Lessons in Driving

I’m an incredibly anxious person. I have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I’m medicated for it. However, teaching my 17-year-old daughter to drive is putting my meds to the test.

She is not a bad driver. She is an inexperienced driver. This, coupled with her being 17 and thinking she knows it all, is a challenge. There have been multiple conflicts, but we are persisting.

In Kentucky, you need to have 60 hours of driving time to get an intermediate license. An intermediate license allows one to drive without a parent in the car. We are currently at 40 hours of practice time. I feel like we need at least 100 more. My husband has done most of these hours because I’m a train wreck. I appreciate him taking this on.

In recent weeks, I’ve stepped up and let Josie drive when we go places. I’m not going to lie, there have been multiple Xanax taken during these excursions—by me, not Josie. However, given my propensity to overreact, she would probably also like a Xanax from time to time.

My friends from other states cannot believe Kentucky does not require or offer driver’s education. I agree. I long for the day when I learned to drive (in Ohio) with a professional, in one of those cars with the huge student driver signs and a break in the floorboard of the passenger seat. Those were the days.

My husband and I agree we would pay big money for a driving school. Alas, the closest one is almost two hours from us. It just isn’t an option.

We are manning up as best we can and trying to give her the skills she needs to be a good driver. Currently, Josie is driving more like her dad. This is way too aggressive for my taste. On the flip side, I wear her the fuck out with my extreme caution. I just hope she finds a happy medium.

As I type this, we are on I-75, by far the busiest road she has ever navigated. I’m writing from the back seat on my phone so I don’t stroke out. She is doing a good job, I’m just a lunatic. This is really the problem. While I’m worried about Josie’s driving and her lack of experience, I’m really more worried about the other jackwagons on the road. I have no control over them. I don’t like it. It scares the hell out of me.

The goal is for her to take a car back to school in January. The thought of her driving two hours back to school on her own makes my heart race uncontrollably. I know I have to get over this. I just don’t know how to go about it.

For the record, I was the world’s worst teenage driver. My nickname was Crash. I once hit the same man twice in one night. For reals. I think knowing how bad I was makes me even more scared for Josie. It’s a miracle I’m alive.

I have told her numerous times, “Driving is the most dangerous thing you will ever do.” I don’t know if she believes me.

There really needs to be a parent support group for this shit. Wine needs to be served at the meetings.

Angela Traver

What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.