Driving Younger Siblings

Anonymous
There is NO WAY I would let a teenager drive a sibling 30 minutes to school each day. Maybe down to get an ice cream. Sure. My husband and I have both been in car accidents where the other person was at fault. It's not just about how your older child drives, it's how they react to split second instances. You just get better with more practice. Plus, if they both died in a car accident, you would have no children left.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:There is NO WAY I would let a teenager drive a sibling 30 minutes to school each day. Maybe down to get an ice cream. Sure. My husband and I have both been in car accidents where the other person was at fault. It's not just about how your older child drives, it's how they react to split second instances. You just get better with more practice. Plus, if they both died in a car accident, you would have no children left.


I am also a Step-parent and there are many things I am hesitant to let my DSD do with my DD, not so much because I don't trust her, but because I don't trust my DD (the younger one) to be predictable, and I don't trust myself and how I might react if there were a problem. I actually talk to my DSD about this in simple terms and she seems to respect and understand my decisions. Time is also critical... once the "newness" of situations wear off (driving, staying home alone, babysitting....) and you see how both kids are maturing you may change your mind.

Follow your instincts.. The last thing a Step-parent/child relationship or blended family relationship needs is the added stress of dealing with a tragedy where anyone harbors some blame for someone else. It's not about favoring one child over the other, it's about respecting both in different ways. If you are not a step-parent this may be difficult to understand.
Anonymous
It's your DD, it's your decision. If you don't feel comfortable with it, don't do it, that's all there is to it. My children are 8 years apart and I can't imagine letting my older one drive my younger one until he has at least a year or two (or three, or four...) of driving experience.
Anonymous
I would let him have some experience first, let him get used to driving on his own and then let him drive the 6 yr old.
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