Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Some teen agers drive for the first time around the block and maybe go to Starbucks, while others consider driving to Rome

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Early in the morning the telephone rang. I heard French Husband speaking in French which confirmed to me that Chelsea had arrived safely in France. I sat up in bed hoping to talk to her.

I could hear French Husband's voice growing concerned. I rubbed my eyes and focused on the one sided conversation that he seemed to be leading.

"The keys…. but you just got your license a month ago… Rome? You want to drive to Rome? With two girlfriends? Why not take a train? Why not take a bus? Oh they're full. But you haven't driven in France; let alone drive to Rome! Of course I trust you….."

I made a signal for French Husband to pass me the phone. I didn't know what I was going to say… though I wanted to blink my eyes and have our daughter change into a baby again.

Instead I tried to remember what it was like when I was eighteen and tasting freedom for the first time.

That only made the moment Bitter and Sweet.

Holy cow parenting never gives you a dull moment does it!

Comments

45 responses to “Some teen agers drive for the first time around the block and maybe go to Starbucks, while others consider driving to Rome”

  1. Hasmin

    Holy Cow HERD! Yes, Dear Corey, NEVER a dull moment…and I thought it would get easier with age, but it seems as though I’m more stressed than ever before!

    Reply
  2. Gail

    Corey,
    Your posts never cease to amaze me. I am living vicariously through you. I’m glad that FH is still there spending some time w/you.
    xoxo
    Gail

    Reply
  3. Elaine L.

    What! You’re not going to tell us what words of wisdom you imparted to her. And, what was the resolution?
    I recall these episodes with my, now, 23 year old daughter. Yes, it’s hard. You don’t want them to think that you think they’re babies.
    And, I do have to, frequently, remind DH what it was like to be that age and how we didn’t think our parent’s “got it”.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  4. Elaine L.

    I forgot to mention, that our daughter wanted to drive, her new stick shift car, to San Francisco, which as you well know, would be quite the challenge for any driver, much less an inexperienced one. All those hills and one way streets!
    Oh, and then, there were the times she wanted to drive in the snow.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  5. collette~all over the map

    Do you think it was easier for Chelsea to ask all the way from France rather than face to face?
    Fasten your seat belt!

    Reply
  6. Linda

    And guess what?–it doesn’t stop even when they marry and have grandkids. Years ago when working as a nurse I had a little old lady who was going to have surgery and she told me she was worried about her daughter. How old was her daughter? 68. Never ends.

    Reply
  7. Susan

    Oh how I wish my daughter could wait until she is eighteen to drive. She’ll be 16 next month and has had her temporary permit since last March. You’re worried about your daughter driving to Rome, I’m worried about my daughter driving around the block. Scary… very very scary…

    Reply
  8. Gill

    Oh Corey, I know EXACTLY what you are going through. My 18 year old daughter is pushing the boundaries too. On the one hand it is so exciting to see her growing up and becoming independent, but on the other it scares me witless and keeps me awake at night. Especially living in South Africa as we do, where crime and car hi-jackings are a daily occurence….

    Reply
  9. debbie in Ca : )

    Blink back to babyhood indeed! And yet the joy of watching them unfurl their wings and take flight… Be still my heart! The bitter with the sweet — hmmmm — somehow it is easier to take in a bit of chocolate. : )

    Reply
  10. Katy

    Wow – Rome! The farthest I got to drive at that age was from Houston to San Antonio on a vacation and that was with my father and brother in the car.

    Reply
  11. Elizabeth

    Pass the me the Pepto please…
    Parenting anxiety comes in waves like the nausea of early pregnancy which unfortunately has no final birthing process. Despite cutting the cord many years ago, my heart still skips a beat when my daughter speaks of doing things that have an element of danger attached to them.

    Reply
  12. Caffienated Cowgirl

    Drive to Rome? Oh goodness…

    Reply
  13. Boxwood Cottage

    You know I had my daughter leaving for Australia last summer when she just had her driving license for 6 month and she had her own car over there and drove around on the left side even!
    Love the La Valette street sign! It reminds me at the great times I had living in La Valette in 1984!
    I’m going to Rome during my Italy vacation next month btw, will watch out for Chelsea
    😉
    Warmest wishes sends
    Carol xox

    Reply
  14. Jeanne

    Yes I know exactly what you mean
    When I made a montage of my son’s latest diving adventures and seen all the sharks
    be still my heart.
    No wonder we are all so anxious because they are our treasures in life………
    Oh my roots and wings
    Our children have wings that were meant to soar.
    I love you
    Jeanne

    Reply
  15. Debrah New

    Hi,
    I am not very good with words so this will just be a short note.
    I am from Australia and am always excited to find out what is happening next, it is a bit surreal.
    Thank you for sharing so much with us, it is treasured.
    With thanks
    Deb

    Reply
  16. nel

    Oh my gosh I can’t believe how timely this post is! Beck is going for her licence tomorrow!!! lol… Thank goodness we live in Australia and there’s no possibility of her wanting to drive to Rome 😉
    Never a dull moment!

    Reply
  17. TinaTx

    I’m not sure those moments ever end! My (now 21 – my baby) son drove with a friend (whom we had only met once) to New York City the summer he was 18. I only found out after he was back in Texas that he had not only driven in NYC, but he drove a cargo van! Some things it is just better to not know until after-the-fact!
    Enjoy reading your blog daily.

    Reply
  18. Beverly

    HOLY COW! is right!
    Rome!?!
    The only way I’ve found to get through these college years is to step back and remember…my mistakes, my thoughts and dreams, my attitudes, my whimsy…
    And wishes of safe travels to Chelsea.

    Reply
  19. Wonders Never Cease

    What timing! I’m writing this comment while sitting on pins and needles (ouch!) waiting for my sixteen year old son to return from his first trip in the car all by himself. It’s not to Starbucks, but to cross country practice. He just got his license yesterday, and the waiting is adding gray hairs to my head every second!
    So I can’t imagine Rome! Wow!
    I’ll say a little prayer!

    Reply
  20. Suzanne

    Wish Chelsea a fantastic adventure travel with her girlfriends!
    Hug to you Corey*

    Reply
  21. Candy

    It’s funny how my son driving hasn’t bothered me because I know he’s so careful. But now that his girlfriend has her license and she wants to drive him everywhere, I’m freaking out! Never a dull moment indeed.

    Reply
  22. tut-tut

    We are dealing with a new driver as well, but only downtown to a cello lesson! Rome, I think my heart would be in my throat!

    Reply
  23. Mo’a

    Oh, my!!! I remember those days of anxiety. Now he drives the roads of the Grand Prix every year…I had the pleasure of being his passenger on that road last year.

    Reply
  24. Paula

    My *baby* will be 32 in September and I still agonize……I NEVER show it to him. I think as a parent you never let go…….it is ok Corey.

    Reply
  25. Jeanette

    How funny you write about driving! We are have bus issues with Sarah. School startes next week and we are trying to get the bus to make another stop just 4 tenth of a mile up from where it currently is stopping…sounds easy right not. It is not like we are wanting it to go the 3 miles to our house which is on a busy highway. So last night Steve and I went to see how far the first stop is from the school. Steve being funny says well at least we will only have 9 more years of this I looked and said what? Sarah will be 16 and driving then. My chin hit the floor no way that is not very long!! My baby no way 9 years I am not ready! I am so with you Holy Cow! Jeanette

    Reply
  26. Rosemary

    It can be a nightmare sometimes!!
    Glad I don’t have to do that part of parenting over again.
    Hope all went well.
    Rosemary

    Reply
  27. Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

    Corey!!!! I probably can’t even tell you what I’d say in that situation.
    Rome? ROME???? You think you’re driving to Rome?
    Omigosh, how do we survive this?
    One time I had someone lecture me about being afraid.
    “Afraid??” I said, “I’ve raised teenagers, what could possibly frighten me?”
    – Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

    Reply
  28. Marilyn

    Yes, your heart is in your throat each time they get behind the wheel. I can’t even imagine driving clear to Rome. We must remember to breathe and say a prayer. God protect each of our children as they get behind the wheel. I still have to say that and my two are 35 and 39.

    Reply
  29. Tamara Giselle

    This post reminds me of why mother robins are so militant when their babes are readying to leave the nest and while they are nurturing them on the ground post-nest.
    It is hard to let our little birds fly the nest isn’t it? A real test of our faith for sure.
    You are climbing some major steps in life right now aren’t you dear Corey?

    Reply
  30. Tamara ModernGear TV

    Oh boy, so what did you say?!

    Reply
  31. annieelf

    It never stops dear Corey. Kris was off to Oregon yesterday. I didn’t breathe until I knew the plan had landed.

    Reply
  32. Dee

    I am now a grandmother and parenting STILL never has a dull moment! (But I love it!)

    Reply
  33. Nancy

    When in Rome, do as the Romans!
    Love your blog, and the personal and touching stories!

    Reply
  34. Alison Whittington

    I don’t know if this will make you feel better, but the second time I ever took my mother’s car out by myself, I got in a car accident, and I have since driven successfully across the U.S. five times in all, and from Nice to Monaco once, which I think is every bit as admirable.
    Oh, wait, maybe that last part won’t make you feel any better. Driving through Monaco was a BREEZE! A breeze, I assure you. Ahem.

    Reply
  35. Bonnie Buckingham

    AMEN to that last line!
    Bonnie
    mother of 5!

    Reply
  36. susanna

    Oh dear… Well, it makes perfect sense that Chelsea would feel confident in doing that! I mean, FH climbs mountains and you started a new chapter in your life when you moved to France. And now Sacha is working on a farm in California. It’s safe to say that you are a family of adventurers!

    Reply
  37. Gillian

    Corey
    It must be hard to award those freedoms…I know I would have a hard time with it. But you want them to grow up and love life! Tough decision.
    xoxo

    Reply
  38. tommie

    this only made me wince as we are just enrolling in Preschool…..not even real school…where there are cars and such!
    aS much as they are driving me batty getting into my bed at night, I know they aren’t driving yet!

    Reply
  39. jamie

    Never a Dull moment is right. I cringe the thought of my 13 y.o. with a license.She talks about it all the time. They do love to spread their wings don’t they. Jamie

    Reply
  40. debra

    My lovely daughters of many years give me ample opportunities to fasten my emotional seat belt.

    Reply
  41. Marva Plummer-Bruno

    Oh isn’t that the truth?! I have twin 15 year olds, never a dull moment!

    Reply
  42. qualcosa di bello

    only in my dreams could i have road-tripped to rome at the tender & gorgeous age of 18! my wild & free heart says “go!” but my momma heart is in my throat at the prospects…!

    Reply
  43. susan

    oh corey, welcome to the REAL adult parenthood. i know this feeling well…
    happy days to you!
    susan

    Reply
  44. susan

    oh corey, welcome to the REAL adult parenthood. i know this feeling well…
    happy days to you!
    susan

    Reply
  45. Sue McG

    Ha ha, my daughter has just turned 17 and is in possession of a driver’s license, she would SO want to drive to Rome if we were in Europe 🙂 You have to love their wild spirit and faith, even though we have to ask them to temper it with wisdom and judgement 🙂 Slowly, surely they spread their wings – Paris today, Rome … soon enough.

    Reply

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