Mom's Wit

by Janet H. Brown

I remember hearing my two children yelling and proclaiming to the other who would get to sit in the front seat of the car as they raced out of the house. That was delightful compared to what is happening today. Our sixteen-year-old has gotten his driver's license. I'm a nervous wreck and according to our 12-year-old daughter, she will never get a chance to ride in the front seat of the car again because Mom still has to go with us!

I still haven't let our son drive by himself. I want him to a responsible driver. I want him and everyone he passes on the road to stay alive. I want him to obey the speed limit - just because everyone else is going faster, does that mean he has to also? When he sees someone going through a yellow light does that mean he can too? If he sees someone slip into the handicapped parking spot at the grocery store to get a newspaper, does that mean he can do that too? When the driver of the car in front of him makes a turn without using turn signals, does that mean he can do that too? When a driver is on his bumper because he thinks he's going too slow, does that mean he can do that too?

While our son is learning to be a responsible driver, it is our duty as adults to set a good example for him. I'll see you on the highway. Just look for me sitting in the back seat of the car. I'll have to let my daughter sit up front at times, but for now I can be a backseat driver.