightly while I endeavour to keep a calm tone in my voice and relaxed body posture.

There's always another challenge to face in parenting isn't there?

Comments

[Bobbie]

Wow! Here in Connecticut you only need 30 hours of driving time before getting your license, and you can get it four months after turning 16.

Luckily you may have no one in the car with you until you've had your license for six months, and then only siblings. After one entire year, you can drive with anyone in the car.

[jean]

You are a very brave woman. I remember learning to drive a stick shift and it was brutal. I learned that hills were to be avoided at all costs.