I’m afraid to drive. There, I just outed myself…
Oh, if only this could be me, happy as can be...
What kind of mom doesn’t drive? Especially one whose kid attends a school a mile away, and who has a bitchin’ set of wheels parked in the garage of her condo complex?
Before you start heaping the e-abuse on me, know this: Until quite recently, I was the kind of mom who doesn’t drive OR cook, so at least I’m making a little progress as I bang and clang those pots and pans. I’m finally over my Fear Of Kitchen, so now I just have to pull myself up by the proverbial bootstraps and get over my Fear of Driving.
In a nutty nutshell, I moved to New York when I was 19 and never left. (Well, now I’m across the river, but I’m still a hop, skip and jump away…) So, with the exception of a tiny spot of driving in the Hamptons every summer – basically on the dirt road between Amagansett and Montauk — I’m utterly steering wheel-deprived.
You know that expression “Use it or lose it?” I’ve lost it baby, big-time.
Now that the winter is fast approaching, I know that power-schlepping the Wee Lass to school every morning — along the blustery Hudson, no less — won’t be a picnic for either one of us. Can you just see us, staring into gale-force winds and a blizzard of snowflakes — mushing our way to pre-K class like Alaskan sled dogs? Brrr…
On Friday night, as I watched an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, (OMG, right? Those cashed-up broads are the real deal…), I was struck by how thoughtful it was of Lisa to bring the hypnotherapist over to Kyle’s house to help her get over her fear of flying before their (ultimately disastrous, because Camille is bananas) trip from Cali to Gotham.
I need a Lisa. Or maybe I just need to find my own damn hypnotherapist to get me behind the wheel again. Oooh! Project!
Omg I’m so glad I found this. I’m 31 years old and I don’t drive either. I’m scared to death! Idk why. I’ve thought about it and there’s really nothing to excuse my fear of driving. No terrible car crashes when I was little, nothing crazy. I’ve driven a little but nothing too far. It’s crazy. My excuse why I never go anywhere is we have only one car and my husband uses it for his job. Pretty simple. No one questions it. But I hate depending on my husband or friends for rides. I’d just like to get up and go whenever I want to without having to get everyone ready.
Thank you for letting me know I’m not the only one!
Hi Rita,
I was on vacation, so please excuse my tardy response!
Here in New York, I find I have LOTS of scared-to-drive company. I have tons of friends who have their licenses (as I do), but are still hesitant to get behind the wheel.
I guess if we were in the ‘burbs it would be more of an issue. But there’s no question that it would be so much more fun – and we would have so much more freedom to just get up and go – if we could just shake that fear.
I’ve considered taking a class. If I do that, and I find it worthwhile, I’ll let you know.
All best,
Dana
Dana