Iamwipedouttoo
New Member
Let me know what you all think about this...
After one of difficult child's therapy sessions two weeks ago, I wouldn't let her drive (learner's permit) because our route had us merging onto a highway during rush hour (she has never merged on a highway ever - she's not ready for that until we do it during non-rush hour) but, I did offer to let her drive for other errands once we got to the place she worked to pick up her check but told her that after our last errand I would have to drive home because our route had us making a left turn at a pretty bad intersection that I wasn't comfortable with myself.
She wasn't happy and told me that I could just forget it then, that I was being ridiculous and that she didn't want to drive now. She continued on for another moment, accusing me of NEVER letting her drive when, in fact, she had been driving everywhere when we had to get in the car for weeks - In fact, we logged over 18 hours driving time. I have the journal I am keeping for DMV purposes to prove it!
I told her that I understood her decision and was fine with it. (Honestly, I didn't get why if driving was so important to her she wouldn't take the opportunity to drive!)
difficult child then proceeded to point out that if we didn't help her get her license she would be on her own learning to drive when she was 18 without any training or help and what that might mean for her. I told her I fully aware of that and reminded her I have been teaching her and was willing to continue to teach her if she if she was willing to take direction without getting upset and if she let me decide what situations she is ready to drive in and which situations she is not.
And here it goes...
There was silence in the car for a whole two minutes. Then she started to complain how she had not eaten all day. She asked if we could go to a fast food place to get some mozarella sticks. I told her we could do that on the way to get her brother and as soon as I said we could do that, she said, and I quote, "Okay. I'll drive then."
Totally taken off guard by the whole situation, I actually agreed to let her drive. Should I have done that? I am feeling like I shouldn't have.
After one of difficult child's therapy sessions two weeks ago, I wouldn't let her drive (learner's permit) because our route had us merging onto a highway during rush hour (she has never merged on a highway ever - she's not ready for that until we do it during non-rush hour) but, I did offer to let her drive for other errands once we got to the place she worked to pick up her check but told her that after our last errand I would have to drive home because our route had us making a left turn at a pretty bad intersection that I wasn't comfortable with myself.
She wasn't happy and told me that I could just forget it then, that I was being ridiculous and that she didn't want to drive now. She continued on for another moment, accusing me of NEVER letting her drive when, in fact, she had been driving everywhere when we had to get in the car for weeks - In fact, we logged over 18 hours driving time. I have the journal I am keeping for DMV purposes to prove it!
I told her that I understood her decision and was fine with it. (Honestly, I didn't get why if driving was so important to her she wouldn't take the opportunity to drive!)
difficult child then proceeded to point out that if we didn't help her get her license she would be on her own learning to drive when she was 18 without any training or help and what that might mean for her. I told her I fully aware of that and reminded her I have been teaching her and was willing to continue to teach her if she if she was willing to take direction without getting upset and if she let me decide what situations she is ready to drive in and which situations she is not.
And here it goes...
There was silence in the car for a whole two minutes. Then she started to complain how she had not eaten all day. She asked if we could go to a fast food place to get some mozarella sticks. I told her we could do that on the way to get her brother and as soon as I said we could do that, she said, and I quote, "Okay. I'll drive then."
Totally taken off guard by the whole situation, I actually agreed to let her drive. Should I have done that? I am feeling like I shouldn't have.