Jeremy Speer

Much like the Southeastern Conference’s battle cry of “It Just Means More,” I’m finding that these days some milestones “Just Hit Harder.”

This one has struck me with the force of a 2×4 to the temple.

I’m talking about driving, something I normally do a lot of.

These days, I’m doing less than ever. My seat has moved to the right as my oldest daughter, Isabelle, completes her hours of driving with an Ohio temporary instruction permit.

This rite of passage for a teen is also a rite of passage for her parents. And honestly, I’ve dreaded this moment for some time. It’s not that I’m holding back time — I can see where our daughter having a license will be extremely helpful to our family. And it’s not that I don’t trust her — she’s a great kid who I would trust with my life.

It’s just that driving is challenging and I was worried about my ability to teach it well. That and the fact that a few practice laps around the parking lot within the last few years hadn’t impressed upon me that I was raising the next Earnhardt.

I find also find Ohio’s driving rules somewhat reckless. Once your teen passes a written exam at 15 ½, they are handed a permit. No time with a driving instructor needed — pass the test, and they can drive home from the DMV, as long as you are sitting next to them. The driver’s training course, road time with the instructor and final test all can come later.

My only frame of reference is Michigan, where drivers must pass classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction before given a permit to legally drive with parents.

In the great Buckeye State, Isabelle passed her test, and was handed a permit. Less than an hour later, she was driving through our neighborhood, learning how to dodge cars, make turns and properly stop at red, octangular signs.

In the hot seat is the parent, whose teaching skills are put to the test by (hopefully) calmly instructing the driver as they learn the nuances of this artform.

Good thing my wife is a teacher.

Day 2 came and it was my turn to get in the car with my very eager daughter. It was scary, but it was also fun. I enjoyed chatting with her and seeing her nearly instant progress. It took me only five minutes to realize that she, indeed, was going to be a good driver.

Almost every day since, we’ve found reasons to drive. Go to church, grocery store or to a friend’s house? We toss Isabelle the keys. We tried 55 mph roads, and just before Thanksgiving, we needed to go to a community 20 minutes away to pick up some pies. Then, she got her first experience on a four-lane highway. Check.

In all, it’s been a great experience, and I’ve got to better learn what the “cool” music is along the way.

It’s rewarding to see your children’s confidence grow in anything, and the growth arc with her behind the wheel is tangible. It’s great to see.

We have plenty of miles to go before her 16th birthday, but I’m looking forward to this bonding time nearly as much as I am her ability to get herself to practice or helping with her sister.

Maybe Ohio is onto something.

Public service announcement: This whole experience has opened my eyes to the importance of treating fellow drivers well. Give everyone space and have patience with someone driving slower than you’d like them to or making simple mistakes. You never know where someone is on their driving progression.

For this dad, the milestones continue to roll on down the road. It’s not long before I’ll see Isabelle get into that Jeep, and with the confidence I’ve had a small part in helping to grow, she’ll go on down the street and won’t look back.

That will feel less like a milestone, and more like a mile boulder.