Believe it or not, I've never taught anyone how to drive but this poem rang true. Oh, the tension! Now you need a companion poem from the learner's POV :).
No worries, Liz! I let Joe teach Colleen for the first few months (he taught her in his manual transmission car). Now that she is driving an automatic with me she is almost an expert. I am SO glad that she has to drive with one of us for 6 full months before she gets her license. =)
And just this morning my 13 year old says to me, "I can't wait to drive-- it looks like fun!" (ugh) followed by a discussion about whether it would be better for mom to teach him or dad. Now I think I vote for Driver's Ed... thanks for the poetic warning. ;)
Thanks, Michelle! My husband started out teaching our daughter, but now I am riding shotgun with her too. Before she started driving she thought it looked so easy/fun - now that she is doing it, she has been humbled and realizes how much there is to remember and how scary it can be - thank goodness! It goes fast from 13 to 16... =)
That is funny! (But my child's only 8, maybe it won't be so funny in a few years. : ) ) I like how the short lines and the stop-and-go rhythm go so well with the topic.
Oh this brings me back. My husband was much calmer in the passenger seat than I ever was. Glad you're putting the mom angst into your pen...otherwise it goes straight to graying your hair.
Such horrible memories this poem evokes! I could feel your stress even though the lines were short. Now my daughters are, thankfully, better drivers than I am, but the days of teaching them were not fun. I actually refused for the youngest and she did not get her license until she was 17.
I'm sorry, Margaret! Teaching your child to drive is the right of passage - for both the parent and the child. I'd love it if my second daughter waited a while to get her license...like until she's 35! LOL! =)
So familiar, Bridget - thanks for sharing and GOOD LUCK! (Though at first your poem reminded me of how my oldest, now 21, used to "backseat drive" when she was 3.) This poem and these comments bring to mind Janet Wong's wonderful collection, BEHIND THE WHEEL.
Um....this poem might actually reflect my husband when I have to start practicing to drive in Italy! They won't take my U.S. license, so I have to start from SCRATCH - the driving school and everything. And the streets here are so TINY and go every which way. Not looking forward to it...and now your poem made me nervous all over again. I'm sixteen again! :)
Oh, Renee, what an experience! I hope your husband is as calm with you as my husband is with our daughter. Luckily, you have had some experience driving in the past - hopefully that will inform your new Italian driving experience. Good luck! =)
Maybe everyone should move to a tiny town when their children turn 14-16. I have NO memories of stress from my learning-to-drive years. ...Oh, wait. Maybe the kids NEVER feel the stress! HA!
I'd actually love it if my girls could learn in a tiny town, but unfortunately Tucson doesn't fit that bill. I think my daughter isn't nearly as stressed as I am. I plan to write a poem from her POV next week. =)
Believe it or not, I've never taught anyone how to drive but this poem rang true. Oh, the tension! Now you need a companion poem from the learner's POV :).
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea, Jama! I think I should do a companion poem from my daughter's POV - I know she is thinking a thing or two next to me. =)
DeleteFunny! I've taught all three kids to drive...and this is just what that's like!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara! My daughter is actually doing a great job learning to drive - it's just the other drivers on the road that scare me. LOL!
DeleteI have a 15 year-old. I'm feeling slightly sick to my stomach...
ReplyDeleteNo worries, Liz! I let Joe teach Colleen for the first few months (he taught her in his manual transmission car). Now that she is driving an automatic with me she is almost an expert. I am SO glad that she has to drive with one of us for 6 full months before she gets her license. =)
DeleteAnd just this morning my 13 year old says to me, "I can't wait to drive-- it looks like fun!" (ugh) followed by a discussion about whether it would be better for mom to teach him or dad. Now I think I vote for Driver's Ed... thanks for the poetic warning. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! My husband started out teaching our daughter, but now I am riding shotgun with her too. Before she started driving she thought it looked so easy/fun - now that she is doing it, she has been humbled and realizes how much there is to remember and how scary it can be - thank goodness! It goes fast from 13 to 16... =)
DeleteThat is funny! (But my child's only 8, maybe it won't be so funny in a few years. : ) ) I like how the short lines and the stop-and-go rhythm go so well with the topic.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karin! There are a lot of stop-and-go rhythms in our car these days. My younger daughter (9y/o) has no desire to drive. LOL! =)
DeleteOh this brings me back. My husband was much calmer in the passenger seat than I ever was.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're putting the mom angst into your pen...otherwise it goes straight to graying your hair.
Yes, Buffy, my husband is much calmer and unfortunately my hair is already gray - from all my other mom angst. LOL!
DeleteYes, I remember this too well with my oldest! My middle child is 15 now and I'm not too eager to start that process all over again!
ReplyDeleteI know, Tabatha! Luckily I have a few years before daughter #2 learns to drive (she's 9) and luckily she's not to eager after watching her sister. =)
DeleteSuch horrible memories this poem evokes! I could feel your stress even though the lines were short. Now my daughters are, thankfully, better drivers than I am, but the days of teaching them were not fun. I actually refused for the youngest and she did not get her license until she was 17.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Margaret! Teaching your child to drive is the right of passage - for both the parent and the child. I'd love it if my second daughter waited a while to get her license...like until she's 35! LOL! =)
DeleteSo familiar, Bridget - thanks for sharing and GOOD LUCK! (Though at first your poem reminded me of how my oldest, now 21, used to "backseat drive" when she was 3.) This poem and these comments bring to mind Janet Wong's wonderful collection, BEHIND THE WHEEL.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robyn! We can all relate to learning to drive or teaching our children - it's universal. I must check out Janet's WHEEL collection. =)
DeleteHaha! Oh yes I remember those days. Fun poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Iza! I'm looking forward to reminiscing about these days... =)
DeleteUm....this poem might actually reflect my husband when I have to start practicing to drive in Italy! They won't take my U.S. license, so I have to start from SCRATCH - the driving school and everything. And the streets here are so TINY and go every which way. Not looking forward to it...and now your poem made me nervous all over again. I'm sixteen again! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Renee, what an experience! I hope your husband is as calm with you as my husband is with our daughter. Luckily, you have had some experience driving in the past - hopefully that will inform your new Italian driving experience. Good luck! =)
DeleteMaybe everyone should move to a tiny town when their children turn 14-16. I have NO memories of stress from my learning-to-drive years. ...Oh, wait. Maybe the kids NEVER feel the stress! HA!
ReplyDeleteI'd actually love it if my girls could learn in a tiny town, but unfortunately Tucson doesn't fit that bill. I think my daughter isn't nearly as stressed as I am. I plan to write a poem from her POV next week. =)
Delete