Project Report: Daughter’s Texas Driver’s License

Project Title: Obtaining a Texas Driver’s License (Parent Taught Program)
Duration: 6 Months (February-August 2009)
Documentation:

January of 2009, my 16 years old daughter asked me about obtaining her Texas driver’s license and I was so overwhelmed of the magnitude of the entire project.  I just had my myocardial infarction 30 days ago (December 22, 2008) and now I have to put together a plan to obtain her personal objectives.  I decided to apply the project management training I’ve learned for years and I assigned myself as the project manager and my daughter as the member.  Using my Sharepoint Site as the container of the documentation, I formed the framework of the project and wrote down all the tasks.  At that time, we were so overwhelmed what to do but we keep pushing forward.  My daughter did all the leg work as I gave her the tasks to execute.  At times, she complained… but I persisted.  We had an option to send her to a professional driving school but she was hesitant to sit in the classroom for hours and I figured out also that I am a better teacher … ;-()  It took at least 6 months to fully complete the project but in the end, it was a job well done for her, not just obtaining her objective but learning other things along the way like, calling DPS by herself, going to school and getting her requirements and being pushy to me to get things done.  I know that driving a car is a lifelong training, (even myself still learn new things on the road).  The greatest benefit was the relationship we established during those training times.  Me and my daughter are closer to each other more than ever.  The bond we developed were priceless.  You cannot put a price in spending time with your daughter especially when driving is a necessity in life.  I think when I’m gone, she will always remember that dad helped her in a special way.  Her smiles in the picture below will always be in my mind, it was such a great accomplishment for both of us.  We did it together.

I documented this project because I want you (my readers) to try something like this to your children.  I know it is easier to just send them to a driving school but the things that she learns along the way are far more important and lasting.

UPDATE: Just an hour ago, she told me that she went to Starbucks by herself, then went to Barnes and Nobles to get some school supplies.  Today is a milestone for our family.  We now have a new driver in the house.  What’s next?  Hmmm.  Kids do grow up so quick!