Scary!
- PlacentiaSoccerMom
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Scary!
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.
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.
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Re: Scary!
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.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.
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.
Spoiler
I'm darned good and ready.
- PlacentiaSoccerMom
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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.
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.
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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.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.
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!
Spoiler
I'm darned good and ready.
- PlacentiaSoccerMom
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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.
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
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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.
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.
Now generating the White Hot Glare of Righteousness on behalf of BBs everywhere.
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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.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!
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
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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.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.
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Ha, I knew a fellow Buncher would get what I was talking about!PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: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.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!
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.
Spoiler
I'm darned good and ready.
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I predict that will be slightly more successful than Chuck getting cats to perform challenges on the Meow Mix show.PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote: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.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.
Spoiler
I'm darned good and ready.
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My first car was a 62 Nash Rambler with a Flash-o-matic transmission. Yay for push button drive!!!11silvercamaro 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.
Spoiler
I'm darned good and ready.
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Ah, the parking lot practice!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.
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!

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I can barely imagine where you found an empty enough parking lot!MarleysGh0st wrote:Ah, the parking lot practice!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.
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 just ordered chicken and an egg from Amazon. I'll let you know.
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for me a red 1963 Beetle, practicing on dirt roads
Suitguy is not bitter.
feels he represents the many educated and rational onlookers who believe that the hysterical denouncement of lay scepticism is both unwarranted and counter-productive
The problem, then, is that such calls do not address an opposition audience so much as they signal virtue. They talk past those who need convincing. They ignore actual facts and counterargument. And they are irreparably smug.
feels he represents the many educated and rational onlookers who believe that the hysterical denouncement of lay scepticism is both unwarranted and counter-productive
The problem, then, is that such calls do not address an opposition audience so much as they signal virtue. They talk past those who need convincing. They ignore actual facts and counterargument. And they are irreparably smug.
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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
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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.kayrharris wrote:The school parking lot in the summer is the perfect place. That's where I took our kids.