[costello]

My son's driver's license has been suspended for the past year due to a DUI. He got it back yesterday! Hurrah! Now he can do some of the driving. He drove us home yesterday.

Makes me a bit nervous because he drives fast and he gets distracted easily, but he's going to try to be careful, because he knows I won't allow him to drive if he stresses me out too much.

He took back managing his own money a month ago. Now he has his driver's license. He's working with voc rehab to find a job, and he's trying to get back into school - hopefully starting in January. Things are starting to come back together for him. Knock wood.

[KUREHA]

That's cool - I really hope it all goes well.

Getting back to school would be good as well - I made some good friends, although I sometimes think they are talking about me. When they aren't they are nice though.

[costello]

Originally Posted by KUREHA

That's cool - I really hope it all goes well.

Getting back to school would be good as well - I made some good friends, although I sometimes think they are talking about me. When they aren't they are nice though.

Getting back to school will be a problem, unfortunately.

He'll need a car to get to town, so he can catch the bus to the school which is in a bigger city. Voc rehab was talking about buying him a car, but now they've back off of that. They said they'd get him a bus pass, but it would be useless. The bus doesn't come within 15 miles of our house.

And he owes $1800 to the school from the last semester he went - fall 2009. He flipped out that semester, withdrew from school, and ended up hospitalized after a suicide attempt. We've asked them to forgive at least part of that debt but haven't heard back from them yet.

He's saved a bit of money. He might be able to buy a very cheap car. He might be able to pay off the $1800 within the next month or two. But he can't afford to do both. And both of those things need to happen to get him into school.

So there are still obstacles to getting back to school.

[costello]

BTW I'm glad you've met some friends at school. This is what I keep telling my son. He really needs some new friends. All of his old friends have abandoned him. He needs to get out of the house and meet people.

[KUREHA]

I don't know how I made friends - it just happened - I only have 1 friend outside of college - but I hardly go out so it doesn't matter.

Ah right that is a problem - I'd probably go with the car first since it's so far to travel. That's a lot to pay.

My course is free, but it's not meant to be for me, but the teacher said it was better to say I had no level 3 - I couldn't remember if I did, so she just put No and my friend said that's how I didn't have to pay.

[costello]

Originally Posted by KUREHA

I don't know how I made friends - it just happened - I only have 1 friend outside of college - but I hardly go out so it doesn't matter.

My son is really social and needs people to hang out with and talk to.

Ah right that is a problem - I'd probably go with the car first since it's so far to travel. That's a lot to pay.

I think you're right. If he gets a car, maybe he can get a job and save up faster to pay off the school. I just hope the school forgives some of the debt. It wasn't really his fault that he wasn't able to complete the semester.

My course is free, but it's not meant to be for me, but the teacher said it was better to say I had no level 3 - I couldn't remember if I did, so she just put No and my friend said that's how I didn't have to pay.

He talked to the school last week, and he's eligible for a grant to pay for the school. So that part is taken care of. He just needs to clear away those other two problems first. I still have some hope that voc rehab will buy the car and the school will forgive part of the debt, but he doesn't think it will happen.

Voc rehab is going to refer him to an agency to help him get a job. Why do that if they're not going to buy the car? He has no way to get to a job without a car. It would just be a waste of time to find him a job, if he can't get to it. But then these agencies sometimes do very silly and illogical things.

[KUREHA]

Yeah maybe the school will understand - I hope they help with the debt.

I hope the voc rehab help as well - seems pointless helping him get a job, if he can't get there, the car would be totally helpful.

[mgran]

I'm really impressed he got his license back and can do some of the driving. That will really improve his self esteem as much as anything. I'm probably never going to be able to drive, I've had lessons and everything seems to be going well, then I hallucinate, or panic and freeze. It's a wonder I haven't been in a serious accident yet. Even with the meds the fear is just too strong for me. So although my learning license isn't officially suspended I'd never get insurance, the doctor has banned me. Which is fine by me actually... my family can stop nagging me to learn to drive.

[costello]

Originally Posted by mgran

I'm probably never going to be able to drive, I've had lessons and everything seems to be going well, then I hallucinate, or panic and freeze. It's a wonder I haven't been in a serious accident yet. ...

I worry most about how inattentive my son is. He tends not to pay enough attention to the road. He also doesn't keep a close eye on the speedometer, so he gets lots of speeding tickets. But he's always been that way. He's had a few accidents, but not as many as one would think. So he hasn't been seriously hurt (or hurt anyone else), but he has smashed up a couple of cars.

He met with his voc rehab advisor on Friday. It looks like they're definitely going to buy him a car. They have a limit of $2000 for the purchase of the car which would only get a really crappy car, but they said he could add his own money in. He could probably scrape together $1500 or so. So adding those together he'd get an ok car.

[KUREHA]

That's good at least if he can add some of his own money he can get a better car, it's a start at least.

[costello]

Originally Posted by KUREHA

That's good at least if he can add some of his own money he can get a better car, it's a start at least.

I think he'll feel better when he can get around without asking me or my mother for a ride. He told me yesterday he feels like a dork always riding around with his mother and/or his grandmother.

[KUREHA]

Lol aww, at least soon he'll have a car again.
I usually get Taxis - I can't get on the bus.