I have dreaded this day for 17 years.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Oh god. I can't even look at the video, I have a pretty good idea of what van surfing is.

I have a 16yo DD and I live in urban NJ. My DD must be the only teenager in NJ who didn't rush out to get her permit the day she turned 16. She's nervous, too. I think we're going to take her to get the permit after school ends. And then we're hiring professionals to give her lessons!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Oh god. I can't even look at the video, I have a pretty good idea of what van surfing is.

I have a 16yo DD and I live in urban NJ. My DD must be the only teenager in NJ who didn't rush out to get her permit the day she turned 16. She's nervous, too. I think we're going to take her to get the permit after school ends. And then we're hiring professionals to give her lessons!

In California under age 18 you have to have professional lessons (6 hours) in addition to the 50 hours driving with a licensed driver over 25. With our older dd I usually drew the "short straw" and ended up driving with her. Our younger dd turned 16 last summer and hasn't been chomping at the bit to drive either.

[jgirvine Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jgirvine]

How we handled it.

In Texas, you can get your learner's permit if you have already had your classroom instruction, the day you turned 15. So, both girls, got their learning permit the very day they turned 15, and for the next year, they drove EVERYWHERE we went, short trip, long trip, rush hour traffic, downtown traffic, you name it. By the time they turned 16 and could get their license, they both had a LOT of experience. I remember going with a group of about 6 cars and having to drive thru downtown Dallas, the freeways, the whole mess. Had another parent later comment to my husband that she could not believe we had Susan do the driving. His comment was, so we have her wait till she is by herself to do it? This way we were there to help, give comments, and praise. Knock on wood, the girls are now 27 and 22 and neither ever has had an accident. Good luck.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

In Texas, you can get your learner's permit if you have already had your classroom instruction, the day you turned 15. So, both girls, got their learning permit the very day they turned 15, and for the next year, they drove EVERYWHERE we went, short trip, long trip, rush hour traffic, downtown traffic, you name it. By the time they turned 16 and could get their license, they both had a LOT of experience. I remember going with a group of about 6 cars and having to drive thru downtown Dallas, the freeways, the whole mess. Had another parent later comment to my husband that she could not believe we had Susan do the driving. His comment was, so we have her wait till she is by herself to do it? This way we were there to help, give comments, and praise. Knock on wood, the girls are now 27 and 22 and neither ever has had an accident. Good luck.

I had to fight with my Dad to have him give me the keys all of the time. I finally got him to relent a bit with the same logic - wouldn't he rather be with me when I was driving in the snow and ice, through downtown Minneapolis, on unpaved country roads, etc.?

[pcgirl54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pcgirl54]

Frank,
This is a big step for us I think more than the kids. We have 3 sons now 23-28. DH followed the first one for the first two days to make sure ..no one hit him and he is the one who never worries about anything.

Me,I watched from the driveway until I could not see my first born anymore. I did it with all three. We were absolutely ridiculous and I never recall my parents being so nutty. But then I am the one who gave birth. Thank goodness our son was patient. He asked my husband on day 3 if he could stop following him. My husband could not even take any of them out to practice drivebecause they made him so nervous. It was too funny because I am the chronic worrier not him!

From the day they are born we never sleep soundly again................from now on you will pace the floor and worry with each ring of the phone and wait for the sound of the tires in the driveway.

Thank goodness for cellphones and new restricted driving laws. Buying him a big car like an old style 91-97 Lincoln Continental is also a good idea. Lots of metal to protect him. We did this for son 2 when he went to VT. He still has it 6yrs later with 160k miles and it gets 24mpg hwy.

[NJmom Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close NJmom]

My DD 16 got her permit yesterday. She drove everywhere we went today. Although I was a bit nervous, she did pretty well. I never realized how scary parking could be.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I had not had a chance to look at this thread since I posted it about an hour ago. Man that's a lot of posts in such a short time. Thank you, After reading threw it. I will tell you and don't repeat this to anyone, I don't want people to know. I needed to get the Kleenex on some of the responses. Yes I cried I am a big tough guy with a fragile heart. I just wiped away another tear as I wrote this.

Frank, Not a bad thing to have feelings.

We all learned to drive. Somehow we are still alive.

Should you be concerned? Certainly! Be proud he is doing the natural.

We have a grand daughter who fears driving to the point she won't take the test to get a learners permit. I'll feel terrible, should an accident occur, but I'm forcing her to drive or she gets driven nowhere entertaining.

Birds must fly on their own.