When’s the right time to drive alone? The day I got my license, I was sure my mother would hand over her car keys and turn me loose on the road. Why wouldn’t she? I had passed state-mandated written and performance tests, and I had undoubtedly proven to her (and more importantly the state) that I could drive.
Never mind my tendency to drift to the right side of the road, or my overwhelming desire to mess with the radio until I found the perfect driving song. But when she didn’t immediately toss the keys into my upturned and expecting hands, I was slightly mortified.
All my friends knew I was taking my road test on my birthday, and being one of the first to get my license, there were high expectations. We were supposed to ride around blasting music, maybe stop by McDonald’s, or take an impromptu trip to the mall. But my mother was stopping me dead in my tracks.
“What you’re telling me is that you want to get in my car and drive around the city with the music blasting and four other overexcited girls in the car?” my mother asked.
Two little words immediately flew out my mouth, “Uh-yeah.” At the time, I didn’t see what possibly could have been the problem – I had passed my road test! Regardless of the small-scale tantrum I threw, my mother didn’t budge.
Needless to say, it was weeks before I had the chance to take an impromptu drive, or even go to our neighborhood McDonald’s. And when I did visit McDonald’s, there was only one, relatively calm friend in the passenger seat.
My mother’s efforts to keep me safe, disguised as cruel and unusual punishment, were definitely a bummer. But I guess it’s true what they say, “Mama always knows best.”