Jump to son #2. Since our oldest did not kill himself or anyone else, we felt a teeny bit more relaxed when he started to drive. (well as relaxed as you can ever feel) He got to have a friend with him a bit sooner than son #1.
Fast forward to son #3. He will be 16 in January. Of course lots of his friends have already gotten their licenses.
We have let him ride with a couple of his friends as long as we knew that the parents also knew. No problems short little jaunts to the mall, a football game..........
Last night I had to drive to DC ( the only freakin place in the country that I just do not get and have a hard time driving around in) to pick up my husband at Union station. My son had asked earlier in the week to go laser bowling Saturday night. I had said yes even though it is only done late. Well, his friend was going to pick him up at 10, I know this is late, but the only time they have it. They had already gone one other time, no problems, called on the way home, etc.
Ok, well coming hom from DC, with my husband now driving, since I had a meltdown in DC as I was trying to find Union Station, and continuing to take wrong turns, missing streets becasue I couldnt see the stupid street signs in the dark, asking for directions, not understanding a word, you get the picture I think. Anyway it was raining and I am thinking OK, Jessie drives an Explorer, make sure he has it in 4 wheel drive, do I really want my son to go out on this nasty night with another 16 yr old, do I want to drive all the way to Pikeside and then back at 2AM to pick him up, yada yada yada. Well 10 oclock passes, my son calls his friend no answer, he calls a girl who is supposed to also be with them, she answers, is crying, tells him the flipped over a bunch of times and the phone then goes dead. My son is in a panic, he calls and calls. He calls other friends, they are all trying desperately to find out if they are ok. Finally, as we are leaving to go to the hospital, he gets a call saying they are all OK!!!!
So on an otherwise TOTALLY Stressful night, I am second guessing my self about why I would have let my son go out into the rainy night with a friend, I mean he could have been with them too, and who knows? He could have been the one who did get hurt, or worse!!!!! They flipped something like 6 times, were thrown from the vehicle and survived!!!!!!!
I still have a daughter who will be 15 in February, and let me tell you, I am NOT looking forward to that!!!
I guess my whole point is this, where DO YOU draw the line with your kids when it comes to riding with a friend?? I have gone through two with no problems (in this area at least), and so I am a bit more realxed now with #3. I have always relied on experience up till now when making a decision. Now I am going to have to second guess myself and I hate hate hate that.
I know all the statistics, I know it isnt a smart thing to let it happen, but like I said, up till now, its been ok. And btw, if it was only my husbands decision, my kids would probably never get to do anything!!!!! I am more lenient than he is, and tend to rely on what has worked in the past, and change it a little to fit the situation.
UGHHHH< I am sorry to rant on, but this weekend has just seemed to be the pits!!!!! I needed to get this off my chest.
