I wasn't allowed to get my license until I was 18, and I got a used car for $700. Those were the days, eh?
With it, I primarily just went to college and back, but sometimes I'd go with friends to a trampoline park, a nature park, to my friend's house (his mom stays home), or the movies.
Before 18, I was a bit jealous of the other kids who got their license at 16 and a car the same time, but when I thought of it, I really don't know what I would've done with a car before then, other than drive to and from school.
Reflecting on the behavior of others, my parents made the right choice in not allowing me to get my license, and even better that they hardly ever allowed me out of the house. So many kids are going out to do drugs, drink, vandalize people's houses, and having casual sex.
I see this kind of behavior as a huge reason why society is plummeting so quickly and the days of strict parents and church needs to come back.
I didn't see myself becoming a father, but now, I find myself in a committed relationship where she's convinced me that I can do my part in raising good children this way and hold on to hope that the future might not turn out as horribly as it appears.
I plan to get them basic phones for emergencies and heavily restrict internet use to protect them until they're old enough to be immune to the constant societal regimentation that's trying to turn them into destructive degenerates that plague society.
For driving, 18 sounds just right, but I will want to keep an eye on them as much as I can to protect them from the people who seek to prey on them and brainwash them.
I want to meet their friends and their parents and be very picky about teachers and even more strict with their boyfriend's and girlfriend's.
Do you see a huge movement of this kind of parenting as possible for the future?
Montana has allowed kids to drive from the ages of 14-15 for decades with no problems. We have some of the best drivers in the nation. Kids will get into trouble with or without cars of their own. No sense in stunting their independence and slowing down their learning of responsibility and how to adult. Both of my kids were driving and had licenses by 15. My daughter has her own vehicle, and my son will get his beginning of next year.
They got smart phones at 13. They are not on social media, because I agree that it's no good for the most part. Restricted internet access before 13, and limited TV and gaming as well. Lots of educational activities and sports instead. They don't party or do drugs, and they have excellent grades in advanced classes. I've never had to step in and stop them from living their lives out of fear of what may happen. They are very much set to behave like adults and have been for years, because they were treated maturely and expected to make mature decisions on their own.
If a car is all it takes for a kid to behave irresponsibly, then the parents already failed at parenting. A car won't lead to any negative behaviors from kids who were raised properly.
Children who aren't given the chance to critically think early, be responsible on their own early, and learn and experience on their own are far more likely to get into trouble. Let them make their own friends and decisions. Just give them helpful feedback about what you're seeing, how you feel, and what you think may be best and let them decide. Otherwise, they will just hide things from you and do what they want eventually anyways. You just won't know enough to stop it.
Not sure what driving late has to do with anything. If anything the people I know that learned late are less functional than those of us that started early
They have the most helicopter parents as well who keep them stunted for years longer than previous generations by babying them, so it appears to have had an adverse effect.
