My 15 yr.old Son Wants A Car....Let the Rodeo begin!

I dreaded this day nearly 16 years ago, one hot July day when I brought into this world my baby boy.

 As I held this little angel baby, securely, all the visions of the future unloaded at once. Maybe it was post partum whatever...maybe it was those horrible drugs wearing off. All I know is I was already worrying about his first day of school. .his first heartbreak and yes, his first driving experience!

Well we got through the first two "firsts" with love, patience and a whole lot of prayer. Now we're at the last worry...him driving a 2000 pound eliminator...eliminating ME from his life. Isn't that what moms really fear?

Of course there's the fear of car accidents and numerous tickets that I will be obligated to pay. Of course there's the fear of wild crazy friends all crowding into one car...MP3 or iPod blasting so loudly that they can't hear the ambulance's sirens blaring.[ Oh wait. .that was me, back in the day, with my cassette blasting Ozzie or Led Zepplin, as we all crowded into my mother's van]

It can still happen today but smaller cars and less creative music! 

What my real bonafide fear is....he won't need me anymore! Whose the one who drives him everywhere he goes? Who makes sure he gets to his destinations safely and securely? Me.. mom! With this 2000 pound enemy..... .rival...I'll soon be discarded. .forgotten...Replaced!!!

Now don't get me wrong...I don't enjoy being Mom's Limo, especially 4 x a day. I don't find it fun to pick him up and drop him off when I'm exhausted from dealing with my daughter with Downs over whatever it is that hour!

I don't enjoy emptying my bank account to fill my gas tank and I certainly don't enjoy the arguments over where he's going and with whom. But one things for sure...I still have him under my radar! You know.. Momdar... Where I know where he is with whom and when he'll be home. A vehicle puts barriers on all that. I know! I'm no newbie at this.

 This isn't my first rodeo. .and rodeo it is. For those of you experiencing your child's independence for the first time...hold on tight..its gonna be a bumpy ride! My oldest didn't drive until she was 19... That was great!

 My older son was 15 and grandma bought sonnyboy a brand new Nissan! Fast and Furious had nothing on him...but he was a good driver and safe. .most of the time! I worried minimally with him.

Then there's my middle daughter.. OMG! She drives as if she's in a car chase on the 405 as 12 sheriff's cars are in hot pursuit. And this is her calm driving!

Yes. .I worry a lot with her...that is until her beloved car got totaled by a drunk driver while it was parked! A true relief! Now she's learned what a bus is! Amen!

So, I stay up at night wondering if my car insurance policy is good enough, if we have enough medical coverage and how am I ever going to get through child #4 and the whole driving thing???

My only true consolation is my daughter, whose 11 with Down Syndrome! She won't be driving any time at all {that I'm aware of}.

 I can get through this last child on the wild and crazy roads. I can console myself with the thoughts of how smart he is and what great judgement he has, most of the time. I can even calm my frazzled nerves with the statistics of his siblings driving and so far, all are still alive! 

What I can't change is time and the aging factor. My little man is becoming a big man. He won't need me like he did. He will become that independent, caring and intelligent human being that I worked so hard to create. He is and will continue to separate from MOM so that he can be a man...God knows there's enough out there who never graduated from MOM to be a MAN.

I do feel replaced by this thing...this 2000 lb. rival. .but before I know it, it will be a 5 foot 5 inch blonde {or brunette or redhead}taking my place. Then his career and so on and so on.....

Mom's can't be replaced. .not really! Our sons and daughters only have one mom. .ok. .some have 2 or three ....but...let's stick to the topic....

They will always need us, but differently. Like when they want that great sausage and pepper recipe that's been in the family for 5 generations! Or when they just need to be reminded of that unconditional love that moms always have an abundance of!

When they marry and have their first child or when they go through their hard times..they will still need MOM..believe me. And we will still be there!

I know I'm being sentimental and a little hormonal at this time..so close to Mother's Day and all...so I'll just be quiet now...let my son enjoy a car and the independence he's been groomed for and allow him to grow into this fabulous man I can already see.

After all..this isn't my first rodeo!