Driver’s ed and other terrors

We have completed the Summer Fun Series. 

Children’s museum, two playground hops, a scenic train ride, and a day at the waterpark, and I am exhausted from fun.

Now I’m pouring my energy into behind-the-wheel training sessions with Ada.

Teaching your teenager to drive: the archetypal parental nightmare.

But I’ve realized something.  Getting through hard things is a real confidence boost.  

Yes!—yes, I can teach my kids to drive.  I had her drive on the interstate and we both felt triumphant.  I dreaded the parallel parking lesson for weeks; I had to prepare by Googling “how to parallel park,” which is how I came across the most helpful gif of all time.  And when she nailed it, I went around the house bragging.

I had my doubts before, but now I know that I can teach driver’s ed.  I can teach someone to drive on the interstate; I can teach someone to parallel park.

It’s like when I had Lyme disease and learned to cope with IVs.  It wasn’t easy, but now I know I’m a person who can tolerate needles.

Lizzy’s dog sitting client.

I’ve given birth.  I’ve jumped off the high dive.  I’ve spoken in front of a crowd of 100+ people.  I’ve cantered on a horse.  Once I was a person who was scared of those things.  Well, ok, I’m still a person who’s afraid of most of those things—but now I’m a person who has done those things.  

I’m braver than I was before.