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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Teenage Driver - Mom Survivor???

Today, I decided to let Sierra practice her driving skills.  I told her that she could drive Katie and myself to the bathhouse. Keep in mind that this "drive lasted about 2 minutes and was not even 1/4 of a mile. 
Picture This ---
Sierra gets into the driver seat and I get in the passenger seat with Katie in the back seat.  The first sign that I was in trouble was when Sierra couldn't get the key in the ignition correctly.  I said nothing as she was laughing and saying something about the idiots who make the keys. (You can imagine what I could of said but I chose to hold my tongue.)
Well, the key is now in and Sierra puts her foot on the brake. I sigh and sign of relief and think that this short "drive" will be fine.  Then, Sierra puts the van into drive and starts to drive off.  I say loudly, "Stop, what did I teach you when you learned to cross the street? You are suppose to look left, right, left." She laughs and looks both ways. Again I say, "look back left and don't laugh you are taking to long to look." She said something about me distracting her and being loud. She is still laughing but I am seeing nothing hilarious about this situation. Oh, I sigh and say nothing once again.   I Pray - Pray!
Sierra gains her composer for a short time and drives forward. Quickly, I said, "Stay on the right. Just because there is no one on the road, it doesn't mean that you can drive in the middle." She approaches the bath house and should just make a sharp turn to park the van.  However, Sierra passes the parking spot. I said, "Where are you going?" (trying not to laugh and thinking about burying my head or doing like my Daddy did and just say - GET OUT - GET OUT) Sierra said, "I am going to park."  Hesitantly, I said, "Are you going to back in!?!" Her reply through laughter was "no, I am going to pull in."  After several 3 point turns,  a lesson that we have NOT covered but I sure she will learn quickly, she parked the van.
I get out of the van only to find that the van is 4 feet from the curb. Sierra puts the key back in and puts the van in REVERSE. I said, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!! ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS PULL FORWARD!!!" Sierra laughs, says, "Oh" and pulls forward. Then, she turns off the van. I get out and then see that she is still in the van laughing. She is now turning the key and putting the van in PARK. I thought that Jeff and Sierra had covered the lesson about putting the van in park before turning it off.
On the way back to the bus, I let her drive again. (probably not a wise decision but I do have patience) Sierra did real well backing out of the parking space. However, she put the van in drive and pushed the gas. Well, let's just say my head went back quickly. Yes, Sierra pushed the gas a little too hard. About 10 seconds past, when from the back seat we heard Katie say, "help me".  At this, we both starting laughing.  Sierra slowly drove back to the bus and we all got out unharmed and with no damaged to the van. 
I really do not know how my second Mom, Nancy, survived teaching me how to drive. Maybe I should just wait and let her teach Sierra.

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