Getting a license is a big deal to your children.
It is to you too, but in such a drastically different way. How do you let your little babies get behind the wheel of a car and drive away? These little people you taught to talk. To walk. To everything. This may be one of the hardest challenges you’ll ever face as a parent.
“MAKING THE DECISION TO HAVE A CHILD IS … TO DECIDE FOREVER TO HAVE YOUR HEART GO WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE YOUR BODY.” - Elizabeth Stone
Never has that sentiment been better exemplified than when your child, your baby, gets their license. They will get in cars and drive away! Out of your sight. Out of your control. For a type A control freak, like me, this is an almost unbearable thought.
So, what do you do?
Say prayers?
Rub a rabbit’s foot?
Get some KFC, and pretend you’re Pedro Serrano from Major League? (Much like the curve ball, Joboo isn’t going to help in this situation.)
Besides prayers or the lucky talisman of your choice, you can teach your children. Teach them to drive. Don’t just teach them 10 & 2, and checking the rear view mirror when changing lanes, though. They need to know all that, of course. They need to learn all the official lessons of driver’s ed.
Teach them to pay attention. To what they do and to what other drivers do. Teach them to take driving seriously and approach it responsibly. Teach them to not abuse the privilege of driving. Not to text and drive. Not to drink and drive or speed.
The problem is not just your kid, though. You have to worry about all the other crazies on the road. The non-drivers. Texters. Drinkers. How can you release your heart to traverse these terrible roads by themselves?
You have to have faith they’ll be ok.
That they’ll know what to do. Their first foray into the world inside a vehicle is symbolic of their journey into adulthood. You, as their parent, will have to let them go into the world. As a driver. As an adult.
All the life lessons you’ve been teaching them since before they could walk parlay into their driving. If you’ve taught them well, taught them to be good, responsible kids, they’ll take those lessons to heart and apply them to how they act while they’re driving and in life.
You have to trust your children have listened to you over the years. You have to hope they will act and do right on their own, and be able to avoid bad drivers and bad people.
Training. Luck. Hope.
You have to have faith.
Be sure to check out our other parenting advice.
* Also published on FamiliesofMultiples.com