But she knew we were following her. The Wilsons are like many families dealing with first-time drivers. Parents want their teens to have independence, but within boundaries. They want them to take responsibility for some of the car expenses, but not at the risk of letting their grades drop. And they want them to spread their wings - but not, in this case, to fly.
Parents agree that having a teenage driver in the family is a blessing and a curse.
Parental concerns are justified. The Stewarts furnished Jonathan with the truck his father was driving before his stroke and set down rules that include driving only to and from school or on assigned errands, no radio and a firm prohibition on passengers. Before Stewart let her son drive, she sent him to driving school at The Driving Challenge. The Commercial Appeal Charlotte Creasy is director of The Driving Challenge. A retired police officer, she started the school two years ago.