Rusty,
My parents are retired south of Tucson. I'll tell him you enjoyed the picture. And thanks for the well-wishes for our daughter.

CHRIS: Where does your dad live? Tell him thanks for the great pic.

My multi-paragraph tome never did post. Rather than buy her a cute little rice burner, get something that affords her some physical PROTECTION. Also, make her buy her own gas. By not getting her a cute little "fuel efficient" beer can on wheels, she'll learn the facts of life about the economy of planning her trips. And, always remember, when she's out, apply I Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." May she always be safe.

There is not a parent alive that thinks their kids are ready the first time they drive alone. Most of them do just fine though.

Chris, I wrote this one before.
1st>> put her in a legit driving class. which you did. the ones the parents' monitor is a joke. they pencil in hours and the child gets NO road driving education. They dont know road signs, street marking or its meanings.

2nd>>, use tough love. take the cell phone away the first month (just while in the vehicle, lol) enough distractions. No more than 1 friend rider the 1st month, same reason.

3rd>>,show her a public announcement video clip of cell ph. and driving errors. a good one. caution graphic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pubTiD...

I too was worried as heck when mine started to drive but I knew they were educated on driving consquences.

Great advice, call. Thank you. Brooke, I particularly appreciate your perspective about how parents can mean well but smother their children.

I think you have already started doing your part in helping to keep her safe by putting her in drivers ed early. The only way she will learn how to drive is through practice and by having others, like yourself and her instructor, teach her. My parents were so afraid that I wasn't ready and/or would have an accident that I had to beg them to even put me in drivers ed, which didn't happen until about two months before my 18th birthday. By the way, that was only about 3 and a half years ago and we drove with the instructor in my class-- it was 7 hours of driving and 7 hours of observation required-- so I'm surprised to hear that's not still the case. However, my class was in Austin (Westlake to be exact) so maybe it's just different in different areas. Anyway, when I finally did get my license, after I had turned 18 and moved out of the house, I was terrified to drive. I was uncomfortable because of my lack of experience- which my parents had been afraid to help give me. Still, I knew it was something I had to do because it's just part of growing up and being a productive member of society, especially if you plan to ever potentially live in a place without public transportation. Even that can be very undependable though, as well as limited. So the bottom line is, I think it's great that you recognize that driving is most certainly dangerous, yes, but necessary, and the best thing you can do for your daughter is practice with her every chance you get so you know she knows what she's doing and is comfortable behind the wheel. I think they should still have drivers ed in public schools, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that.

If we hold on too tightly we may pull out feathers and thus make flying difficult for them.

If we don't hold tightly enough they may slam into the first obstacle in their haste.

Words of wisdom shared,and a few good and deep breaths are the least we can offer towards their achievments. The last hyperextension of ourselves for them may well see us running below them with a pillow as they fly away into the world, but take heart, every step was well worth the time and effort we took to get them airborne.

Poetics aside, I fully understand what you're going thru. My Stepdaughter is learning to drive as well. I too say the image fits. Perfectly.

She will have so much fun driving you all over the town to log hours! Just imagine your "happy place." That image was related to your post after all. ;)