Natalie Whatley

***Photo added this week…you’ll read why. I realized my online readers didn’t have the photo that runs with my newspaper column.  I need all the positive thoughts I can gather at this point!

Days ago, the Whatley household crossed one of life’s major milestones. My oldest “baby” turned 16 and having completed all the requirements set forth by The Great State of Texas was awarded his driver’s license. (Help a girl out: Look over at my photo and say, “Why Natalie, you don’t look old enough to have a son driving.”)  Thanks, I needed that.  I feel like I’ve aged 20 years in the past 12 months.

Around this time last year, we started the Texas Department of Public Safety’s parent taught driver’s education course.  For those unaware, the schools no longer offer driver’s ed.  Current options are: paying hundreds of dollars to a driving school, or taking on the task yourself.  The State provides many avenues to purchase curriculum at very low cost. But if you’re one who subscribes to the theory of “we only get so many heartbeats”, you may want to consider paying a driving school.

After a brief amount of instruction over the basics and the passing of a written test at the DPS office, 15 year-olds are issued a learner’s permit which allows them to drive with a licensed driver over the age of 21 in the passenger seat.  We figured the sooner we got that, the better. The State then requires more book work and a minimum of driving six months under the permit before the full-fledged you-can-drive-by-yourself provisional license is issued.  

Because life and limb are involved, Jeff and I decided six months wasn’t long enough for us to feel comfortable. So, he had almost a full year of riding with our incessant nagging, uh, I mean our instruction and counsel. It sounded like nagging because all new drivers cause moments when there is no other parental  tone of voice available other than the screeching, “hit the brakes…Hit The Brakes!…HIT THE BRAKES!!!”.  One hasn’t lived fully until experiencing those harrowing moments.

The real downside to all of it is that once you start critiquing their every turn on the road, they return the favor. Let me state for the record that I was not designated as the official instructor (the state requires one adult to be “it”); I did not go through all the book lessons with him. That pleasant task fell in Jeff’s column (I bet he’s rethinking the decision to put me in charge of labor division). Anyway, I’ve been grilled constantly over little-known traffic regulations; I’m certain my son stayed up late at night poring over the books to find questions he knew I’d answer incorrectly.

Six months into his “practice” we added the third vehicle, which would be his, to the Whatley fleet –wanted him to get the feel of what he’d be driving. I desired a massive wad of bubble wrap with wheels, but his dad helped him find something way cooler.   

The upside is that his new freedom will free up large amounts of my time as he’s reached that age where transporting him for his social life and school activities is at least a part-time job. When I throw his two siblings on top of that . . . well, now you all know what I do with my days.

I hope he knows what precious cargo he’s carrying. His first morning out alone, I passed him on the road as I returned from my daughter’s school. He waved at me. I started to cry. We’ve done everything possible. Now he’s flying solo, and I’ve been driven to my knees. Please Lord, don’t let him drive any faster than his guardian angels can fly.

***  What I also failed to mention is that the above photo was taken BEFORE my son was driving…here’s the AFTER…

© 2009 Natalie Whatley

Tags: new drivers, teaching teens to drive, teen drivers