Just thought I give some to you locals. Dear Daughter has her learner's permit as of this morning. She's pretty stoked as is her father. It's been an odyssey -- let me tell you.
Back in December, 6 months after she turned 16, Dear Husband determined that she should be interested in getting her permit. She wasn't that interested, and none of her close friends were in possession of a permit either, but she soldiered her way through the Driver's Manual a few times. She let me quiz her. I took her to the testing station at the beginning of the Christmas break. She didn't pass.
In Missouri, you can take the test twice a day until you pass. The test consists of a series of questions on a touch screen computer. You can miss up to 5 while trying to get 20 right, but at the 6th wrong question, the computer sends you back to the counter to either re-register to re-try the test or to go home.
We did this three separate days for a total of 6 tries at the test. Each time, while the other kids would come out crying if they didn't pass, Dear Daughter would come out smiling and chirp, "Well, I didn't pass this time." Husband would grind his teeth and quiz her again. I thought (and kept it mostly to myself thankyouverymuch as this was between the two of them and she didn't seem to need defending) that she didn't particularly want to pass the test. She's always been my physically tentative kid. She doesn't particularly even like to ride her bike in the street and I don't think she liked to imagine driving a car.
A season or two passed, with Dear Husband bringing up the fact periodically that she hadn't acquired her permit. She took the ribbing with good natured humor but that was all.
Then, last weekend, there was a change. Dear Husband and Dear Daughter spent several hours last Saturday evening on the back porch with the Driver's Manual. They were enjoying each other's company, laughing and quizzing into the night. I left them to it.
Tuesday, Dear Daughter told me that she was ready to take the test again. I wasn't able to make time to take her to the testing center until Thursday so she said she'd study some more, and sure enough, that evening she and her dad spent more time with the manual. Hmm.
Thursday came and she dogged me until I had time to take her over to the testing station in the afternoon. She got the needed documents together and waited by the back door until I was ready to go. Hmmm again.
I settled in to wait for her in the waiting room and hadn't knit more than two rows in the useless pink baby sweater that I'm finishing for no reason whatsoever except that it's not the green sweater when she emerged, permit documents in hand. She'd passed.
She texted her dad and all of her friends. Everyone was very excited for her. I'm very excited for her. It's a right of passage and she seemed to be finally ready to cross over that particular bridge toward adulthood.
When her dad got home that evening, she was seated next to me on the sofa. He came in and hooted and hollered with her for a few seconds. Then they were both quiet. She raised her eyebrows at him he sighed. He pulled out his wallet and flipped her 50 bucks.
I stared, flabbergasted, as she tucked the money into her jeans and skipped, humming, up the stairs to her room. He said, "Hey, I'm all about the carrot."
Sheesh.
Good grief. Please don't tell Eldest that particular carrot exists.
p.s. congratulations to Dear Daughter!!
Posted by: Ruth | July 09, 2010 at 11:37 PM
At least it wasn't a car!!!!
Posted by: CindyCindy | July 10, 2010 at 06:43 AM
That's very funny. Hannah has had little interest in driving but we've left it alone, figuring if she's not ready that's fine with us.
Posted by: Carole | July 10, 2010 at 07:33 AM
She told me not to tell you--sorry :)
I'm glad she passed!
Posted by: 7letterDeborah | July 10, 2010 at 04:17 PM
Ok, she told you and Sandy -- and told you both not to tell. Don't tell her any secrets ; )
Posted by: Ann | July 10, 2010 at 08:00 PM