Managing Relationships
So, you have started to teach your son/daughter to drive. For some it is an exciting time, your “baby” is growing up and will soon fly from the nest, but by car. This is an exciting but for some can be daunting.
In the beginning they are eager to learn, listen to Mum and Dad, and for the first time in ages actually do as they are told.
They are new at this and need your help and guidance.
Then at about the 20 to 30 hour mark, things may change. They start to argue, you may hear things like “shut up Mum, I’ve got this”! It’s a difficult thing to manage, you want to protect them, after all for 16 years you have provided everything for them.
So how do you handle this change? To start with I would have a conversation about it and explain how difficult it is for you as the parent to teach such an important skill.
Come to an agreement that you will relax the “reins” a bit, but at times you may need to take control of a situation to keep everyone safe.
It’s a two-way street. You all need to work together to achieve great results.
Finally, relax, have some fun spending time with your son/daughter and above all never yell and scream at each other. It never ends well.
Take a look at www.keys2drive.com.au
It’s a great Federally funded program to help parents get started on the right foot and get through this challenging time.
Jamie