It's a right of passage for every young person; one of the many milestones in life. From the time we begin to develop reasoning abilities, its human nature to look toward the future and what the passage of time will bring. I remember when I was a young girl sitting in my living room watching Romper Room anticipating the day when I would be allowed to attend school. It seems almost like yesterday.

Sara was no exception in her enthusiasm to attend kindergarten. Her stages of growth and development never lasted long. She crawled at seven and a half months, but only for two weeks when at eight months she began to walk. She talked at ten months, learned her alphabet by sight when she is a year and a half, read her first book at two, and was doing basic math skills before she entered kindergarten. She seemed to be in a hurry to progress, I merely wanted her to slow down and allow me to enjoy her stages.

When Sara was ten she entered her preteen years with the same excitement and at twelve when she entered Middle School she thought she was hot stuff; not that I am biased but she was. Thirteen was exciting and the price tag on the celebratory activities would have indicated its importance. Then was her entry into high school, which began at her eighth grade commencement. One would have thought she and her friends were headed off to college rather than high school considering all the misplaced emotions being exhibited that evening. Now at fourteen almost fifteen we enter a new stage, one in which she has excitedly anticipated for a long time; DRIVING!

Yes, Sara got her permit this past Thursday removing most of the excuses I have had for not allowing her to get behind the wheel. There is a remnant of my nervous system left after being in the passenger seat for the last few days, and I must admit the child has improved greatly in that time. However she's not yet a world class driver.

Her first attempt at passing the written exam resulted in failure. The man that gave her the test allowed her look over the next test she would be taking. To my chagrin I knew with this unfair advantage she would certainly pass the next time. And with one error, she acquired her permit and the right to drive with a licensed driver. We left the DMV and she didn't hesitate; she jumped right into the drivers seat adjusted her mirrors and her chair, clicked her seatbelt, started my van, and then put it in reverse. Had it not been for yelling stop at the top of my lungs, she would

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Reflections: Learning to drive?
We want to hear your view. Write now!