I think you made the right decision too. My youngest had to find the side roads to travel because I was nervous about the highway. He's my best driver out of the two but he was new to driving.

BUT, one day he'll have to drive on the highway as you know. My oldest took my youngest on the highway and they made it. True to my worries, the youngest had trouble merging. They didn't wreck but he definitely needed more experience. He's been on the highway many times now and although I still worry I had to let go and trust he would be fine.

You'll know when, just follow your mother instincts like I did. You'll always worry no matter how good they are. Maybe you should set aside a day to do some highway driving with your youngest. We did this when he was getting his hours but only once or twice so he needed more time after he was licenced. We're lucky the college mine go to is straight up a local side road so picking up the oldest wasn't an issue.

Not sure what your hubby would say but I know what mine would say. "Let the boy go, he has to learn sometime." But as mothers we know better. I don't know if all brothers or sisters get distracted together, mine argue, so it's possible. But, I also think if they know what is facing them at home they tend to be a little more responsible. We had rules here, screw up, lose the car. It was simple and to the point.

I agree with your decision.

I may not be the Mom but I went through this with the DSD when she started driving. She had to wait 6 months before we let her go on a road trip home to visit her Mom. It was a drive up north 3 hours from home. The road isn't busy even though it's Rt. 95, it's the very northern end of it and she only had to pass through 5 miles of city type traffic. I made her drive to that city and back with me at least twenty times before we let her go!

The very next trip north, she went off the road. She didn't get hurt, the car was fine, she just had to be towed back on the road. The only reason we found out what happened was because she didn't know what to do! I called AAA and got the car back on the road and fretted until she got home! This ended the road trips until she got some more experience.

Why'd she go in the ditch? She had the cruise control on. It was pouring out.

Don't forget to teach your new drivers that cruise control and rain and ice DON'T WORK!

I wouldn't let my new driver do that drive through Providence either!

You are MOM. You rule until that kid is 18.

I agree 100% with your decision. Its not really the distance that would worry me as much as the route. Too much traffic, going too fast with construction...I'd be hesitant to let him drive through that at this stage in his driving career even with me in the car. Could he take a bus/train a bit closer and let DB pick him up at the station?

Sending hugs, being a Mom isn't always easy.

I completely agree with your decision.

Cherie

I'm not a mom, but I remember what kind of driver I was at 16 and the restrictions involved with just getting my license dictated by my parents. Totally agree with your decision.

Sox, I completely agree with you. I would have done the same thing. It's everybody else's driving I don't trust. People are far too impatient. They'll get over it.....you're 100% right.

thank you everyone. I think the idea of letting him drive the next time
we go down is a great idea.......we will take it from there.

This is a little late for a reply, but just chiming in to say YES MAAM.... you did good, Sox! No way Jose' would I have let my newly licensed 16 yo drive that route. When in doubt, always follow your instincts, which you did.

Way to go Mom for doing what YOU thought was best for your child.

I always err on the side of caution. I agree you did the right thing.

You have to go with your gut.

I did not let my kids drive as soon as the law allowed.

My son did driver's ed twice and had his permit 2 times, did probably 3 times the driving hours needed to get his license.

Dd had her permit 3 times, did not get her license until more than a year after she would have been allowed by law.

They were not ready enough to suit me.

Dd is almost 19 and I still tell her where/when she's allowed to drive.