Band Parents

Band Parents

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Small successes Driving..

FaithButton

I have been neglecting my poor blog. I think because I spend more time with Facebook. However, yesterday was a milestone day. I took my firstborn to get his driver's learner's permit or his temps. But as I am scanning blogs, I decided that this was a good time to join in Small successes:

1. I was smart enough to take my son to a local park/forest preserve for his first time behind the wheel. It has roads with speed bumps, stop sins and road lines. We came across the occasional car going the other way. He was able to get a feel for how hard to press on the gas and the brake and how far to turn the steering wheel. He has driven the lawn tractor and his Grandpa's large boats, so being in command of a vehicle with a steering wheel was not new to him.

2. I think I did a really good job of not saying much, biting my tongue and given short, easy to follow instructions. I tried to praise him. Mostly I tried to let him get a feel for how the car operates.

3. I actually feel good about taking him out again. He's not ready for a populated road yet. He still needs to work on figuring out where to stop when coming up to a stop sign. He needs to get a feel as to how close he needs to hug the curb without driving off (did that once or twice).

3 comments:

Kristen @ St Monica's Bridge said...

Congratulations! And good idea to take him to the park to drive!

Michelle said...

Great week! I myself am almost ready to jump this hurtle in our lives. Thanks for the good example.

Hannah said...

Great job being patient and not anxious with a new driver! My father is the calmest coolest person you will meet... that is until he has to teach one of his children how to drive! It makes a big difference to have someone calm!
My mother used to take us to big empty parking lots to drive. Usually on Saturday or Sunday.