Scary!

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PlacentiaSoccerMom · #1 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:07 pm

I took Maddie driving for the first time today.

She did better than I expected, but still it was scary! I can't imagine doing it in a car with a manual transmission.

She drove Jeff's car.

T_Bone0806 · #2 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:10 pm

Ah yes. Teaching one's child to drive.

Been there, done that, still taking the anxiety medication.

Here's Fanny! · #3 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:18 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I took Maddie driving for the first time today.

She did better than I expected, but still it was scary! I can't imagine doing it in a car with a manual transmission.

She drove Jeff's car.

Ah, the good old manual! I had a terrible time, being left handed and dyslexic to boot. I kept wanting to shift with my left hand which totally mixed up which foot went on which pedal.

Finally my dad just got in the back set, hid behind a Thrifty Nickel and made my mom sit up front with me. He couldn't understand how I could help him break down an engine or change out a transmission, but couldn't get the hayfoot/strawfoot concept.

My breakthrough finally came in a big old pick up with a floor shift. There was no way I could reach over that far with my left hand, so I managed to adjust. It was a long time before I could drive with three on the tree because I keep moving my left hand over there.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #4 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:25 pm

Maddie is a lefty, but she was really good about using her right foot to drive and break. We did some exercises where she would be driving slowly and I would say "look it's a cute little puppy" and she would have to stop without slamming on the brakes.

I had her circle around the parking lot and she was having problems getting too close to the left side (and she hit a curb once) so we practiced a few times with my hands on the wheel so she could get a feel for when I straightened up the wheel.

I let her go in reverse once today. So far she isn't up to making U-turns.

Here's Fanny! · #5 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:29 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Maddie is a lefty, but she was really good about using her right foot to drive and break. We did some exercises where she would be driving slowly and I would say "look it's a cute little puppy" and she would have to stop without slamming on the brakes.

I had her circle around the parking lot and she was having problems getting too close to the left side (and she hit a curb once) so we practiced a few times with my hands on the wheel so she could get a feel for when I straightened up the wheel.

I let her go in reverse once today. So far she isn't up to making U-turns.

You've got more nerve than I do. My sister has been letting my nephew drive on little errands here and there to get used to things. And then when they went to Nebraska, my brother had him drive on the highway! Granted, highways in eastern Colorado and Nebraska ain't all that.

I would have been a nervous wreck. To me, he's still the little kid that couldn't drive my lawn mower in a straight line.

When are you going to set up the pylons and the eggs? That should make great youtube fodder.

Also, right on letting her drive Dad's car!

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #6 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:34 pm

We are going to stay in the parking lot for a few months. She won't get her permit for 6 months. I want her to be comfortable with the car before she is out on the open road.

She's been saying the she was going to live in a city with public transportation because was afraid to drive. One of my friends (who has an older daughter) told me that I should just let her practice in the parking lot for a few months and it won't be as scary for her when she is actually driving on streets.

silvercamaro · #7 Post by **silvercamaro** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:34 pm

My parents felt the same way.

Nevertheless, I learned to drive with a manual transmission. A friend of my older brother taught me in his adorable little MG convertible. I learned quickly, because I wanted to drive that car! I was 13.

My parents taught me to drive with an automatic transmission a couple of years later. They thought I picked up the basics fairly quickly.

When I was old enough to buy my own car (as opposed to getting a hand-me-down,) I wanted that stick shift. The parental units were horrified, as they thought I wouldn't have any idea how to shift and use a clutch. As far as I know, my mother still worries about it.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #8 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:36 pm

Here's Fanny! wrote:
When are you going to set up the pylons and the eggs? That should make great youtube fodder.

Also, right on letting her drive Dad's car!

I should set up a pylon and eggs, that would be fun. It took her four tries before she could get the car into a parking space with an equal amount of room on both sides.

We are planning on giving her Jeff's car, a Malibu, to drive, when she turns 16. I drive a Tahoe SUV and I don't want her practicing on my car for a while.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #9 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:37 pm

silvercamaro wrote:My parents felt the same way.

Nevertheless, I learned to drive with a manual transmission. A friend of my older brother taught me in his adorable little MG convertible. I learned quickly, because I wanted to drive that car! I was 13.

My parents taught me to drive with an automatic transmission a couple of years later. They thought I picked up the basics fairly quickly.

When I was old enough to buy my own car (as opposed to getting a hand-me-down,) I wanted that stick shift. The parental units were horrified, as they thought I wouldn't have any idea how to shift and use a clutch. As far as I know, my mother still worries about it.

Her uncle has a lovely BMW with a manual transmission. We are going to see if she learn to drive his car when she has had a lot more practice.

Here's Fanny! · #10 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:41 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
Here's Fanny! wrote:
When are you going to set up the pylons and the eggs? That should make great youtube fodder.

Also, right on letting her drive Dad's car!
I should set up a pylon and eggs, that would be fun. It took her four tries before she could get the car into a parking space with an equal amount of room on both sides.

We are planning on giving her Jeff's car, a Malibu, to drive, when she turns 16. I drive a Tahoe SUV and I don't want her practicing on my car for a while.

Ha, I knew a fellow Buncher would get what I was talking about!

Here's Fanny! · #11 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:42 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
silvercamaro wrote:My parents felt the same way.

Nevertheless, I learned to drive with a manual transmission. A friend of my older brother taught me in his adorable little MG convertible. I learned quickly, because I wanted to drive that car! I was 13.

My parents taught me to drive with an automatic transmission a couple of years later. They thought I picked up the basics fairly quickly.

When I was old enough to buy my own car (as opposed to getting a hand-me-down,) I wanted that stick shift. The parental units were horrified, as they thought I wouldn't have any idea how to shift and use a clutch. As far as I know, my mother still worries about it.
Her uncle has a lovely BMW with a manual transmission. We are going to see if she learn to drive his car when she has had a lot more practice.

I predict that will be slightly more successful than Chuck getting cats to perform challenges on the Meow Mix show.

Here's Fanny! · #12 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:44 pm

silvercamaro wrote:My parents felt the same way.

Nevertheless, I learned to drive with a manual transmission. A friend of my older brother taught me in his adorable little MG convertible. I learned quickly, because I wanted to drive that car! I was 13.

My parents taught me to drive with an automatic transmission a couple of years later. They thought I picked up the basics fairly quickly.

When I was old enough to buy my own car (as opposed to getting a hand-me-down,) I wanted that stick shift. The parental units were horrified, as they thought I wouldn't have any idea how to shift and use a clutch. As far as I know, my mother still worries about it.

My first car was a 62 Nash Rambler with a Flash-o-matic transmission. Yay for push button drive!!!11

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #13 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:48 pm

I had a 1969 Volkswagen Fastback.

ulysses5019 · #14 Post by **ulysses5019** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:14 pm

1964 Triumph TR4

#15 Post by **littlebeast13** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:17 pm

I still drive my first car....

lb13

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #16 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:24 pm

ulysses5019 wrote:1964 Triumph TR4

My Dad had a Triumph TR4 and it was my hope that it would be my car when I turned 16. Alas, he totalled the car going around a mountain road at a fast speed.

He was ok though.

thguy65 · #17 Post by **thguy65** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:56 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: So far she isn't up to making U-turns.

She could always Ask The Audience.

Thousandaire · #18 Post by **Thousandaire** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:21 pm

I learned how to drive a stick shift in my Dad's pickup.

In San Francisco.

Believe me, I learned quick!

MarleysGh0st · #19 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:26 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:We are going to stay in the parking lot for a few months. She won't get her permit for 6 months. I want her to be comfortable with the car before she is out on the open road.

Ah, the parking lot practice!

When I learned to drive, we started by going on some quiet country roads. I can't imagine where you'd find a quiet country road in the OC!

gsabc · #20 Post by **gsabc** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:38 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:We are going to stay in the parking lot for a few months. She won't get her permit for 6 months. I want her to be comfortable with the car before she is out on the open road.
Ah, the parking lot practice!

When I learned to drive, we started by going on some quiet country roads. I can't imagine where you'd find a quiet country road in the OC!

I can barely imagine where you found an empty enough parking lot!

kayrharris · #21 Post by **kayrharris** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:26 am

The school parking lot in the summer is the perfect place. That's where I took our kids.

themanintheseersuckersuit · #22 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:31 am

for me a red 1963 Beetle, practicing on dirt roads

Here's Fanny! · #23 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:11 am

I got nostaligic for the old Rambler Classic last night. Unlike lb, I used to change cars like underwear but I also have pictures of most of them.

Maybe Peekaboo Fanny's successor will have to use my old cars as avatars. To be changed every 500 posts. Ha!

#24 Post by **littlebeast13** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:13 am

Here's Fanny! wrote:I got nostaligic for the old Rambler Classic last night. Unlike lb, I used to change cars like underwear but I also have pictures of most of them.

Maybe Peekaboo Fanny's successor will have to use my old cars as avatars. To be changed every 500 posts. Ha!

I don't think I even have a picture of my car. I had to find one like it on Google.....

When it quits running, or it gets so junked up that I can't get in it anymore, I'll get a new one....

lb13

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #25 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:14 am

kayrharris wrote:The school parking lot in the summer is the perfect place. That's where I took our kids.

That's exactly where I took her. There is a hidden parking lot in the back of the school near the track field. A few cars pulled up while she was driving and when they saw us going very slow, they left, presumably to park someplace else.

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