Nick is driving

Nick has started driving! I must say he seems to be a very calm and competent driver.

A few years ago, I'd heard of this book "Safe Young Drivers" in an author interview on NPR's Parents' Journal. Berardelli talks about how teaching your child to drive should not be a chore, but a bonding time, and about how important it is to get in at least 100 hours of practice driving before the 16-year-old drives on his own.

I definitely felt I needed some guidance in being a driving instructor (Nick had 3 months of driver's ed in school and the state-mandated two-hour initial behind-the-wheel instruction from a driving school), so I ordered the book. So far, Nick has been very patient listening to me spout facts like 16-year-old drivers are 12 times more likely to be involved in vehicle crashes than any other age group and that motor-vehicle crashes account for more than one-third of all deaths in the 16-19 age group. Sobering facts. While initially I thought the 6-month permit period for 16-year-olds was unnecessarily long, I am now glad we have all that time to drive together.

Right now, he is driving Georg and Patrick to Redwood City to watch "2012." Definitely an exciting time and a step towards adulthood.

Coming soon: Patrick's driving lesson video footage