My Son’s First Time Behind the Wheel

He's been counting the days until he turned 16 and could start driving, and yesterday was Benjamin's first day.

I was so happy for him to finally be able to start learning how to drive. He bought his own car a while ago and can't wait to get his license...in a year (lol -- that must seem to him like it'll take FOREVER to get here.)

I love, love, love Buddy Carr and Carr's Driving School ever since Buddy came on our morning show years ago to pit me and Lou against each other in a challenge to re-take the driver's road test. (Um....that's a story for another time, but I will say this: the infamous stop sign that almost cause me to fail has been removed...LOL!)

Anyway, I have all the confidence in the world in Buddy teaching Benj all the right driving habits, but the problem becomes that once he gets released from his six-hours of driving school...I HAVE TO LET HIM DRIVE AS MY 'STUDENT' FOR A YEAR.

I really don't know if my heart can handle it. Having been through it once with Christopher, the thought of another year of sitting in the passenger seat watching the bullying NJ drivers honk and make hand gestures and cut us off and tailgate just seems like too much to go through again.

Patience and understanding for new drivers is just something that is hard to come by in the great state of NJ. And when you're teaching a teen boy to follow the law and drive the speed limit when everyone around us feels like the speed limit starts at 85 mph, it sometimes feels like a losing battle.

Wish me luck. He'll be find. Me? Not so much.