Usually a parent teaches the children to drive it. I know I taught our sons how to drive. When it came to the girls, I started to teach them, but Anna took over. I remember her saying, I was teaching the girls like they were on a race track. Fast and furious.
The boys are usually able to handle the plow and four horses on the field by the age of about ten or eleven. Which means, at times, they have to take the team with plow on the road. If they can handle a plow and team, they can handle a horse drawn buggy.
Children are taught how to handle horses before they learn to drive them. They must know how to feed them, take care of them, attach the horse to the carriage, unattach the horse and carriage, brush them and more - before they learn how to drive.
Do the girls learn any different than the boys? That depends on who you ask. I say no. Anna says yes. Anna says that girls do not do things as roughly or as fast as men do. They are also not as in a hurry to get some place and back as men are.
Now as far as on the road. As I said, men can handle a team on the road at about ten or eleven. Not all parents allow them to drive the buggy on the road at that age - but they know how to.
In the papers over the years, I have seen car or truck and buggy accidents involving young buggy drivers. If I remember right, I think one was with a boy about eleven years old. The young boy pulled out in front of a car. My opinion is that it depends on each child, if they should drive a buggy on the road or not. I have know adults that shouldn't be driving on the road. They don't use proper care and handling. Yet, I know some young folks who are more mature and safe drivers.
We can't blame every car, buggy accident on the cars, because not all buggy drivers are using common sense. Now that's not saying all car drivers are either. I guess I got a little off subject. Anna says, way off subject.
Getting back on the subject. Jean and David's daughter Susan, knows how to drive the buggy. Jean and David taught her. She is only allowed to drive when a parent is with her and only on the back roads. Like all young ladies, she feels she should be able to drive by herself. Jean says maybe they are over protective, but feel better to have a parent with her. On the other hand, if an emergency came up, they know she can drive one by herself.
I hope that answered your questions. Keep them coming in.
Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer
11 comments:
Lots of decisions to make when raising children.
Good Morning Tom,
True. Very true.
Marilyn
Good morning, Marilyn. I definitely know quite a few adults that should not drive a car on roads. LOL My dad taught me to drive a car when I was about 8 years old. Just on the dirt road to our house, but I felt so grown up. LOL
Good morning Marilyn, doesn't matter if you are driving a car or a horse and buggy there are always some who shouldn't be doing either. Young people always want to drive way before their parents are ready to have them do it. Have a wonderful day! Cathy in Webster
Good Morning Angela,
That's how my Dad taught me to drive when I was about 12 - on all the back roads. I felt grown up, too.
Marilyn
Good Morning Cathy,
I agree with you, some people shouldn't be on the road. Young people want to drive before their parents are ready to have them do it. I must admit, I was one of those young people.
Have a wonderful day, too,
Marilyn
One of my greatest memory is riding horse and wagon as a young child. I was fortunate to go to Northern Germany and help with the farming 8 - 16 age. The farm was very isolated/miss those days.
Thank you, Elmer. This is one topic I had never even thought about. The Amish and 'Mennonite drivers I've seen always seem so alert and watchful of the traffic around them. I rode my horse on the roads all the time, many, many years ago, but wouldn't do it these days!
Thank you Elmer for answering this question so well - also I love Anna's comments too! I think she has a good point about the girl drivers.
It is a huge responsibility to teach our young ones.
Mary
Thanks Elmer and Anna. No matter what a person drives, flies, bikes, or even walking- no matter the transportation mode, there always seem to be those who have no business on the roads. The attitude being, "the rules are for everyone else, not me". Being parents, I'm not so sure any of us are ever really ready for our children to learn to drive anything. Kind of a "right of passage", y'know? Blessings all, Carol
Hi Everyone,
Will see that Elmer gets your messages.
Marilyn
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