You Heard It Here: I Blew It. Big Time.
With the title of this blog, you may be thinking that I’m talking about blowing something up (as I’m apt to do in several of my books), but what I really mean is I made a big mistake. Not just big, but colossal. Nothing of life threatening or earth-shattering proportions, but big enough to feel tremendously guilty on several levels and for multiple days.
Okay, I’ve built it up. You ready? Wanna hear my screw up? Here it is. Confession time.
I took my daughter for her driving test on the last day of the year, but I forgot an important piece of paperwork. I thought I had everything. I would’ve sworn on my life that I had everything. But I didn’t. So she couldn’t take her test. Trust me, it was a very long thirty minute drive home. I couldn’t apologize enough. But my kid…she’s so awesome that she didn’t say she hated my guts. She didn’t scream at me or rag on me. She just took the whole incident in stride. Yes, there might’ve been a few tears, because she’d psyched herself up to take the driving test and couldn’t, so all that adrenaline crashed and landed in a pile of tears, but she didn’t take it out on me. How much do I love my kid for that? A damn ton, I tell you. She had every right to let me have it. Yes, it was an accident. And God knows I’d never put her through that kind of emotional trauma on purpose. I hated it. I’d have done just about anything to make it better.
But it’s a week later and I’m happy to say that this time I brought the right paperwork and my kid brought her A driving game. So after taking her test — and passing — my daughter is now a licensed California driver. Look out world, here she comes!! I’m very proud of her and she’s a great driver!
Here’s the car she drove for her test. I call her Goldie. (I know…I have zero imagination.) My apologies for the dark pic. I thought I had more daylight than this.
Honestly, I couldn’t have felt any worse if I’d wanted to. I was as miserable if not more so than my daughter. So tell me I’m not alone. Have any of you screwed up really bad where it caused your child or someone you loved a lot of unintentional emotional pain? Or maybe I’m just the worst parent on the planet. (Uh…bummer!) Let me know!
Kids can be so amazing when put to a test like that. I’ve always felt blessed with mine. I can’t recall any specific events where I screwed up, but I’m sure there were some. Congrats! to your daughter on her drivers license.
Hi Robena,
I agree! Kids can be amazing! I know I got very lucky with mine. She’s very patient with me. Haha. I’ll pass along your congrats to her. Thank you…and thanks for dropping in!
Hi Dee
Well, you daughter is certainly a gem for forgiving you so quickly and understanding your pain. I bet both of you were anxious and nervous that day, but she made it through with flying colors…uh, driving colors. afterward. Congrats to both!!
Hi Charlene,
Thank you! Yes, we were both pretty nervous. I think I was even more nervous the second time worrying that I still didn’t have the correct paperwork. Good thing I got a second chance to get it right!
Sounds like you’ve raised a very mature daughter, actually, so good work, Mom. Congratulations to her on passing the test!
Hi Veronica,
Thank you! Yes, she is a wonderful daughter. I decided to keep her. LOL. (I’m just lucky she decided to keep ME!) I’ll pass along your congrats, thanks!
I can’t think of any one time… but probably because I blocked them out. Your daughter sounds wonderful. Great job, Mom! And much safe driving for her.
Hi Shawna,
Haha. I block out most of the cruddy stuff too, but this is a fresh wound. I can’t imagine I’m going to forget it. I can guarantee that my daughter won’t. LOL. And thank you! Cheers to safe driving!
Oh, this is nothing! You are mother of the year…and the fact that you raised an emotionally mature daughter who knows better than to take out her disappointment, stress & frustration on mom is solid proof.
I have a friend who went bike riding w/her pre-teen daughter. They were on a neighborhood street, but she checked behind her at one point and noticed a big truck coming down the road. She wanted to make sure the truck had plenty of room to pass, so she steered closer to the shoulder…and knocked her daughter right off her bike! (Both were okay, but she felt pretty guilty).
Hi Sam,
Oh no!! Though I doubt I’m in the running for mother of the year, I’m glad I didn’t knock my kid over. LOL. Yeah, that’s some serious guilt right there! Glad they were okay… as was my kid after she finally passed her test. I do love her for not rubbing in my stupidity! A good kid to say the least!
My husband accidentally forgot to put the attachment back on the clippers after cleaning up the edges on my son’s haircut. When his identical twin brother sat next for his haircut, my husband started at the top middle of his head and gave him a reverse Mohawk before realizing his mistake. He had to go tje rest the same so he looked bald. It was the first time everyone could clearly tell them apart. My husband felt so badly and kept apologizing, but my son (11) comforted him. It was summer and his hair grew out, but I won’t forget how kindly he handled the situation. Kids are awesome.
Hi Danube,
Oh man!! I can imagine the shock your husband must have felt! Poor guy! And what a great kid you have for him to comfort his dad at age 11!
Glad it was summer too! Haha. I’ll bet that incident never repeated itself. LOL. Thanks for coming by!
Hi, Dee! I work with teenagers every day and sometimes (not often enough) I meet kids who are as mature and even-keeled as your daughter sounds. Congrats to her for passing her test and congrats to you for raising her right. 🙂
Hi Mia, Thanks again!
Thank you! Very sweet of you to say. I think a lot of it has to do with her being an only child. She’s surrounded by adults so maybe she’s grown up a touch faster than the average kid. I really don’t know. But I do know she’s awesome and I’m very proud of her.