Dear Drivers,
I’ve been anxious about this day. This day seemed so far away when she was born. We purchased a car five years ago thinking, this could be her car when she turns 16. And now, it’s here. My daughter is behind the wheel.
I know millions of moms have felt this moment before me. The excitement of my child realizing some freedom alongside potential freedom for me as I will have another driver to cart kids around. But right on the surface of every thought is a worry that she will not make the right decision, that she will not have the right skills, that something might happen to my child.
Letting go of your baby is hard. And for me, this is the biggest test I’ve had so far.
Trust me, I am worried about you being on the road with her. I know that young drivers get distracted and make mistakes. I know that their newfound freedom is sometimes abused or their reactions are often not as quick as a seasoned driver. I am going to do my best to train her to do things right so that she will not come in contact with your car or your family. I promise.
But as worried as I am about you being on the road with her, I am just as worried about her being on the road with you. Just because you’re a seasoned driver does not mean that you always make the right decisions, either.
I’ve seen you look down at your phone when you pass me going the other way. I watched you swerve in and out of traffic down the interstate. I’ve noticed that you make your own parking spaces outside of designated areas. And I’ve watched you blast through traffic lights just so you don’t have to wait an extra three minutes.
The difference between my child right now and you is that she is not only learning the rules, but is more likely to obey the traffic laws because she’s trying to keep herself, her passengers and you as safe as can be. And many adults see how far they can take the laws just to get somewhere or do something as quickly as they can.
So, dear driver in the other car, please, please, please follow the same rules you want her to follow when she is on the road. I know you do not know her, but she’s everything to me.
