Matt’s son got his learner’s permit.

• Matt is still trying to wrap his head around how getting a driver’s license works these days.
• His son has an app that tells him what he needs to do.
• He had to take tests and passed everything to get his permit.
• Now he has to log 44 hours of driving in the app, with parental approval.
• 34 hours have to be regular driving, and 10 have to be at night.
• He also needs 5 hours of instruction and 5 hours of observation.
• Yesterday, Matt let his son drive him around for a full hour.
• Matt explained that driving on the street is different from driving in a parking lot.
• They drove around Lake Dallas and Corinth.
• Matt didn’t want him on Swisher, which turns into El Dorado, but eventually let him drive on it briefly.
• They started on neighborhood roads with four-way stops, red lights, and stuff.
• His son’s turns were a little wide, and Matt wished he had a “chicken brake.”
• Matt kept telling him to go “smooth, smooth” on the turns.
• Matt realized it’s hard to explain driving because it’s something you do automatically.
• There were several nerve-racking moments.
• Sometimes there were cars in the neighboring lane, so Matt explained why his son couldn’t make wide turns and hit them.
• He explained how much pressure to use on the accelerator and brake.
• He explained that you let off the brake when turning and gently accelerate through the turn.
• Despite all the nerve-racking moments, his son did really well.
• Matt explained that you have to nitpick with your kids, especially when it comes to driving.
• His son takes driving very seriously.
• Matt got upset when his son adjusted his seat.
• His son explained he needed to adjust it so he could see better.
• Matt sits low in his seat and keeps his steering wheel low because he sometimes drives with his knees.
• At one point, a car made a U-turn right in front of them, and Matt yelled, “Watch out!”
• Matt used this to explain that other drivers sometimes do unexpected things.
• Matt also made sure to mention that he can turn his car with his knees.
• Matt realized he’ll eventually need to get his son onto busier roads.
• He then explained that freeways are more dangerous because cars travel faster than they do on side streets.

Thank you Matt, for not leaving out ANY details from your stories....