It’s back: my parenting is like a family bike ride series! In part 4, it has been ten years since I wrote part 1. I have re-read my previous posts, and realized how far my kids have come.

Just as in part 3, my kids don’t want to go on as many family bike rides anymore. Daddy O. and I will ride together, or many times Daddy O. will take longer road-bike training rides. The biggest change: the switch from two wheels to four wheels, as my daughter learns how to drive a car.

A Little Push to Get Them Going

Instead of in-person driver’s ed, everything is taught online now. It took some reminders for Big Sister to complete her driver’s ed lessons within the specified time window. High schoolers are busy, I get it. Plus time management is hard to learn as a teen.

Temps secured, Big Sister started her lessons with me and Daddy O. in an empty parking lot. I don’t think speeds surpassed 20 mph. After a few times, we branched out to low-traffic city streets with stop signs. She went to driver’s education behind the wheel sessions. That first time I was nervous to drop her off at the high school with a driving instructor and another student whom she did not know.

A lot of Work & Dedication Pays Off

In time, she improved, getting more confident and trying out faster speeds, multi-lane roads, and eventually the high way. Little Brother joked that she is our chauffeur for errand running or driving various places. Most recently, she did very well driving on the highway for a road trip. She got tired, so she asked that we switch drivers. I obliged, and emphasized that you should take breaks when you get tired.

A Time to Let Go

And so we’re almost there – a family of three drivers! We found a very nice used vehicle that is safe and fun to drive. Her driver’s test is scheduled. It’s in her hands to show the instructor what she’s learned since starting in the parking lot months ago. We’ll see how it goes!

I’ve heard from other parents that it’s nerve-wracking when they drive all by themselves. Will they be safe driving at night? Will they avoid distractions from passengers or smartphones? Can other crazy drivers be safely avoided? Many worries and potential scenarios will wander through my mind the first time she takes the car.

Stay Together

The biggest realization: our parenting journey is taking an enormous turn as our teens inch closer to adulthood and eventual independence. They will leave the nest with two-wheels or four-wheels. We’ll continue to put one foot in front of the other as we move forward as a family. Our times to share a family dinner, cheer at a sporting event, watch a movie, play games, or help run our house will be more limited. We will have to embrace the new “normal” and seize the moments when possible. A lot of love and faith will help us learn, grow, and hopefully, stay together.