Another Milestone

Today Patrick started Driver's Ed.

I have a kid who will be driving very shortly.

I am having trouble putting all the feelings running through me into words. I am so proud that he is growing into such a fun, responsible young man. Some moments I look at him and I see my little boy and I want to be able to pick him up and swing him around...then I realize he's 6'2" and besides being impossible, he'd kill me.

Two years ago, when we first got the jet skis, I was sitting behind Patrick as he drove the ski. Control freak that I am, I was yelling, "Slow Down", "Don't turn so sharp"... I could hear myself and how horrible I sounded, but I couldn't stop it either. I had a vision at that moment of how it would be teaching him to drive a car. I don't remember either of my parents yelling at me when they taught me to drive...I had good roll models ~ and I'm hoping I can do the same.

Patrick came home from Day #1 of Driver's Ed with a pamphlet for Mike and me. Here's the advice from the "Teaching Your Teen to Drive" pamphlet:

"Provide solid cues such as: "Let off the gas and begin to brake" instead of panic-ridden versions such as: "Slow down! Slow down!" and "Hit that brake before you hit something else!""
(Was the pamphlet rider sitting on that jet ski with me?)

"Stay calm, and try not to laugh at inappropriate times. New drivers are likely to make mistakes and are very sensitive to the additional parental demands that you're exerting."

So, here we go. In a month Patrick will be 15 1/2 and be able to get his temps. In February he'll be a full-fledged driver. While that makes me happy (so much less carting around!) it makes me realize how quickly he's grown up. I miss that little boy. I want to be happy for where he is, and I am ~ I really am ~ but, wow, that kid stuff FLEW by me. And that is just a little bit sad.