Click Here.

As Dylan gets ready for his second attempt to take his learner’s permit test, I have realized that I’m still angry at his dad about Dylan’s the first attempt.

Nearly a year after it was legal to do so, Dylan decided he would like to get his learner’s permit.

As I told him – nearly a year ago – he needed to make an appointment to take the test. I wasn’t asking for very much, I thought, since driving a 3,000-pound vehicle requires substantially more focus, concentration and ability than is required to make an appointment.

But Dylan couldn’t do it. For ten months, I told him to Google it. And for ten months, he told me that he needed help knowing what to Google.

I did not help him. I didn’t want him to be incapable of hopping onto the computer, typing in “learner’s permit” and figuring out how and when to take the test in Maryland. But one night, when Bill was in the midst of his drug-induced haze after surgery, Dylan brought up the subject again.

“Here,” Bill said, frustrated that Dylan seemed to have no clue – even though I’d told Bill and Dylan both – numerous times – that Dylan needed to do this one thing on his own.

Dylan didn’t do it on his own. Bill leapt up with his walker, followed Dylan to the computer, and said, “Look, click here.” Then, “Now click here.”

Soon, Dylan was in the exact right place on the World Wide Web to fill out an application and make an appointment. What a surprise! Bill knew exactly how to do it! So now Bill can take the learner’s permit test!

But no… Dylan filled out the paperwork, thanks to Bill’s guidance, so now Dylan believes he is thoroughly responsible enough to get behind the wheel of a car.

And our one chance – our only chance – to teach Dylan how to do something by himself is simply gone.

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