About a month ago, Brainy Bird shared with me that he is scared to start driving and that he is not looking forward to it. I view the privilege of driving a car as excitement in a teenager’s life, and I was surprised by his sentiments towards driving. I decided to enroll him in a 32 hour driver’s ed class that is taught in a classroom. Online driver’s education is very common in today’s technologically advanced world. I thought that he would feel more comfortable in a class room setting with other fifteen year old’s, and this would allow him to ask questions. I also like that the class includes 14 hours of teaching in an actual car.
We are on week 2 of 3 of his classroom driver’s education. Brainy Bird’s comfort towards driving is increasing rapidly. We had planned to get his learner’s permit last week, once he completed the required six hours of driver’s ed that one needs for their learner’s permit. Brainy Bird did not seem at all interested in this last week. Brainy Bird wound up having a computer science competition that started right after school on Friday, so we did not get a chance to go.
Last night, I told him that I was traveling some this week, which makes the whole week a little hectic. I said that worst case, we would get his learner’s permit next week. He hung his head. He said, “I understand if we can’t go this week, but I would really like it if we could go.”
I am hoping that I will be able to take him on Thursday, if not his dad said that he can for sure take him by the end of the week. So, before the week is over, Brainy Bird will be able to drive a car! I am both nervous and excited about this.
We plan on getting up early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and going for drives in the Magnolia area. Just north of us, the flat land turns to hills and there are lots of trees. Texas is a beautiful state. We will get him used to all of the basics of driving before the rest of the world is out of bed. Then we will find a place to have a nice breakfast. Ironically, I did a good portion of my learning to ride a bicycle in this area of Texas. There are lots of organized bike rides in this area. I am sure that Brainy Bird’s learning to drive will go much smoother than my learning to ride a bicycle.
Many exciting days are ahead.