Claire began driver’s ed today with the local driving school. Claire is our third baby who “saved” me from the “nearly independent” first two kiddos who were 8 and 10 when she was born (in hindsight, they obviously weren’t close to independent then). Nonetheless, I held precious Claire so close and so much that great-grandpa George declared “that baby will never walk... you never put her down!” Well, she’s walking and (about to be) driving. Holy smokes. I’m so old.
The downsides for today aside from time on apparent fast forward: 1. Claire’s spacer for her additional braces work fell out so we crashed our busy orthodontist’s office. I hate to show up unannounced. It was worse because I had my giant shedding, drooling doggo onboard en route to the park and Claire had to plead her case alone. Fortunately, it was an easy fix and we were good to go.
2. I notice “road rash” on Claire’s arm when she gets in the car afterward. She spent 7 hours today hearing about traffic casualties after we have already experienced the worst when Katie’s boyfriend was killed on a motor scooter in 2014. Claire has been so brave this year asking for help for anxiety, committing to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with one psychiatrist and anxiolytics with another. She improved with so much with summer vacation and intervention, but exclaimed she picks at her skin when she “is anxious!” I asked her to use some of the other “fidgets” and coping mechanisms tomorrow to spare her skin. I explained there is no rush on driving, but she should finish this short course that is now completely booked for months.