Parenting Question Poll Style =)

[Cindiloohoo]

Camelot Farms...I GAVE my DD a car and she still refused. She let it sit in the driveway!! FULL OF GAS!! AND INSURED! LOL! I still think it's just the boys confidence.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

So what exactly does his 17 year old self do with all his time if he doesn't have a job and you have to cart him everywhere?

 

[sourland]

Tell him to get a job and buy him a bicycle. In all reality, once he starts driving you will never see him again. I'm guessing it's a matter of confidence. The size of the pick-up may intimidate him.

 

[silkiechicken]

I could not wait to drive! DMV at 15.5, signed myself up for driving school, the whole deal and my parents even gave me a car. But I did tutor at school by choice.

My brother on the other hand was dragged to the DMV at like 18, didn't get licensed for like a year, and still doesn't drive much (and no job). I think my brothers fear is that something will happen on the road so didn't want to drive. I bet your son also fears something about driving but doesn't want to admit it.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
Not much. He does chores here on our little Hobby Farm. He's on the computer alot or watching TV. Hangs out in the barn with the critters. He's not a very social kid so he doesnt really ask to go a lot of places....

 

[Mattemma]

I got a job before I could/would drive,but I walked the few miles to/from that nursing home job.Whenever I got a job and had no car it was in walking distance so my mom would not have to drive me.If we lived out far I might drive my kids to a job,but it would only be a PT job.I would not want to drive every day.If they wanted full time then save with the PT job to get a car/insurance. I really hate driving but do it when I must.

My mom said if I did not work then I should be in school.One or the other.I was in school AND worked in the afternoon.

 

[MeatKing]

It really is scaray learning to drive.. I remeber my hands sweating so much, I would have to rub of the sweat on my jeans. My hands would be sore from gripping soo tight. It is harder to drive a bigger vihicle. Maybe tell him, once he's a pro at the truck, everything after that will be easy.. Cause it's true..
Also I like the idea of him having to pay you 50% of his earnings, till he gets on the road. What about a drivers ed course? That sure helped me, even paid extra for more time to drive with instructer.. I even took a refresher, it takes 2 years to geta full liscinse here, so took the refresher before my last test.
For some reason he doesn't want to drive with sis, maybe some day you can drop her @ a nieghbers or grandma's, church group, pay a babysitter, put her in some type of course, where you can leave and go practice w/ son while she's busy?
All the best, this must be driving you crazy!!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

You know the road block is fear. How well will he respond to being pushed?

Like, I know one of my daughters needs to be pushed to try new things and things that make her nervous. I am sure some parents thought we were terribly mean some times when we would be firm that she had to try.

DD #2 does not respond well at all to that..... She would lock up completely and we would get no where.

For her I would let her get a job. I would tell her that she has three months. I'll drive her - for a fee - for three months but after that she needs to have figured out her own answer to the transportation issue.

I will support you in your quest to become independent but I won't let you stay dependent......

Seems to me it depends on your kid.

 

[Plucky Pullet]

Well this is an interesting dilemma.. I am a married mom of and I did not get my license until 6 months ago (I'm 28). Ok my circumstances were a little diffent I live in England for 12 years and the public transport is a lifeline, many people son;t drive. My DH has always driven, so any trips he'd drive he'd drive to his job and I'd bus. When I moved here I found public transport leave much to be desired and my job really requires me to drive myself. So my DH taught me to drive here and I passed my test 6 months ago, so I drive out of necessity. Sorry rambling there.

I would come to a compromise, it shows great responsibility and initiative that he wants to work, but if it is a strain for you to take him and pick him up that really defeats the purpose. If he wants to work either he can make his way via public transport/ walking/ biking one way or there and back on the condition that he learns to drive in the meantime. He'll soon learn he NEEDs to be able to drive if he wants to work.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Watching with interest how this plays out.