The "D" word

I’ve finally done the deed. It’s something I’ve been putting off for years and each time someone suggested picking it up, I’d brush it aside with a truckload of excuses.

Why, I even offered to have more babies in exchange for not doing this! But now that I’ve more or less decided I’m done in the birthing department, I’ve run out of valid reasons.

Curious to know what I've been avoiding for the past 10 years?

Driving.

Ha.

I got my Class 3 Driving Licence in December 1997 and used to drive my Dad's company van during the weekends when I gave private tuition. Unfortunately I met with an accident (though I didn't suffer any broken bones) and after that traumatising experience, I steered away from driving completely.

In fact, the only driving I'm really capable of these days is driving the hub up the wall by my decision not to drive!

Honestly, I'm happy zipping about on buses, trains and cabs because the public transportation in Singapore is pretty efficient. I have no desire to own a car, much less drive one.

But now that the kids are older and have to be rushed from swimming, piano and enrichment lessons, it's hard to avoid my chauffeur responsibilities. And these days, the hub's got his hands full with work and the pet shop, and sometimes he has to re-arrange meetings and plans just so that he can ferry the kids up and down to their activities.

It dawned onto me during the weekends that it's time for me to face my ridiculous fears about manoeuvring a motor vehicle.

I checked out the various websites for Refresher Courses available and decided to sign up with Comfort DelGro Driving Centre as they had a Kovan Branch just outside my home.

And before I changed my mind, I quickly called the centre for enquires yesterday and they informed me that there were 2 last-minute cancellations which I could take over on Friday and Saturday. So immediately after work, I zoomed straight to the centre to register for the Refresher Course (a minimum of 2 lessons although I'm pretty sure I need more than that to feel safe on the roads).

There. I did it. All for the sake of the kids.

Now the real litmus test is on Friday when I actually get behind the wheel.

So not looking forward to it. :(