Mums need to staly calm. (Learning to Drive)

Member Name: milmol

Product:	Learning to Drive
Date:	10/06/02 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Time to spend with your learner, You will no longer be a taxi driver, Promotes independnce

Disadvantages: Expensive, Frightning, Can result in arguments

When my daughter hit 17 she said the dreaded words, 'Mum I need to learn to drive'.
Now any mother will know that years of trying to safely rear a child does not necessarialy mean you want to see them behind the wheel of a car, and particuarly your car with you at the side of them.

Dads come in handy here as they can be useful for making the first few trips. Eventually it becomes mums turn.

I am not the best of passengers, but inspiring confidence into a teenager is not easy when you feel nervous yourself. Especially when you have to say things like 'Its ok darling, get back on the road and start agian'.

Things must have changed since my test 20 years ago or maybe Ive just forgotten things, but apparantly her driving instructor tells her 5th gear is only used over 40 miles an hour. Come to think of it I never had a car with 5th gear when I learnt to drive. There also seems to be more traffic now and the roads seem busier. Im not sure 17 is the right age but the law allows it so parents have to deal with it.

One of the things Ive learnt about learners is other people are not always tolerant of them. Some people seem to find it impossible to stay behind a learner, even if they are sticking to the speed limit. Ive also learnt that to my learner the speed limit means you must do 60 miles an hour in a 60 mile an hour limit, even if is only your 3rd time in a car and your mum is terrified.

Here are my tips for being the mum of a learner.

Stay calm and take deep breaths.

It does not help if you try to use an imaginary break.

Gripping the side of your seat or taking a sharp intake of breath only makes your teenager more nervous and upset.

Have a bottomless purse for lessons but most of all for insurance. Teenagers are very expensive to insure, your excess will be high and you cannot protect your no claims with my particular company.

Be prepared to let your teenager
take control, it has to happen one day.

Try to enjoy the time you spend together, after all your teenager wants/needs your company now.

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