<p>OK, this drives me nuts. My son is out driving on very slippery roads to go to Philosophy Club. Like he couldn’t skip one meeting. And worse, he’ll be driving back on slippery roads in the dark. I’m a worrier. And my hubby is supposed to be flying in tonight. I lovermont, but this is dragging out too long.</p>
<p>I sympathize, B. I remember when I skidded and landed in a ditch in New Jersy during winter, driving a four-wheel drive in my 20s… Even as a fairly experienced driver, a slick road can catch you by surprise.<br>
We have our own hazards out here in Lala land, too, however. Busy freeways, lots of speeding. Sometimes accidents happen because of complacency. At least you know your son will be paying attention and driving very carefully. He’ll be respecting the weather, and adjusting accordingly. Stay calm. Put your phone beside you. Maybe have your son call you when he gets to the meeting, and again before he leaves. Just for your peace of mind.</p>
<p>My son is driving on slick roads tonight too.</p>
<p>And it’s April 12. Ugh, and double ugh.</p>
<p>bethie, You are not alone. That would drive me equally nuts. My kids think I’m <em>the</em> most overprotective mother on the planet when it comes to driving conditions. I know they are both good drivers and we had them out and practicing in all kinds of weather conditions - but it is still nerve wracking. Hope everyone makes it home soon and you can relax. Hang in there - warmer weather is coming!</p>
<p>Bethie, my fellow Vermonter…it is a winter wonderland at my house as I report in, LOL. The winter snow was already still on the ground and we’ve been getting snowed upon all of April. Today’s contribution was at least six new inches at my house and the trees are covered and the piles of snow are getting pretty high again and the plow hasn’t come to do our driveway yet. </p>
<p>The good news, as my husband works in your region, is that he told me there wasn’t so much in your area, wasn’t really sticking to the roads and the bad parts were OUR road (dirt road and also way more snow). So, I don’t think it is that bad in your area (he came home 90 min. ago). </p>
<p>That said, I am a worrier (I think you are too). I get nervous about these sorts of things with my kids. Just instruct him to call when he leaves the meeting so you have an idea of when he left and when to expect him. At least cell phones likely work where you live and that is not the case here which compounds the worry. If the roads do not seem OK to you, you could pick him up. I think they will be OK. School events I guess were not cancelled. I always had my kids call as they arrived at their destination and left it (this was when they became drivers and lived at home). I’ll assume your son has four wheel drive and has driven in winter before. I think it is gonna be OK in your neck of the woods. I understand the nervous jitters, cause I get them too with my kids.</p>
<p>soozie</p>
<p>School wasn’t cancelled here but after-school events were. Nevertheless, he wanted to drive 30 minutes to sit in a Bosnian restaurant kicking around weighty ideas. How could that have been more interseting than me? Yes, I’m a worrier. But you’re right; I think they’re keeping the roads pretty clear.</p>
<p>Could you follow him in your helicopter?</p>
<p>Dadguy, I don’t know if you meant to be funny…but to me, there is a big difference between helicopter parenting on every facet of your kids’ lives and simply worrying about their safety (such as with driving) and wanting them to check in for “peace of mind” that they arrived safely, etc. so one need not worry unnecessarily. This isn’t like interfering with their lives. It is a respectful thing for kids who are privileged to be driving, to let their parents know if they have arrived safely so they don’t worry about accidents, etc. My kids never minded this requirement. We gave them a car to drive and in return, they informed us of their arrivals and departures, and if they’d be late, and so forth. I’ve had a child in a near death accident at age 16 two months after she got her license, and the one time she did not have to check in with me about her arrival (I was flying across the country at the time) and in fact, neither parent could be reached for a very long time or within the state. While my kid was severely injured, she lived. My kids have no problem checking in when they are traveling. They do it for me. I think it is a small favor in return for what I do for them. That doesn’t make concerns/worries over teen drivers or other safety issues the same as helicopter parenting with their day to day lives. Ya know, my hubby is 52, and I still expect him to notify me so I don’t worry when he is traveling and such and expected at a certain time.</p>
<p>I am sorry if this touched a nerve. BTW, I, too, nearly lost a loved one on the road.</p>
<p>Being from CA, we don’t really have a similar situation, but after the first couple of rains of the season, the roads here are especially slippery. I told my son to be careful and to drop his speed in those conditions. Back east, where conditions are much worse, I guess the best you can do is guide them into safe driving habits. </p>
<p>At a certain point, what can you do?</p>
<p>My gal is driving to an unknown place - by herself - 2000 miles from home - and I still worry - and she checks in to let me know too LOL.</p>
<p>Being from the nor’east - I can certainly understand parents worrying about their loved ones on nasty roads. I even worry about my hubby when he does New England travel and the potential for nasty driving conditions. It is only natural.</p>
<p>…At a certain point, what can you do?..</p>
<p>During bad weather and nasty driving conditions - ya can worry :)</p>
<p>FWIW - I think unless your helicoptor comment was meant in just - well… then it was a bit rude@@ - ooooooo and guiding them and actual experience are very different things :D</p>
<p>My mother still worries about me and makes me check in, and I am 50!! When the kids drive to and from school, she calls me a couple of times to ask if I have heard from them. If there is any threat of rain or foul weather, my mother will call me with a weather report and tell me how the kids should not be out in this weather.</p>
<p>LOL SNOWBALL - ooo and I love your name LOL - very appropriate :)</p>
<p>Yesterday morning at 2am, my 20-year-old son left the house to drive from our home up the northern CA coast with a friend, so they could be at a particular place to take photos of the coast in the special light of sunrise. Unfortunately, not only was it overcast, it was raining, and Highway 1 is very winding and it was slick and dark and 5am and… he took a turn too fast and the car slid off the road. Happily, it did not flip end over end, instead it perched on the edge, off the roadway. (The photos they took of the car are quite, um, unnerving.) They climbed out and up to the road, and about 90 min. later someone they’d flagged down had finally driven far enough to get cellphone reception and called the Highway Patrol. They had the car towed back to the roadway and were able to drive back south (having missed the sunrise) much more cautiously, thankfully unhurt and with nothing more than mud and some less-inflated tires to show for the event.</p>
<p>There is never going to be a time when I rest easily about them driving. But such is the life of a parent. That quote resonates with me this week especially: “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”</p>
<p>You’re not alone out there, I think we all feel this way sometimes…</p>
<p>MOOTMOM - ooooo soooo gald your guys is safe and ok - whew!!! nerve wracking to say the very least.</p>
<p>Your quote - soo much truth in that sentence…</p>
<p>And I agree - when ever my grown kiddos or any family member for that matter - is on the roads - especially bad weather kinds - the worry wart shows up - they are pretty good about ckecking in - as are we - when it is us adults - so they don’t have to worry - goes both ways around here.</p>
<p>Just think about all the really stupid, dangerous things they do while driving that you never find out about.</p>
<p>On second thought. Don’t…</p>
<p>bethievt, i hope he’s back and alright? plz let us know</p>
<p>Yes, thanks, he made it home–and the husband too! They both said the roads were just fine; guess I’m an incurable worrier. I’m hoping I’ll worry less about some things when he’s in college since I’ll know less about where he is and he won’t be driving.</p>
<p>mootmom</p>
<p>Thank God your son is ok!! I can barely ride on that road, much less drive on it. The sharp drop-offs make me too nervous.</p>
<p>Dadguy</p>
<p>I thought the helicopter comment was funny. I wish I had one.</p>
<p>WashDad</p>
<p>Exactly!</p>
<p>Bethie,
Thanks for posting that he got home ok. I was worried last night after I read your posts, but didn’t want to post to add to your worries. We have had a series of tragic car accidents involving young people in our area recently - so much so that it is almost an epidemic and was featured on the front page of our local paper. Some involved driving on icy roads!</p>
<p>It is true that you will feel better when he is away and you 1) don’t know what he is doing and 2) know that he is NOT driving. At least that is true of me!</p>