Usually I don’t get too excited about the end of one month or year and the beginning of a new one; the opportunity for fresh starts, new horizons, etc. Typically I find that life just keeps trucking on whether it’s a brand new week, month, year or not. Today, however, I am glad to see the back of January. It’s been a crappy 01/12 in this household, particularly for Middle Child and his personal banker.
Events:
Jan 3rd – MC turns 16
Jan 5th – passes driving test; now licensed to thrill
Jan 13th – fender bender on his first full day of driving on his own
Jan 17th – parking ticket (mine)
Jan 17th – damage to other car quoted at $4000
Jan 20th – police report has to be filed because damage is over $2000
Jan 26th – devastating news of the death of teammate’s brother
Jan 30th – missing school textbook costs him $120
Learnings for him:
Drive very, very carefully from now on
It’s no fun going to the police station
Being grounded from driving is also no fun
It feels really horrible to cause my parents so much hassle and money
Look after my stuff otherwise it will cost me money
Be very thankful for my family
Once this is behind us all, I know I will look back on that car accident philosophically, as probably the best thing that could have happened to MC. Always an uber-confident kid, this has been a major dose of reality for him and a huge wake-up call as to the perils of the roads. It may be costing me a shitload of cash, but in the end of the day it’s only money; imagine if somebody had got hurt or worse?
Hello February, glad you’re here.