I'm just not ready.

There are so many things in life that we chose. I am one of those people that, when I choose something ... I am READY for whatever comes my way.
I chose to be a mom and a Doc. I was ready. I chose to accept the responsibility of taking care of children... Mine and others..
I am not, however, ready for Chloe to drive things.
For God's sake... The honor student still struggles with left and right. She asked me to help her with her online driver's test and WE FAILED!!
She says she is "left footed" and would enjoy putting her right foot on the gas pedal and her left foot on the brake.
When asked, she emphatically says that the hardest part of driving is steering.
I will never EVER be the same when Chloe gets her license. The brain doesn't fully mature until the mid 20's. Who's idea was it to allow 16 year olds to drive things?!?!?!
You have to be 18 to smoke and vote... Neither of which will kill you or others immediately.
You have to be 21 to drink alcohol which still comes before complete brain development.
I just read a journal article that concluded that teens with ADHD were more likely to be distracted when driving. DUH!! Really? They got a grant to study THAT??
But, there is no restriction that mandates that kids with untreated ADHD can't drive. All 16 year old teens are easily distracted!!
I haven't seen Chloe without her phone in 2 years. Do I think she will put it down to drive?? Hell no!!
Ok.. Back to the I'm not ready thing..
The day I turned 16, my dad woke me up and said ( please read this part with an Indian accent) " Hello.. Happy Birthday.. Let's go to DMV and get your license."
"No!! I'm not ready Daddy.. I can't drive..!!!"
He said " It is ok .. You will learn."
My dad was a super busy surgeon at the time and my mom lived an hour away so I didn't get much driving time.
I took drivers education ... So I theoretically knew how to drive. We had to drive twice with an instructor to pass drivers ed. He popped in a Led Zeppelin tape and lit up a joint while I drove around Cumberland for an hour.
That does not an experienced driver make.
Anyway, my dad told me to wear a tank top because the driving part of the test was given by an old patient of his who was a dirty old man. I'm sure my dad palmed him a 50$ bill to pass me.
But, alas... I passed it. The next day my dad threw me the keys to the Chevy Citation and said " Ok.. Bye.. I am going in to round ."
I looked at him and asked how Ram and I were getting to school. I just didn't get it.
He told me to go slow and stay on my side of the road.
I wasn't ready but it was do or die and I eventually learned.
Everyone who also drives makes fun of my driving. The poor people I gave birth to don't know any better. They think I'm good at it. I haven't wrecked a lot. I mean I've hit things like mail boxes and garages and grazed one pedestration ( our word for pedestrian) .
My dad was so happy not to have to drive us that he let me drive EVERYWHERE!! To DC, Ocean City, Morgantown...
I just followed his simple suggestion. Go slow and stay on my side of the road.
I've been driving now more than I haven't been driving.. Almost 30 years.
Ok.. I'm just going to tell Chloe.. Go slow and stay on your side of the road.
I'm still not ready.