When my oldest was 6, I wrote him a letter to open when he turned 16. I put it in his baby book. He doesn't turn 16 until December of 2008, but I just remembered this note last week. I think it was the pending learner's permit test he'll take in a few days that triggered my memory of it. I think I wrote something in reference to the fact that the problems at 6 would look small in 10 years compared with the issues at 16.

What did I put in it exactly? I don't really know.

One thing's for sure. When they started school I decided not to be a safety net in the sense they'd not experience failure. I think I'd rather them learn at 6 when the price tag is low and less stressful, than later when they were off on their own making decisions, driving cars and simply exposed to more. By allowing them to fail when they were young and learn from it, I think they are more likely to make the right decisions later. I hope.

I think I now remember why I wrote the letters in the fist place. I believe it was this time of year (high school graduation) and a car load of students who were 16 were killed when they went joy riding. It was whooping, hollering fun turned horrible, devastating tragedy.  I know the letter wasn't all about driving. I also hope I don't experience a cardiac event during this driver's learning permit stage.