Search Results for: blog back to school driving tips for teens

Teen Driving Disaster

My 67-year-old grandmother taught me how to drive. True story. The woman had the patience of a saint. My parents didn’t step foot in a car that I was navigating until I was fully licensed. They didn’t teach any of my brothers how to drive either. We were all sent to Driver’s Ed, and logged our permit hours with our teacher or other family members in various public parking lots and on empty rural roads. Needless to say, my mom won’t be teaching my daughter how to drive when that dreadful day comes. Rather, the job will likely fall to … Continue reading →

Driving to the Brink

Despite her growing pains, I try to embrace every second of my soon-to-be seven-year-old’s daily existence, for soon she will no longer be my little girl genius regularly sharing such shards of wisdom like: “Mommy, you know why Velcro shoes are so great? Because you can hear when they untie.” Soon she will be a big girl genius in her own mind, actively bucking any parental guidance I subconsciously (or blatantly) try to influence her with. Soon she’ll be a teenage, not unlike my friend’s son, who decided to flex his growing independence this past weekend by getting on a … Continue reading →

Parents To Blame For Kids’ Bad Driving

Is your kid a crazy driver? Is he to blame for sending your car insurance premium through the roof? Before you hold a grudge and withhold the car keys, you may want to take a good look in the mirror. According to a new study, your child’s maniacal driving habits could actually be your fault. Sure… blame the mother. The recently published study claims that bad driving may be genetic. According to researchers, there may be a particular gene that contributes to poor driving. Interestingly, if the research results hold up, it would mean that 30 percent of American drivers … Continue reading →

Keeping the Peace Between Teens on Vacation

Imagine being trapped in a hotel room with two double beds with two teenage kids. On top of that imagine one being a boy and one being a girl. This is my current fate. Yay! Things can get a bit contentious in a tiny room, or compact rental car with four full grown people, but we have managed to find ways to keep the peace. Here are some of my tips. Divide and conquer: You can’t do everything together as a group. Your kids will have separate interests and you can only force them to do so many things together. … Continue reading →

Does Your Teen Drive to School?

My parents allowed my brothers and I to share a single vehicle while we were in high school. Three teens (and one tween, who insisted on tagging along) sharing one car–definitely not a pretty situation. Still, that one car provided my parents with freedom some moms and dads only dream of. Not only did we use the car to get to and from school (thus, giving my parents a break from taxi duty), but it also transported us to all of our extra-curricular activities. Unfortunately, the car did not escape our teen years without sustaining serious damage (all my older … Continue reading →

Back-To-School Road Rules

Today our 5-year-old neighbor completed his first day of school. He’s been waiting for this day since the middle of summer. Each day since his mom bought him his new backpack (more than two weeks ago) he has come over to remind my 3-year-old daughter that he is “going to school to make a lot of new friends.” So today when I saw him standing outside posing for pictures by his mailbox wearing his brand new backpack I couldn’t resist grabbing my daughter and walking over to wish him well on his big day. Turns out we ended up walking … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Driving Tips For Teens

Did you know that vehicle crashes are the No.1 killer of U.S. teens? Studies show many of these deaths are the result of driver error to due to inexperience behind the wheel… AND they are preventable. It’s a fact that many parents of teen drivers need to be aware of especially with fall just around the corner. In less than 10 days millions of teens will be back on the roads heading to and from class and after-school activities. Experts say this last week in August is an ideal time to speak with your student driver about the rules of … Continue reading →

Video Interview with a Sleep Doctor and Mom

Recently I was invited to ask a women’s health expert, Dr. Donnica, some questions about sleep habits. She put together a terrific video that I hope you will watch. What I appreciated about this opportunity was the ability to ask questions specific to moms of teenagers. When our children are very young, there is a lot of focus on how moms lose sleep. But it doesn’t always get better when our children become teens. In addition, teens have their own sleep issues that can interfere with their daily lives so I thought this was a great way to get some … Continue reading →

Teaching your teen to drive: Getting Started

Well, it’s happened. My son just officially turned 15 (I think I started saying he was 15 a month or so ago), and wants to learn to drive. He has been studying for the permit exam diligently,and I have contacted the local homeschool office for “school attendance” paperwork required in the state of Georgia for teen drivers. I have no doubt he will pass the written test, as he’s never failed a test in his life. After that, he’s going to want to drive. Can you smell fear? I love my son and trust my son, but I am literally … Continue reading →

Who’s Teaching Your Child How to Drive?

Some parents (mine included) would rather navigate their way out of the Congo before having to sit helplessly next to their teen as he/she learned how to maneuver the family car into a parallel parking spot. Teaching your kid to drive can be a scary proposition. Few things are as frightening as allowing an anxious teen to get behind the wheel of your vehicle as you sit petrified in the passenger’s seat. Most moms and dads feebly watch the action through slits in the finger mask they have pasted to their countenances. Others like to do their worrying with eyes … Continue reading →