Saturday, January 13, 2007

In which my son causes me grief

This whole driving thing is a blessing and a curse. I love the fact that I no longer have to play chauffer at all hours. I’m glad Josh doesn’t have to walk to school any more. I hate that my insurance has now tripled (I think based on what the agent told me, though my first real payment will come this month). But I still worry about him and today it was justified. I got a call from my insurance agent this morning needing Josh’s social security number. I gave it to him and then he said the other part… “Am I aware that Josh had an accident that morning?” Oh geez. I was not. I guess it wasn’t serious as Josh didn’t call me and I heard it first from my agent. I called Josh immediately afterwards and he told me about it.. and it was his fault (though I’m still not clear on what actually happened). He received a citation so in addition to my insurance probably doubling now (which does that make it now 3/5ths or 2/3rds more than before… oh well, I’m not a math person) he will probably have a huge fine. I think it’s time the boy gets a job. I’m not mad; I know these things happen. I wrecked my dad’s truck when learning to drive… luckily it wasn’t bad and I just went into a ditch and dented it. I’ve also had my share of close calls and others running into me. I just figured it would be a while.. and it makes me think that I was a bad teacher or bad parent because I didn’t give him enough instruction to avoid such things. I probably should have just found a way to pay for a regular driver’s ed course, but when you compare a $20 home taught thing to a $300 actual course… there’s not much choice in our world. So do I make him use his Christmas money to pay for the ticket or do I let him go ahead and get the iPod he’s been wanting. Of course this is all speculation on my part, but I’m contemplating the financial ruin at this point. I don’t want to be a parent that bails him out and I think he should be responsible for it, but he doesn’t have a job and I don’t give him an allowance. I simply pay for things that he needs (like clarinet reeds and lessons) and give him money when he asks to go to the movies and such. I worry about him getting a job because I don’t want him overburdened and I don’t want his grades or extra-curricular activities to suffer. Ah the joys of parenting!

4 comments:

Susanlee said...

Poor Josh, poor you! Maybe he can do deferred adjudication on his ticket. It may not be the best deal because it's $50 more expensive, but as long as he doesn't get another ticket for 90 days, it won't go on his record, which may help out in the insurance world...Good luck!

Billy said...

I agree with susanlee. Get the adjudication. Then, let him pay for the extra $50. It would be fair and it wouldn't dip into all of his money. Just a suggestion, of course.

Summer said...

I know what you're going through. One is on his own now and the other is about to get his license. Blech! I'm glad he's ok.

Lisa said...

I had several close calls and a couple of bad wrecks when I first starting driving. It got to the point that my parents insurance was about ready to drop me cold. The joys of parenting....I look at it this way.....it is a great teaching opportunity.