Yes, my daughter Gabrielle now has a driver’s license. How did that happen? Wasn’t it only last year that she was THIS big?
The driver’s license thing happened during my last full week of teaching, so on top of the stress of ending both the school year and my teaching career, I had to worry about her driving to and from finals while I was at work. She made out fine (although once or twice she forgot to text me upon her arrival).
Luckily, my younger daughter, Gina, who rode with her on the way to school was very consistent about notifying me every time they reached their destination with a text that said:
We’re not dead.
Yeah, Gina. You’re hysterical.
From other parents out there who have survived a new driver in the house, any tips on how to stop worrying? So far, I’ve been letting her run small errands for me, just for the practice. But every time she heads out, I think: Why did I let her go out on that errand when I could have done it myself? What is wrong with me?
Other things that happened recently:
1. If you missed last week’s post describing the evolution of The Inquisitor’s Mark cover from sketch to final design, you can still find it HERE AT PROJECT MAYHEM.
2. And today I’m HERE AT THE CROWE’S NEST, my agent Sara Crowe’s blog, talking about all the things I didn’t know about writing a series when I signed the contract.
3. And I’d also like to mention that Joshua David Bellin interviewed his son about The Eighth Day HERE AT THE YA GUY. If you don’t know Josh from #YALitchat and #KidLitchat, I suggest you head on over, check out his blog, and follow him on Twitter!
4. Something else pretty awesome that happened in the last couple weeks is this … How many of you have read The Caged Graves? Raise your hands. Okay, would you guys believe I was recently contacted by the great-grandson of Ransloe Boone? The real Ransloe Boone, husband of of Sarah Ann Thomas Boone, one of the women buried in the real caged graves?!
That’s too good a story to tack on to the end of this blog post, so I’ll be telling you more about our correspondence next month, after my First Impressions posts for July.
Good-bye, June. You lasted way too long, and I saw you mostly through a classroom window. Looking forward to July!
Ooh, can’t wait to here more about the real Ransloe Boone!
That’s so cool about Ransloe Boone!
Ugh, kids grow up so fast. It’s crazy.
A new driver! Yes, that’s stressful. I wonder if growing up is harder on the kids or the parents. I like that Gina too. nice sense of …humor?
So many exciting things in this post. I can’t wait to hear about the interaction with the great-grandson!
Congrats to Gabrielle, and oh, that Gina! How funny, in a dark sort of way. My two sons survived driving for years now (and yes, of course there were fender-benders for both). I don’t really have any advice for you, other than to try not to think about it and do something that will occupy your mind while she’s out in the car (duh, writing, for example). As long as she’s not texting or even looking at her phone while driving, she’ll be fine. Safe travels to her! And happy “retirement” to you.
How marvelous that the great-grandson of Ransloe Boone contacted you. Can’t wait to hear the details about that.
I’m sure she’s so thrilled for that picture to be posted on your blog :P. I guess it’s proper punishment for not texting you upon her arrival.
My nephew just got his licence a few weeks ago. It doesn’t make sense. He’s just a baby…
Congratulations to your daughter on getting her driver’s license. I can so understand that you’re worried so much, I would be, too! I have no idea how my parents would just let me go wherever I wanted to once I passed the test – maybe because I had a very slow car and they knew I couldn’t do too many stupid acts with it 😉
Here’s what I do: I track my children on the iPhone app to make sure they are where they are supposed to be. It’s reassuring to know they made it to their destination. I think I checked every day when my daughter drove to school, and even though she’s going to college in the fall, I’ll probably still check. Lol
Congrats on your retirement! That’s exciting. And so neat that a Boone contacted you. Very cool!
Well, my children aren’t old enough to drive yet. But I imagine that when they do, the nerves I’ll get when they’re out on the road won’t ever end. But getting a driver’s license is a fun rite of passage, and I hope your daughter enjoys her new independence!
How cool is it that you were contacted by a descendant of one of your “characters!”….I’ll have to check out your blog post on the other web site.
I don’t know how to deal with the anxiety of a teenager on the road. My ex has refused to allow his 16 year old to drive because he doesn’t think he is responsible enough. I don’t know if that is the right call or not. But, he didn’t ask me. So, my driving experience is limited to my driving at 16. My parents did a remarkable job, in hindsight, or giving me the freedom to travel around town without being overbearing. We didn’t have cell phones and they didn’t get a phone call or text every time I arrived at my destination. So, be grateful for that “We’re not dead” text.
I did read The Caged Graves and that is awesome!!! I can’t wait to hear how that turned out.
Hi Dianne .. congratulations to Gabrielle … well done. I was lucky too my parents let me get on with it .. and I had a car almost from day one … here we go for 17 … and certainly there were no cell phones in my ancient days!!
Well done on getting finished at school and through June … and I’ll pop over to read Josh sons’ review …
Amazing about the Ransloe Boone connection – I’ll be across to read that too …
You were commenting on my blog -as I was on yours .. but visitors turned up – so’ve had to start again here ..
Great news and lots going on … cheers Hilary
Bridget is about to start driver’s training here. Freaking out a little (ok, a LOT!). Glad to see you’re surviving G’s license.