Thank you GEICO for sponsoring this post OMG We have a Teen Driver in our Family— Tried and True Mom Advice to keep Teen Drivers Safe and Spend Quality Time Bonding!
Bonding with your daughter is definitely not for the faint of heart, especially as she begins to flex her teen muscles. Most teens, in the process of establishing their independence, are sporting surly attitudes and a desire to be as far away from you as possible. And as my 16-year-old gets ready to take her road test and “EEK” get her driver’s license- this could not be truer. When I look at her sitting behind the wheel of our car – perfecting her driving technique (as I sit in the passenger seat and hold my breath until we stop at each red light) all I see is my little six-year-old ginger haired girl sitting in the driver’s seat. I panic and worry about her and so in doing so I know I have become overbearing with my laundry list of things she can’t do when she is behind the wheel of her car.
Of course we have invested a good chunk of change in lessons and I am grateful for resources like GEICO More AUTO insurance which has some wonderful advice for parents like me when it comes the basics of insuring her first car ensuring that she DOES not become a road hog and offering support if we ever have to deal with the aftermath of a car accident . Having GEICO is a resource beyond insurance—it has certainly helped me to navigate this next phase of my daughter’s life—aka OMG we have a teen driver in our midst – and as she and I have driven around I realize our impromptu practice sessions have also helped us to bond (in the most unlikeliest of ways and places).
The truth is, it’s imperative that mothers spend quality one-on-one time with their teen daughters–to lay the foundation for a safety net for your daughter. If you want to be in the loop about what’s on your daughter’s radar including, but not limited to; her driving technique, friendships, feelings and relationships with the opposite sex, you need to be her soft place to fall- so that when she REALLY needs to talk– she knows you are there- no judgment. But that level of comfort- does not just manifest itself- it’s something you need to work on, every single day. So if you too have a newly minted teen driver in your family- here are some tips I can share to help you keep her safe and bond all at once aka OMG We have a Teen Driver in our Family—Tried and True Mom Advice to keep Teen Drivers Safe and Spend Quality Time Bonding!
OMG We have a Teen Driver in our Family—Tried and True Mom Advice to keep Teen Drivers Safe and Spend Quality Time Bonding!
Just TALK.
I have actually used our time in the car to have these talks (it also lessens my anxiety while she is driving!) We have talks as she is practicing her parallel parking, we talk as she is making her u-turns, and we talk as she stops at those red lights.
Do your research as a team.
For my daughter and I GEICO has been a wonderful resource and way for us to bond as we read and share safety tips and car maintenance tidbits. Since my daughter has become a driver all of sudden, cars have shot to the top of my must-know-everything about the subject, which includes, but is not limited to: the lowdown on tire myths and saving money on gas . Believe it or not my daughter and I have been quizzing each other on these facts too!
Use her practice driving lessons to your advantage.
Get her to drive the two of you to the gym, to buy groceries and to run errands! It is the ultimate in multi mom tasking– and it's become our thing–we bond while we are in the car (as she drives) us to the gym and most recently to a class at Crunch Fitness! Suffice it to say we bonded over sweating and pushing ourselves to our limits and in fact my teen kept encouraging me to power through it!
OMG We have a Teen Driver in our Family— Tried and True Mom Advice to keep Teen Drivers Safe and Spend Quality Time Bonding!
The bottom line is if you truly want a relationship with your daughter- you need to cultivate it the way you would any other in your life. So it should be one of your goals to seek out activities (whether they are driving lessons or time at the gym) that will create organic opportunities for you and your daughter to spend time together having fun and hopefully talking– without feeling as though you need to stand on your head and PULL TEETH to get more than a one-word answer from her. Like every mom, that I just really want to be involved in my teen’s life and when it comes to having her become a licensed driver- it is akin to watching my heart outside my body behind the wheel of a car. So parents who are currently in my position or those who have been through this with their own kids, please share your best advice- I’m all ears!
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
I am there myself. My kiddo will be able to drive soon and it terrifies me LOL. No honestly he’ll probably be a very good driver but I like the advice you have here. It definitely will help us take stuff step-by-step.
I only have a little over 2 years until mine is driving…OMG!! I am already stressing about it.
What a fun and scary milestone – I think of that day occasionally, but I have a while to go as my oldest is still only 5. Insurance is so important – thanks for that too
I imagine that most new teen drivers just want to get right in the car, and take off. We parents know that that isn’t how it is! I’m all for talking to our teen driver. It eases the tension for both of you. This is a great reference for parents and teens to read before taking that first step into the car.
One of the scariest things ever, lol! No such thing as too much advice, good luck!
We’re a little ways off from having a teen driver! I would like to think that I’m prepared for that day. Your post shares some sage wisdom on how to approach this life event.
I will admit I am not looking forward to when my teen starts to drive. Geico is great though I have heard so many amazing things. Nice to feel prepared and covered!
Congrats on your new teen driver! (Who is, by the way, a spitting image of you… gorgeous!) It’s really so important to talk to teens about your road concerns as well as driving safety.
A teen getting a licence is such an accomplishment! Way to go to your teen daughter. So responsible of you to talk about all the safety concerns for a new driver… go, mama!
I have Geico for my auto insurance. Thinking back to my own driving days I failed my drivers test 2 times before I got it on the 3rd try.
I can not even imagine the time spent teaching behind the wheel. It is definitely a bonding experience for sure.
Ok how is she driving already! That is so crazy to me. It sounds like you are handling this pretty well! i think I would be a mess over this!
I was so worried when my son got his driver’s license. It can be nerve-wracking the first few times they take the car out. These are great tips.
My 15-year-old daughter can’t wait to drive! My 19-year-old son on the other hand doesn’t have any interest!
I thought your son was your twin, I lied its you and your daughter. I was learning how to drive at 16 and its good you are helping her and its amazing bonding time.
My daughter is nearly nine and I can’t imagine her driving in seven more years. I agree, that you need a good company like Geico behind you when those days start.
This is how I felt when my eldest started driving! Now she has her own car and is pretty much living her own life. She’s really amazing and we talk about everything. It’s important to learn how to listen and to never judge them for their actions.
Thanks for this post. My son is 15 and he can’t wait to start learning to drive. I love how this has become a bonding experience for both of you. You are absolutely right, we have to be their soft place to fall – no judgment.
Oooooooo….. we just experienced this with our grandkids! It never gets any easier and kudos to you for being relaxed enough to talk and bond during driving lessons!!
mine starts too soon. i’m excited to have her learn to drive so i don’t have to play taxi, but yikes!!!
Parents need to be good role models in terms of texting, etc. What worked best for me was the decision to drive my children to school each morning, talking to them every step of the way (“This is a sharp curve, there is a blind driveway”) and then have the child with a driver’s permit drive home EVERY DAY while I remained mostly silent. With each child, he or she immediately would ask, “Which way should I drive home?” (a seven-mile drive). Each time I would say, “You decide. If school just got out, avoid this route because school buses use this route. If we are going home later, after a sporting event, consider which route is most congested during rush hour. Do we need to stop at the grocery store? What route makes most sense then?” I made the student driver make ALL decisions, guiding him or her as needed at the outset. All three passed their driving test the first time, and (knock on wood), at ages 29, 31 and 33, none has been involved in a car accident, with only one nailed for a speeding ticket about ten years ago. And – they appreciated the absolute rule that the driver controls the radio and heat or air conditioning. Others can make requests, but the driver has the final say. No fighting over radio stations, etc.