The Open Road: Freedom

Hello everyone and welcome back! I don't know about you, but lately I've been itching to test the boundaries, get out of my comfort zone, and really explore. Maybe it's just the fact that it's summer, or maybe it has a little something to do with the fact that I passed my segment two driver's test! That's right, I am now the proud owner of a level two certificate! Since I turn sixteen in about a month, that means I'll be able to get my drivers licence and to be honest, I am so ready to drive on my own.

Unfortunately there's a little something wrong with my plans; my parents aren't quite ready to give me that kind of freedom.

Over the years as I've gotten older, my parents have orchestrated "milestones" in my life. For example, when I was ten I was allowed to stay up later; when I turned twelve I was allowed to stay home by myself; and when I turned thirteen I was now allowed to babysit. Every time I was entrusted with a new responsibility, we had to have a discussion on what freedoms were entailed with said responsibility. Sometimes these discussions were weighty and other times they were just a typical after-dinner affair, but each and every time I was confident in the fact that my parents believed I was ready.

Now, despite the fact that I think I'm ready to drive on my own, I have to accept the reality that my parents are just trying to keep me safe. Did you know that 1 out of 11 teens will be involved in a car crash before the age of 17? I don't want to become another number in that statistic, especially since a lot of accidents have serious consequences. Car insurance skyrockets, repairing the damage can be costly, and if you or another member of the party is injured, it can mean anything from a few hours in the hospital to attending a funeral.

When my dad was around the age of twenty, one of his close friends was involved in a car accident. That boy died. Can you imagine the emotional aftershocks that family suffered? I never want to put my parents, siblings, or friends through that experience and if that means I have to wait to be unleashed on the roads solo, then that's what it takes.

You see, sometimes freedom doesn't mean doing something just because you can. When we were younger, my mom used to give us the suitcase analogy. She filled up a suitcase with really heavy books, and put only a few books in a second suitcase. Turning to us, she asked, "Can you pick up this suitcase?" We could all easily lift the suitcase with only a few books. Then she pointed to the next suitcase. "Can you lift this one?" Working together we could barely heft the weight.

After helping us put the suitcase safely on the floor again, she explained to us that just because we could lift the suitcase (barely) that didn't mean we were ready to carry it on our own. Freedom goes along a similar track. Just because you can legally, technically, rhetorically do something doesn't mean you're realistically ready to handle it.

I know I may sound like a know-it-all, but I promise I've handled responsibility I was so not ready for and it had consequences for me and the people closest to me. I watched a movie when I was much too young for the content featured, and it gave me nightmares for weeks afterwards. Those images were forever ingrained in my head and there was nothing I could do to get rid of them, try as I might.

The consequences of a freedom granted too soon can be even worse than a few weeks of nightmares, and ending up in a debilitating accident isn't something I'm willing to risk. So, even though I'm ready to get my licence and drive around town, just me and my friends, music blaring, and windows down, that dream may have to wait. In the end, safe is always better than sorry.

Sincerely,

Lara