Texas Drivers!!!! (Houston, Early: homeschooling, taxi cab, license)

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I remember directions to a party once that included, "Turn right where the horse is standing in the corner of the field." And, yes, those were good directions, because that horse was always standing in that corner of that particular field.

Before the ranch down the road from me sold, I could tell folks to head east on the FM road and to turn left when they got to the zebras; if they got to the buffalo, they'd gone to far, and if they got to the wallabees, they'd really gone too far and to turn around and turn right at the zebras. I miss being able to say that - there was no way anyone was going to get lost going to my place!

Actually, it's kind of fun getting directions like those of which we speak. My co-worker was just incredulous though and she is so darn funny anyway, the story was absolutely hilarious the way she told it. One just had to be there to truly appreciate the humor. She had us all "rolling on the floor."

[blueskies49]

CleoT, the behavior of those people toward you and your family is just inexcusable and absolutely appalling. Obviously, most people, anywhere, are not like that. You, unfortunately, have had some bad luck living in that town. I'm assuming it's not in a big city. I know you don't want to say but I wish you luck in moving back home.

[cleoT]

Okay, I'm back and a little removed from my earlier frustration.

Love Roses and blueskies49 are both right. I'm in a town of about 15,000 and it's pretty much isolated--no big city around. I love Dallas, but the traffic can be a little stressful at times. There are other smaller cities I adore, and I told my husband not too long ago that if we'd moved to Longview, I would never ever want to leave.

What I hear from native Texans who weren't raised in this county, it's not me, it them. But that's not so easy to take when you are on a first name basis with the local sheriff because of a few haters. Thankfully the big mess is behind me by a few years, but there are a lot of people who still think I'm this impediment in their way. Many people have seen that I'm a good, normal person, but I will give myself some credit--I'm a stubborn, open-minded person (no, that's not a oxymoron ). I dug my heels in and wasn't going to let anyone run me out of town. Now that the main culprit is gone and I'm still here (for a while, anyway) I think I've gained respect from a lot of locals. I'm just so tired of having to prove myself for no reason.

As for my neighbor's teenager, I wish I were kidding you, but she laughed about the drivers test after she got her license. It may be that the officer knew her well and decided to pass her just by going around the block, I don't know. but I do know that all her mother did was sign a form to get the book, then let her drive the family car until she nearly wrecked it, then made her wait until she went for the test. The mom told me she thought her daughter would fail it, but she didn't. I'd be interested to see if just anyone can get by with this little knowledge and experience, but my kids are still young enough they won't be learning to drive here.

Anyway, I'm sorry if I ruffled feathers. I didn't mean to. I'm just still so frustrated to still be here, then to read that person's post set me off. But like I said, I don't think of all of Texas as being this way. there are small towns everywhere that are like this. I just didn't think that's what we were getting ourselves into when we moved here.

[Canine*Castle]

THL ~~ I found out today from teens that just recently received their driver's licenses and no, a DPS officer does not give a behind-the-wheel test. A parent can request one, but the norm is that it isn't happening. Ugh!!

[TexasHorseLady]

Really! I'll have to doublecheck that one, because everything I've heard (and my children's personal experience, which postdates the experience you mentioned upthread about your son) contradicts that. There was no option given when my daughter went in for her test - she simply had to take the driving test with the DPS officer riding along or not get her license.

[blueskies49]

cleoT, your stubbornness served you well. I would have moved if it were me. I asked my husband about any similar experiences when he was growing up in his small town east of Dallas where everybody knew everyone else. He can't recall anything that disasterous so I think you just ran into some isolated nutcases.

[texangelwings]

New Page 2 for acquiring a Texas Drivers License;

New Page 2

[TexasHorseLady]

I see it's necessary to pass the written and driving tests on all of those.

[love roses]

I do remember seeing the option available to teach your own child at home. I'm sure that's probably what happened with that kid, but her parents didn't do a good job of it obviously. They should probably take that option off the table as abuse of it is probably rampant.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I see it's necessary to pass the written and driving tests on all of those.

Well, not in Hill County from what I'm told. I'll call them on Tuesday if I don't forget and clarify the specifics. The teen to whom I spoke just got her driver's license about 6 weeks ago. I think she would remember driving with an officer if she, in fact, did so.

More later..........................