Say what you want, but do you prefer them ALIVE or DEAD? |
You want kids to do whatever they want? |
Except waiting to learn to drive is not safer, learning early actually creates better drivers. |
Sweet Jesus. How old are your kids? Because my son is 17. He has a job. He drives himself to sports- for example Legion baseball doesn't have buses, kids carpool and travel together, sometimes up to an hour away. He takes his girlfriend out on dates. He's going shopping today to buy her an gift- kinda tough when both parents work. Listen- my kid is moving out of our house in about 14 months. If you honestly think you can foster independence by keeping him in bubble wrap until he's 18, I will strongly disagree. Driving a car has very little to do with being the "cool kid". |
If you have an 18 year old that breaks zero rules, then you are completely oblivious. |
The real question is, does he drive himself to drinking parties? |
| Feeling so sad for the parents of the kids who were killed - do you think the parents of the kid who was driving will attend the memorial services today for the 2 kids who were killed, out of respect for those families? |
And at what point is it not a huge risk to allow them to drive? When they are 20, 25, 30?????????? |
Does fostering independence require a driver's license? You can't have an independent kid unless the kid has a driver's license and access to a car? |
How did you get everybody everywhere before you had a teenager with a driver's license? |
He doesn't drink. Yeah- I know, I'll get the "in denial" responses. But we have a very close, open relationship. We've talked about it at length. And based on his close circle of friends and his girlfriend's close circle of friends, I believe him. He does drive to and from a friend's house on weekends to watch UFC Fight Night. I'm definitely nervous about him driving home at 11pm. But based on the host and a number of other factors, I'm confident there is no drinking or drug use. Now- here's another conversation my wife and I have had- do we really want him to experience alcohol for the first time at college? What are the risks of dangerous binge drinking when he gets on campus for the first time next year? We haven't condoned drinking yet- but we've talked about it privately. |
Learning how to drive is one of the most important life skill kids will learn. Sure my kid does not really need to leRn to cook since mcdonalds are everywhere. But.... |
I think it adds to it. Are you seriously going to drive your kid to and from a job? Drive him on dates? Take him to his friends' houses? How old are your kids and when did YOU start driving? I'm genuinely curious. |
Wow. Your kid is one in a thousand if he hasn't already "experienced" alcohol. Kudos to you! If he's really made it this far, I doubt he'll have a problem in college... just as long as you're not getting duped here. |
Not the PP you're responding to but NO, i won't, because we bought in the city where he can get his own ass to school, friends houses, dates, etc without ever needing to get behind the wheel. My kids' safety and independence was more important to us than 5 bedrooms and a big yard. |