Close your eyes and imagine your child on his or her 16th birthday. What do you think they will be doing on that day? I can tell what all four of my children were doing and I still remember it with fear. Each of them were standing in the DMV waiting to get their driver's license. Isn't that a sobering thought? Your child will, one day, get behind the wheel of a car...your car....and drive it down the road to places you won't be. Awkward sentence, I realize, but you get my drift.
Now, it is true that they get their learners permit on their 15th birthday and you have all year to drive with them so that you can teach and help them but that still doesn't really prepare you to see your treasure drive away in your car. Seriously, it's a moment you won't forget. So think of it, your child who can't remember his homework or think to clean her room or realize the dog needs to be fed will drive one day. Life, limb, and your car on the line.
What's a parent to do? Realize, right now, that your child needs to be taught a sense of responsibility and to think of others. They need to be made responsible for their own messes and be encouraged to respect authority. You need to set a good model in this respect as you live and drive. They are watching you!
Once again, begin with the end in mind. You want a respectful, responsible, disciplined driver? You need to work on those attributes when they are toddlers. Talk about them, model them, encourage and reinforce them. That's how you get responsible drivers....and lower insurance rates.
Kathy
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