Mothers Who Cuss
Thursday, July 08, 2010
By: Shannon Wilburn

You guessed it....I've never been much of a cusser.  Maybe because I didn't grow up around it.  Hearing it most days makes me shake my head and wonder why educated, adults have to resort to cursing to get their point across.  Sure...it's a social norm among most Americans to throw in the occasional curse word here or there in everyday conversation..but what I don't get is why?

This was the way I felt until about a month ago.  What happened last month to make me better understand this need to throw out an explitive every once and a while?  The answer:   The dreaded and anticipated driver's permit.

Keep in mind that the first time I heard MY mother curse was when my twin sister (sorry Tara) was at the wheel at 15 years of age driving down a neighborhood street and came within millimeters of ramming the passenger's side (where my mother was sitting) into a delivery truck.  It was a word that I had never heard come out of my mothers mouth.  When she yelled that word...that memory was engrained in my mind forever. (Okay..that may be overstating..not sure she yelled or that it was engrained..but it makes the story better especially now that my mom is a minister).

My son got his permit a little over a month ago and wanted to drive immediately. We left the tag agency with permit in hand and headed for the car.  I remained cool, calm and collected until he started the car.  My heart rate sped up...I started sweating...I was no longer in control...I was leaving my life in the hands of a 15 year old!

For those of you who have already been down this road...I may need some pointers.  Every time I get in the car with him and act like everything is okay..I am silently praying the whole time that I will survive and make it to the destination intact.  Are you with me?  Okay..confession time....I'm a control freak.  Yes..I said it.  That's me alright..the one who always wants to be in control.  Well...guess what, having a 15 year old driver gives you lots of opportunities to feel WAY out of control.

So...although I haven't yelled any explitives lately.  I reserve the right to loose control (at least once in the next 5 months)....AND blame it on my son!

By the way, I have a great respect now for those of you who have already gone through this right of passage....any hints about making it out alive would be most appreciated!  One more note...Jake really is a pretty good driver!  :)

Hugs,
Shannon

Comments

My 16 year old just got his OFFICIAL license in the mail!! As scary as it is to put your hands in the life of an inexperienced driver....I think the scarier part comes when they get in the car alone....or worse yet, with someone else's kid in their passenger seat. I've never had to cuss (out loud) yet with him at the wheel but I've come close a time or two. I, too, tend to be a control freak when it comes to my kids. This whole driving thing has really taught me a lot 3about that. I know and I know you know that really God is the one in control of everything, but when it comes to letting our kids take over at the wheel, it is a time to p2222ut that knowledge into action. Prayer is ALL that has gotten me through this. I always watched my friends' kids go through this stage and I thought to myself 'oh it's not really that big of a deal'! Well how wrong I was! I pray the whole time he's gone and it has actually done wonders for my prayer life....maybe that is what God intended when he decided to let mankind go through the teenage years!

Jayme, Friday, July 09, 2010

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Love this story. Reminded me of the time my mother mustered up the courage to get in the car with me behind the wheel after I had just gotten my learner's permit. I hit the brakes at an intersection so hard that she almost went through the windshield. Although it was an unintentional breech of braking etiquette, from then on, it was my father who had to drive with me, my mother's survival instinct would not even consider it. Hang in there, Shannon! Like millions of parents before you, you WILL survive this, too!

Bob Cox, Tuesday, July 13, 2010

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My daughter is about to get her permit and I am scared out of my mind! It wasn't that long ago that I was outside her crib making sure she was still breathing. That was nothing! This is REAl fear! I'm not sure I will survive if I am riding with my Ann. She is a really booksmart blonde who couldn't find her way out a paper sack. I love her dearly, but if she's get her head out of book every once in a while, she'd gain a lot more street smarts. I think she secretly thinks she won't need to drive much because she's pretty and will have plenty of boys like your son to chauffer her around. Like Jayme said, that it's even scarier to have your child in the passenger seat of another young driver. By the way, I love the title of your blog post, a real attention getter!

Aimee, Thursday, July 15, 2010

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My daughter gets the all anticipated permit in April. She is so excited. I can remember when I got mine. It seems like yesterday not 17 yrs ago. I myself am a driver not a rider. I'm not even comfortable in the passenger seat with my mom behind the wheel. I can't imagine how I'm going to deal with a teenager at the wheel!!! White knuckles and long nights on my knees in prayer here I come!!! And like the other mothers mentioned, I can't see letting my daughter ride away with another teen in the driver's seat. At least I know my daughter has her head on straight!! Do we really have to let them grow up and have independence?!?!?! Who says they can't just be our babies forever?!?!?!

June, Friday, August 13, 2010

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I have done this times 3, the only thing more nerve racking is letting them go alone once they get their full license. Then they expect to be allowed to immediately drive all the time, when ever and where ever they want! I don't really have any advise except to hang on and don't yell. Yelling tends to tense them up and they make more mistakes. My kids did all their driving with me since their father couldn't calm down enough not to yell when they made a mistake. He tried, it just made him WAY to anxious.

Beckie, Sunday, August 22, 2010

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Oh, I can so relate to your post. My teen daughter is just on the verge of getting her license. I especially had to laugh when you talked about getting in the car with your son and silently praying (while acting like everything was fine). Yes, it is a leap of faith to teach a teen to drive!

Nancy Wurtzel, Monday, February 14, 2011

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