Demolition D and Driver's Ed

This summer is quite busy!

Between normal working AND closing the store - there is Demolition D's schedule. He had a week off from choir tour and then has spent this week in Driver's Ed.

He. Was. Miserable.

Now, we have been working on driving since he obtained that wonderful permit to learn. The first 72 hours were great. Then reality hit and it has been an adventure.

The beginning of 2007, Georgia implemented Joshua's Law. Simply put, if you wish to drive at 16, you have to have driven 40 hours, including 6 hours of night driving, a workbook completed and each driving experience documented and signed off on. Or you can take a Driver's Ed Course, approved to meet Joshua's Law ($325). Or you can wait until you are 17. I really need him to be able to drive this fall.

I originally opted for the workbook. But I really wasn't sure about some of what they wanted. Then we had a re-ocurring issue. Red lights and left hand turns. The first time he tried to go through a red light, left hand turn, he said, with the most dumbfounded look, "I thought you could turn left on a red light?!" As I finished wondering what he had learned studying for the learner's exam, I explained to him that you cannot.

A week later, same interesection, I sat in the passenger's seat confident that my thorough explanation a week earlier had be clear. Clear as mud. He tried it again. Then got mad at me. Yes, I raised my voice. Once again reviewed the issue.

About a month later we were on our way to church and approached an intersection to make a left hand turn. The light was green, he entered the turning lane (a little too fast, as I told him to slow down, and he does not, I realize he is planning on turning. Right then. I say "there are cars coming!!" and he responds with "but the light is green!!"

No, he did not go through it. And I closed my mouth until after church. After church we discussed all that happened and then proceded with left hand turn driving. Every few blocks, a left hand turn was made. We made circles around this side of town, but we became very familiar with left hand turns.

We have set out on left hand turn drives a few times since.

But this made me rethink my signing off on this workbook or sending him to the Driver's Course.

The Driver's Course won. It also will help reduce his insurance.

Monday through today, he attended the classroom setting, 8:30 -3:00 daily. They were BORED out of their minds. He will only get 6 hours of driving with an instructor and that will be the last week of June. But we have been told this course met Joshua's Law's requirements. Well, except for the now added Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (another class, another expense).

Today, he enlightened me. Today, as we drove out of the driveway, he says, "mom, you know what they told us? If I am driving and someone in the car does not have on their seatbelt, and I get stopped, I get a ticket for them not being buckled."

I looked at him dumbfounded. See, we have talked about this for years. Just earlier today, I realized he did not buckle, so I stopped the car and just sat there until he did (I don't say anything, I just sit - he knows I will continue to sit there until he does buckle). Will got a ticket when Ocho, probably 14, did not buckle and Will was pulled over. He received a ticket for Ocho not being buckled. That story has been told many times.

So I tell you this because I had this thought. I don't believe anything I say is actually being retained or taken into consideration. This kinda scares me. All this wisdom I have shared. All these scenarios to aid in his developing good decision making skills. Makes me wonder, what got through? I hope more than I think.

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