Ha! I was taught about the same. My dad took me out to a middle of nowhere road and on a short stretch showed me how a stick worked.
Then they said I got to take the stick shift car to college (2 hour drive up). He said he was sure that by the time I got there I would have it down. I did.
Nah... because of the stuff in the story. I expect my kids to do what I say the first time I say it. The snow still on the rear and side windows of the car made it harder for me to see.... and should have been cleared off... and that 4 wheeler should have been moved....
I usually work very hard to ask and remind nicely, and just give them extra work to do if the stuff I asked for wasn't done or done poorly. I take a deep breath, remember to be patient and kind, and pile on the work.
But I was so worried that I was going to stick the blasted car in the parking area snow, or hit something, or end up having to take the plow truck on the 4 hour round trip because the regular car got stuck, and I could easily see backing up and leaving turning into a 1 hour headache, and I HAD to get kid 2 up to his board of review which was 2 hour drive away....
And I almost lost it. I didn't scream/yell... but I raised my voice and used the scary voice. My scary voice is scary.
Oh, they knew, best not push it, grounding time is near.
