Do you remember the day you received your driver’s license? I recall the morning I got mine. I had been dreaming of sitting behind the wheel for years, with nothing but freedom in my view. I knew that this was a monumental moment in my life, and I was ready. I got to the test and passed it with flying colors. It was my 16th birthday, and all was right with the world.
I passed that driving test for one main reason: I had spent the past 364 days with what we call a driver’s permit. This is a card issued to a person prior to earning a driver’s license. A driver’s permit represents a training period where the permitted learns how to handle the freedoms and responsibilities of driving a car, specifically with a parent or guardian in the passenger seat. For me this was a year-long process. My dad and I would go to an empty parking lot and practice driving. I remember receiving instruction as if I were training to man the international space station. I never knew that when someone headed out on a quick errand that the process was so in-depth! As the months went on though, I got better, more comfortable and more efficient. Since receiving my driver’s license a few decades ago, I have developed the art of driving and built on to the skill that I learned during that “driver’s permit year.”
As you read this, your child is likely in his or her last year of high school. Next year they will experience the most freedom they have ever had, likely the largest dose of freedom they’ve received since their ability to drive.
What if you, the parent, view this last year of high school as another permit year?
Just as with the driver’s permit, your child can spend this year learning how to handle life on his or her own, with you in the passenger seat. This is your opportunity to build on everything that you’ve already taught them about life, faith, and responsibility. This will include many important conversations, a lot of teachable moments, and memorable experiences that will all help your high school senior understand what it takes to live as a mature adult.
It is time to issue a Freedom Permit.