I have started to drive with my sixteen year old son and I’m happy to say he is doing quite well. It is somewhat like teaching painting as I have previously described as you notice so many nuances you don’t normally realize in the second nature activity of driving. So many things that you do without thinking now I have to articulate and so far he has been very responsive and open to the vast store of information. I’ve been driving for quite a while, I’m just saying.

Here’s the wonderful part-a teenager who a week ago was barely interested in basic conversation is now not only participating but open to what dad has to say-I know it’s the privilege and excitement of driving for the first time but I am happy with the transient feeling of actually having an opinion that is not lame.

I must admit I have not done well in the transitioning from my role as parent and sometimes buddy to one that watches as a teenager maneuvers his way through becoming an adult-I have felt somewhat out of place and a feeling of a fading identity and passion. Now suddenly I am left with myself-what to do, how to start the next chapter while being close enough to be there when ever he needs me-it’s a fine line but I am maintaining my footing and every time we seem to drift so far apart as for me to be rather irrelevant we find another bridge that seems to bring us back-enter the parent taught drivers’ course and a process in which so far I am enjoying-lots of satirical cartoons to follow.
Please feel free to share your experience of parent taught driving.