We’re doing parent taught drivers ed as well. Did the same for S21. Since Texas is acting like Covid-19 never happened lol, DMV’s opened up this week, with online appts only. The office walking distance from our house was booked until the 15th and you know these boys weren’t going to wait lol, so i was able to get appts at another one 20 minutes way.
As far a car goes, right now they will just practice with me or my husband’s cars…we’ll let them drive with us while running errands etc…we’re definitely not adding any vehicles right away. The plan is that when S21 graduates next May, the twins will be turning 16, so we’ll figure out a family car sharing system for the summer and and then when S21 leaves for college in August, he’s not taking his car with him so that will go to the twins to share. We’ll have to figure something out for S21’s sophomore years college when he most likely will move off campus and will need a car again for sure.
@momof3B We are in Texas too. My daughter (D17 by HS grad) got my car, and I got an old clunker just to eke by, then when she graduated and quit softball, I bought myself a shiny new car lol. We bought my son (S19 by HS grad) an economy but reliable car (2013). And now for S23, he will get my husband’s car (2015 Ford Taurus) and hubby will get himself a shiny new truck (he regrets getting the Taurus - always has been a truck man). My husband is NOT looking forward to that insurance bill!
My Mother taught my older two sons to drive since I had no patience. She is almost 86 now, still driving (that’s another argument) but should not be teaching beginning drivers.
We gave our second son my husband’s car when he left for grad school, so we are down to one car. After 20 years, I’ve finally graduated from mini-vans and moved on to an SUV. No way I am risking my 1 year old SUV and family’s only vehicle on 2 new drives. So car shopping we go.
S23 is out doing his behind the wheel right now. In ND there is a new program that allows kids the ability to bypass the traditional driving test. The state requires that a new driver under 15 have their learners permit for no less than 1 year, go through a 30 hour online course, 60 hours of driving with parents, and 6 hours of formal behind the wheel. After S23 completes his behind the wheel tomorrow he will receive a certificate and can bring that into the DMV on July 1 (1 year after receiving his permit to the day) and get his license.
@roper1313, good luck! Our S21 has had his license for about 6 months, and it still makes me nervous. And the cost of insurance…oy. D23 has her permit but won’t get her license for a long time yet.
SO my S23 decided no more basketball, his reasoning was that if he didn’t play or miss it these last 3 months (when they couldn’t play), then he really doesn’t want to play. We dropped basketball from his schedule, and now he is taking:
PreAP English 2
PreAP PreCalculus
PreAP Chemistry
World History
Principles of Applied Engineering
Computer Science
Principles of Business, Marketing and Finance
I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but his school doesn’t allow them to take AP courses until junior year (unless you take WHAP which S23 isn’t going to do - he doesn’t have the aptitude to do so).
I have mixed feelings about him dropping basketball but I am on board with him exploring his future by taking those 3 classes (the last 3). He is very much mathematically and science acclimated - by example, today, he spent 5-6 hours learning about rocket science and how they were built. Now he is doing a model simulation of rocket building. He has said that working for NASA would be a dream come true.
Is anyone else having issues finding a Driver’s Ed class? Almost everyone here takes it through our Community Ed program but according to their website they aren’t going to run any classes at all for 2020-21. I’ve only been able to find info about two local places and one of those seems to be out of business. My D23 turns 16 in the fall. I’m not in a rush for her to get her license necessarily, but I would like her to have some formal instruction. Then she can stay on her learners permit for a while if she wants.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing. I had no idea that was a thing. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like they have one approved for our state. I did manage to get her on a waitlist for a late fall class at the only place that seems to serve our area. Hope they are back up and running by then.
It’s a god send! It made it so easy with S21!! When it comes time for the drivers test, you just print off the log…you can make adjustments while using the app if you forget to end the drive session…you can note what type of driving it was (parking lot practice, highway driving, road and weather conditions etc).
I have a sort of random question for those of you with daughters:
have you noticed girls wearing long t-shirts - that cover shorts - while they are out and about and not just at home?
I see girls everywhere here (midwest) with long, loose t-shirts covering their shorts. I really don’t like the look! My D23 says its a “thing” - I’m wondering if it’s everywhere - or just regional. So - just curious
I’m in NJ near the beach so yes I see this look a lot! That is basic beachwear here. There is no where else to really go right now-I don’t think my D would wear that much of anywhere else though-other than at the beach, walking from the beach to the ice cream place, going for a bike ride, hanging out at home? There’s nothing happening to dress up for-no going out to dinner, no parties, etc…And honestly-I prefer the big t-shirt over the pressure a lot of the girls usually feel to be fashionable. One of the few good things about this pandemic is that I felt like my kid got a few more months of childhood, a bit of a reprieve from growing up so fast.
I’ve seen that girl look here too. Fortunately D23 isn’t into that. She tends to wear baggy t-shirts with athletic capris.
She has her driver’s permit test in two weeks and then has the 2-week classroom driver’s Ed, followed by in-car with the teacher. DH has actually started working with her in parking lots without the permit. He handles all driving stuff, for which I am very thankful!
I remember that look (well, a similar one) from the mid- to late 80s! Remember, the whole really long—and usually neon, back then—t-shirts with shorts, often short shorts? (Usually crazily short cutoff jeans, where i lived.)
School has finally ended for S23. He ended up with a 3.5 for the year. Online school is not great for him and dropped his GPA. He has 2 online courses this summer (both are required for school but taking in summer frees up electives during the school year). Hes taking some random music lessons over the summer. Working a bit at a local restaurant.
He cant take drivers ed until fall and until then he has no transportation anywhere without me. We live off a 55mph county highway and I wont let him bike really because I dont trust the drivers on that road. This of course makes him angry because he feels isolated on the days I work.
Fingers crossed the kids can get back into school even part time in fall. Our district is considering splitting up grades and doing a blended program.
S23 turned 15 on Sunday and is patiently waiting for his drivers license to show up in the mail. We are debating on buying our 2020 grad a newer car, but not sure if he’s going to need one in college. S23 is hoping to grab his brothers 2010 Subaru as soon as possible.
Wow, so much to catch up on with our 2023s! D23 had a great freshman year, rank is #1 (I know, a lot can change, but I am quite proud of the accomplishment nonetheless), is taking Driver’s Ed this summer but cannot get her permit until November. Next year’s schedule is up in the air still, with Covid/hybrid etc options and some debate on getting a history requirement out of the way this summer vs next year, but the potential plan is 3 APs (AB Calc–school doesn’t allow a skip to BC, Chem, and Physics) plus honors for the courses that have it. She is waiting on her APStats score and looking forward to spending most of the rest of the summer dancing.
Our S21 has had his license for about 6 months, and it still makes me nervous. And the cost of insurance…oy. D23 has her permit but won’t get her license for a long time yet.