As a divorced parent, you may not be sure how to handle your child’s driving instruction. Parenting after divorce will undoubtedly cause some shifts in the dynamic of raising a child. There are now two separate parties that may disagree or have dissenting opinions on the future of the kid. Driving is a tricky subject, it is very hard for a lot of parents to be comfortable with their children driving on the road. When there are two parents making decisions for a child it is necessary that you are both on the same page and have a good plan for how the process will go. Here are some tips to help you navigate this process:
1. Talk to your ex-spouse about your child’s driving instruction.
You will need to come to an agreement about who will provide the instruction and how it will be scheduled. Having at least a rough idea and plan for how the process will work is unbelievably helpful for both the parents and the children involved. You should try to understand the other parent’s philosophy on driving and what ideals they want to pass on to the child.
2. Make sure that you are both on the same page about the rules for driving.
You will need to agree on things like curfew, expectations for driver’s ed, and other important guidelines. The last thing your kid needs when learning to take on something as dangerous as the road is mixed signals from their parents. It is important that you both set very clear guidelines for your child as conflicting rules can lead to negligence and misbehavior.
3. Be sure to communicate with your child’s instructor.
This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that instruction is proceeding as planned. While there is plenty of time for your child to get driving practice at home, the bulk of the learning will be done with the instructor. Make sure to cultivate a good relationship with the instructor and maintain great communication to see where your child is proficient and where they need assistance. There are plenty of amazing driving schools across the country that you can choose from. For example, look for an Illinois driving school if that is your state.
4. Be supportive of your child’s efforts to learn to drive.
This is a complicated process, and your child will need all the support they can get. It is extremely important that your child gets time to learn and drive with both parents. This is necessary for several reasons, first, it will maximize the time your child has to practice their road safety, and second, this provides essential quality time with your child that they will remember for years to come.
5. Be patient with your child’s mistakes.
Learning to drive is a process, and there will be plenty of bumps along the way. Driving is no easy task and takes plenty of time and practice to become proficient. Think back to when you started driving, it was a stressful and complicated process. Try to be patient and understanding with your child as they make mistakes and learn from them. They will not get it right away, start them out slow and cover the basics. It is far more important that your child learns to be safe and comfortable rather than learning fast.
6. Celebrate your child’s successes.
When they finally get their driver’s license, it will be a big accomplishment! They may not pass on their first try and that is completely ok, over fifty percent of people do not pass the drivers’ license exam on the first try. It is a very anxiety-inducing process and will without a doubt cause your child some stress. Be patient with the process because they will pass eventually, it is just a matter of time, and staying positive and supportive can make all the difference.
With these tips in mind, you can help your child navigate their driving instruction as a divorced parent.
