My oldest, Elissa, finished Year 12 six weeks ago. Since that time, many changes have taken place – she has lost all your wisdom teeth, we have gone 50/50 in a a car for her and she is going out and about with friends who have already got their P plates.
So now I’m being forced to learn new things – firstly, to stay up until she arrives home. It wasn’t that long ago that I picked her up from events, no I just to wait up till she arrives home, and that brings with it interesting emotions as I wait for her arrival.
But the new parenting skill that I enjoy most developing is the skill at being a patient teacher of driving skills. Having learnt to drive over 25 years ago, and then teaching my wife to drive a manual car leading up to our marriage, I haven’t consciously thought about the skills of driving, let alone the method of teaching them, for a very long time. But it’s fun – to see someone struggle, then progress with what has become second nature to me, has been a great time. I love the way she picks things up; gets frustrated; moves on; and conquers a new skill all in a short time at the wheel.
More importantly however, is that it’s a fun and new way of spending time with one of my kids.
So, at the end of each time together in the car, I still don’t know who’s learning the most.
Ah I remember those nights of waiting, waiting for my baby girl to arrive home safely!!