My 15-year-old son walked out of the DMV victorious this week. He passed his permit test on the second try, and though a case of nerves kept him from immediately celebrating, later in the evening the realization of his accomplishment set in for the both of us.
To him it was a rite of passage, but to me it was a reminder that not only is my baby growing up, but a part of the world I had managed to keep him sheltered from had just opened up.
Getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time in a teenager’s life is a thrilling experience. Mothers and fathers everywhere bite their tongue and gain a multitude of patience from a well dug so deep, we never even knew it existed. Though sudden stops and cars turning out in front of an adult driver is part of everyday life, for the new permit holder, this is all brand new.
An experienced driver may have learned a long time ago that traffic violators expect our mind-reading skills to be top notch on the road, but to a newbie, the absence of a signal light may lead to a horrific driving event. Through that first year a parent can sit up front and guide while a child drives; eventually a provisional license comes into play that forces us to let our baby leave the nest for once on their own. That opens up an entirely brand new can of worms.
Constantly we nag them about wearing a seatbelt and not texting while driving. We berate them to go slow and do the speed limit because a ticket and higher insurance is certainly something an already-anxious parent doesn’t need. We encourage defensive driving, then warn against distracted driving and drunk driving, and hope that it’s the others on the road we are really warning them about.
We hope we have instilled core values, morals, and a love of Christ that burns so bright that our child would never make a decision to endanger themselves or others by driving intoxicated.
“I love you,” and “Call me when you get there,” becomes a native language, and you wish, want and believe that everyone else feels the same compassion towards their own newly licensed offspring. We hope we have taken the proper steps to ensure the survival of our child behind the wheel, and pray that they never know what it’s like to take the life of another with a vehicle as a weapon.
Driving isn’t all doom and gloom. Our boy will get to experience so many firsts. Lord willing, he will get to go on his first date, buy his first car, drive to his first day at a major university, and drive away with his new wife at their wedding. He will get to drive to the hospital for the delivery of his first child, and in turn, drive that child to a first DMV appointment. From there, the cycle begins again.
This is a new beginning. This is a rite of passage.
My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
– Proverbs 3:21-23
