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Teach Your Teen to Drive

Where we live, there are no mandated driving classes or schools for teens to learn how to drive. We parents have to commit to teaching them - and sign an affidavit stating that we have given our teens a certain number of daylight and nighttime driving experience. There is a minimum six months of driver training period for this instruction, and teens then take a behind-the-wheel driving test with a trained examiner. (This person is very brave.)

Growing up in Northern Virginia, we had classroom instruction on the Do's and Don't's of driving during our sophomore year of high school, complete with rule book and videos. Then we took a behind-the-wheel course with licensed instructors. After we passed both, we were permitted to take the driver's test, which we also still needed to pass in order to be granted a driver's license.

Things are sure different here in Tennessee, and it explains a lot of the driving issues and traffic incidents we see regularly around here (nobody actually knows the rules!).

Some parents are hesitant to teach their teens to drive - and with good reason! It is stressful and stress is contagious, which makes your teen stressed, which makes them mess up more, which is more stressful.... well, you get my drift here. Teaching unskilled, nervous but enthusiastic large children how to handle a vehicle that is nothing like their tricycle is daunting to even the bravest among us! Practice biting your tongue and responding in a calm manner now... you'll need both. 😀

I have now taught 2 of my children to drive, and I highly recommend parents take time to do this! Even if you have a system where someone else teaches them, or you sign them up for a class, spend the time driving around town with them while they are learning or improving. Fight over it with your partner, but fight for the privilege not against it. There are a few reasons I think parents should look forward to teaching their teens to drive. First, spending quality time with your teen when they aren't plugged into a device is invaluable today. Second, you get to influence what kind of driver they will be - cautious, aggressive, courteous, angry, tailpipe hugger, pokey.... (Side note to parents of younger kids: they are already watching you and learning about driving long before they get behind the wheel!) Finally, when the time comes to set them free with their driver's license, you will feel much more confident in their safety and abilities because you are familiar with their driving style.

If that isn't enough to motivate you, I have one BONUS perk of being the parent that spends the time teaching your child to drive: after they have their license and can go wherever they want without you, they might miss that time with you as much as you do and ask if you want to go for a drive... and you will have another opportunity for that unplugged time with your teen - and this time, it was their choice to spend that time with you. 💗

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