I have always been a little bit impatient when it comes to Alex reaching important milestones. It’s been like an addiction. I get a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment in seeing her succeed. Am I pushy? I don’t think so… maybe? Sometimes I feel that if I don’t push Alex to do something, her fear of it will stop her from even trying. So I figure I’m being supportive… yes?
I have been really really REALLY looking forward to Alex reaching her next milestone. Learning how to drive. I will admit, that I may have projected this excitement onto her. I can remember getting my learners on the exact day that I was allowed to by law. I was so excited to get behind the wheel. Alex has not shared in this excitement. In fact, she was quite adamant that she was not interested. I think she would be quite happy for me to act as chauffeur for the rest of her life- a job I will add, that I am not willing to do.
I did manage to convince her to get her learners permit and she passed her written test (well online test, we are in 2020). Woo hoo! Time to get behind the wheel! I bought her yellow learner plates and arranged a time where we would be in quiet streets for her to start to learn.
HOLY MOLY!! Ummm…. What in the world was I thinking? I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR!!!!! I have to sit in the passenger seat!!!!  She doesn’t know what she is doing!!! My life is in her hands!!! I AM PANICKING!!!
Needless to say, me being a newly realised control freak, I did not think this through.
I think however, that I am doing pretty well as an instructor- Alex will have to give her opinion on that… I sit in the passenger seat and I sit my hands on my lap and breathe very slowly, in and out. Alex is doing very well and she is getting more confident and pushing herself to try new streets and busier streets. As she drives more (I think she is up to 5 hours now?) I feel my heart pounding a lot less quickly than it used to. My hands are still sweaty though and I continue to be in core terror for the entire drive, but I’m doing okay.
The major problems have been driving back into our driveway. It is quite narrow and she tends to hug the left hand side which happens to be where I sit. So when I see the car barrelling towards a tree, or our rubbish bins, I might (might) yell a bit and might (might) grab the wheel to stop us from hitting said tree or rubbish bins.
Alex does not respond well to my yelling funnily enough.
All in all though, I’m super proud of how I have behaved throughout her 5 hours of driving. This milestone may have cured my addiction of conquering milestones…