Parenting a teen who is driving is both a relief and a stressful situation. Not only are teens able to go places without you, some are texting as they drive.
As a parent of a teen driver who has had a few accidents, I can actually say that I am surviving. As 38 Special deftly put it, I “hold on loosely but don’t let go.”
If you live far from school activities, it is almost imperative that your teen drives, especially, if the teen is involved in extra curricular activities.
Once the teen is driving, the cell phone becomes an invaluable tool for parents. A parent can call and find out where the teen is and when the teen will be home. The problem is that teens want to talk on it while they drive. Teens are increasingly becoming distracted not only by talking on the phone and driving but by texting while they drive as well.
So, what is a parent to do?
I believe in turning off the texting option on a phone. The cell phone company can do this for you.
Also, I believe that teens should not be talking on the phone while driving. This is a hard rule to enforce. The best way to check up on a teen is to look at the cell phone bill. Most companies give phone numbers and times that calls were made.
In conclusion, I believe that teens need to focus on one thing when they drive – driving. So, hold on loosely and don’t let go of your teen as they walk out of the door with the keys. Know where they are going, who they are with and how they are using those cell phones.
