I am wrong to be scared witless?

[Botany]

My 17 year old son just took my F-150 (Strong V-8 Engine) for the first time
to run some errands and to drive around with his girl friend on Easter morning.
I was only a little worried until he said "Don't worry Dad nothing will happen."

[taterguy]

1. Yes

[cindyperry2010]

2. no driving is scary enough

add girls to the mix and no you are not wrong

[madokie]

3. About right now I'd be having a heart attack

In being part of raising two boys this was one of my biggest fear of all. That first Drive.

[Botany]

5. He has driven before but small cars and the truck when I am in w/ him

It is big and people park on the streets in my neighborhood.

[madokie]

7. And it has that "big V8 engine"

If it's like the one in my f150 it'll get right along. Hold you back in the seat if you want to push the loud pedal down. It'll hold you there until you let up on that pedal too.
Yes you are right to be worried but I'm sure everything will be ok because you've raised a good young man who will do his best to not do as you worry. I know this about your son because I know about you from reading what you have to say here on the big DU.
Peace
Have a good Easter

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. well, aside from the price of gasoline...

i wouldn't worry about it. i was always much MORE careful when my girlfriend was in the car...maybe he's the same sort?

sP

[Zalatix]

6. Did you raise your son well?

If so, then no, no need to be scared witless. If no, then the REST of us who walk the streets should be the ones scared witless.

I have faith, of course, that it is the former. Best of luck!

[etherealtruth]

8. Since you have been raising your son for 17 years ...

... you know terror comes with the territory.

He will be fine (and so will you) ... a word of warning: the terror is ramped up when you drop them off at college for the first time.

[shraby]

9. I had 3 teenage sons ages 15, 16, 17. You'll be okay and so will he. We made it

through the early driving years with only one fender bender. It was a miracle but we did. You will too.

[Nay]

10. No, you're not wrong to be scared. All parents know it could be THEIR kid dead in a wreck -- the

kids think they're immortal, but we know that's not true.

He's in a truck, tho, so he's better off than the kids in the tiny sports cars.

Hang in there, dad.

[socialist_n_TN]

11. No you're not wrong...........

I taught BOTH of my girls to drive and now they've been driving for several years AND I'M STILL SCARED! I wouldn't doubt that MY Mom is stil scared either. It's part of being a parent IMO.

At least I THINK that I pounded it into their heads that I don't worry so much about their driving, I worry about every other idiot on the road. And I think they took that to heart.

One of the things I used to do was explain what that car driving beside them could do. Like change lanes without looking or signaling. Or what that car at the stop sign could do. Like pull out in front of you. Or what that car driving in front of you could do. Like stop on a dime over nothing. NOTHING was too outrageous when it came to other drivers. I wanted (and STILL want) them to be SO paranoid when they're behind the wheel, they see idiocy in every other driver. That might keep them a LITTLE bit safer.

[Botany]

12. He is home!

I made him take the dog so they would have to come back.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

13. whew !

My friend's daughter got her license less than 2 weeks ago. A week later she was rear-ended by someone in heavy , slow moving traffic . Nothing she could have done to prevent it.

She was not hurt. Her car is big and bulky and didn't have much damage. She didn't panic and dealt well with the cops. That's all you can ask for.