Is Strangling Your Own Kid Legal?

We bought a new car a week or so ago, and I can't get my daughter out of the driver's seat when we go somewhere. She only has a permit for a couple more months, but it's a Grand Am, and she thinks it's cool for her friends and co-workers to see her driving it.

Now, I can handle that, but when I...critique...her driving she gets all defensive and stuff. I finally told her, "Look, when you got that permit, I had to sign a form of financial responsibility, meaning I'm responsible for any damage you may cause. So you're gonna learn my way or no highway." Needless to say THAT didn't go over well.

But I've put a lot of miles on these highways, by-ways, dirt roads, gravel roads and interstates. You name it, I've drove it. Most y'all know that. I don't mean no harm, I just don't want her to end up one of those statistics you read about. No cell while driving, iPod changed only when pulled to the side of the road (the stereo has an iPod jack and a pc port. What you do with a pc port I have no idea), always knowing what's going on all around you (I'll even ask her what color vehicle just went by to test her alertness), and NEVER trust what another driver's gonna do. I've taught her signs of what he's LIKELY to do, but you never can tell.

You reckon I'm being too harsh?

Nope I reckon it's sensible(even to 15yo me, who aims to get his learner's permit soon, when I turn 16), ! You don't want her to crash or worse.

Oh and in Australia using a mobile phone while driving is illegal.

I understand that. your doing the right thing.

Oh Larry I really share your pain! My husband Phil is teaching our daughter to drive at the minute and strangling her sounds like the easy option! Sometimes it's hard to know who's teaching who. It's great fun sitting in the back seat listening to her telling him she was "just about " to slow down, indicate, change gear, etc! I've told her to tell the examiner that when he fails her in her driving test but I might as well talk to the wall! Teenagers! They know it all.

I remember going through this with my dad. I love my dad and he had taught me several things, but when it came to driving... he was not the teacher for me lol. He would make me nervous because he was to anxious! And telling me... "No! Don't do that! No! Not that way" So... another close friend of ours ended up teaching me. He was very calm and patient and he taught me to learn to drive stick shift, loved his way of teaching. After I had a little experience, my dad did end up teaching me a few other things but the hardest part was over

This is exactly why I sent my son to driver's ed. I could never have taught him.

Texting while driving is illegal here in Georgia.

Carol wrote:

I remember going through this with my dad. I love my dad and he had taught me several things, but when it came to driving... he was not the teacher for me lol. He would make me nervous because he was to anxious! And telling me... "No! Don't do that! No! Not that way" So... another close friend of ours ended up teaching me. He was very calm and patient and he taught me to learn to drive stick shift, loved his way of teaching. After I had a little experience, my dad did end up teaching me a few other things but the hardest part was over

Generally, daddies are not the best drive teacher to their children..It's better to search a friend to learn how to drive. Friends have more patience, I think. My mohter tried to learn how to drive with her father and was quite a drama!

Vanesa.

Christine's dad is very patient and remains totally calm at the best of times. It's only when SHE tries to tell HIM what's right and wrong that he sometimes raises his voice slightly! Christine is a very confident driver but sometimes over-confidence can be a problem and that's what we're trying to avoid with her, at least until she's passed her test.

No I don't think that you are being to Harsh but My dad was not the right person to teach me how to drive either i did not even try taking lessons from him my siblings had some bad expierence My Siblings and my mom gaved me driving lessons

No, I don't think you are being too harsh & I think that with all the experience you have you are the perfect one to teach her. I've seen how teens (mine included) drive these days & it scares me! I was standing out by the trunk of my car last week & a truck flashed by me & pulled into the driveway. It was David's truck in our driveway & Damis behind the wheel. I gave him the speech (it actually felt like a gust of wind going by me).

For the last 5 hours I have researched the internet and consulted Wikipeadia. I found nothing that prohibits strangling your own kid. No law, no precident, that makes the act illegal. So, do so if you must but please don't. That's just mean.

lol @ Joe.

I know what you mean Misti.

Indiana law says it has to be an adult relative in the passenger's seat, and no one under 18 in the auto. Just the "student" driver, the "teacher" (me) and adults over 21, but the relative has to be in the front seat.

She's doing well now. Parallel park, interstate, all of that.

What burns me is her brother is 2 years younger than her yet he got a permit and Ittybit didn't. She'd hide food, thinking her mother would take it away and she wasn't getting enough to eat. Obvious favoritism. You could tell by her low weight.

But I'M the boss now, have been for months, and her confidence has doubled. She has almost everything she didn't have, and for once she's somebody. Even has a 3.6 GPA

Oh, she works. Works at Taco Bell to pay for her cell and her share of the car insurance. But she hands it over, no complaints.

All in all, I'm pretty proud of her. I went off-topic, but that happens I reckon. God forgive me for pride, but I can't help it.

And she's still a good driver.

I don't think you're being harsh, you're being realistic. You want her to have all the skills and the knowledge for when she is able to get behind the wheel on her own.

I think you've done great with her, Larry. She's right where she should be.

I agree, I don't think you're too harsh.

Being too harsh is better than not being firm enough as if something would happen and it's something that you know you informed her about your conscience will be much better than if you had thought about saying something and hadn't.


My father only drove with my first two brothers. After that he let my mother take over making sure we had enough driving hours. Once we'd driven for quite a while he would then let us drive him somewhere, but he couldn't stand being in the car with a new driver.

When we finally let Nathan behind the wheel he drove like a granny. I was more afraid of him going too slow than too fast.
I sat him down though at the time when he was finally allowed out alone and showed him a picture of a boyfriend I lost due to a car accident. I told him that the decisions he makes behind the wheel can affect alot of lives so make them as if he had all his loved ones in the car with him. He listened, so hopefully he is remembering our talk along the roads.

I do know the worry though....I pray over him everyday!