Blowing the Curve

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Blowing the Curve

Parents of teens, who are learning to drive, know firsthand the cost of commitment, the price tag of trust and the truth of teachable moments. Sometimes those driving lessons may be quite expensive, as we discovered not long ago.

A simple crunch with a concrete curb can spell a trip to the body shop.

Still, driving lessons are life lessons, and the bridges we cross are inevitable rites of passage for young adults … and their parents. Curiously, many adolescents do seem to experience a metamorphosis into humanity, right around the time when they receive their drivers’ licenses and begin seeking access to the family car.

Squealing Tires and Heart’s Desires

A failure to communicate

May prove prophetic, far too late.

Consuming milestones of fate

And wasting wounds of woe – but wait!

My first young driver grabbed the wheel

With over-anxious teenage zeal.

As passenger, I did appeal

And wondered at the scene surreal.

My pilot’s confidence grew strong

Each journey, as we rode along.

Considering I could be wrong,

I sighed and watched her steer to song.

But vague impression, most absurd –

One frosty moment, it occurred.

Her young hands slipped, and vision blurred.

She crashed, but I said not a word.

I held my speech and fumed within,

But counted blessings, ever thin.

Still grateful, lest what could have been,

I paid the bill to my chagrin.

At last, I saw upon that hour,

As family funds this did devour,

We could not tuck her in a tower.

For parents must equip, empower.

The call may come, armed with a test,

As willful ones watch, unimpressed.

Yet could it be, though youth may jest:

Perhaps, indeed, Mama knows best.

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“Mama knows best”)

Heads or Tails (“call”)

Meme Express (Sunday invitation to Simply Snickers)

Monday Poetry Train (poem/s)

One Single Impression (“blowing the curve”)

Saturday Scribes (“failure to communicate,” “consuming,” “wounds,” “prophet”)

Simply Snickers (“wait,” “watch” and “willful”) 

Sunday Scribblings (“milestone”)

Theme Thursday (“I felt an impression”)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers poetry prompts. Or, look into The Meme Express for blogging prompts.