Hey, Cherie! by Cherie Bennett

Hey, Cherie!

I am a 16-year-old girl, and I just got my learner's permit to drive. Yes, I waited a little longer than some kids, but that's not why I'm writing to you. I'm writing to you because my mother is my driving teacher and she is basically driving me nuts from the passenger seat.

We are practicing in her old Saturn, which is a decent car, but not one that I would choose to drive. But that's not why I'm writing to you. My mother is one of those driving teacher who doesn't shut up. She has a comment for everything, from how I put my foot on the gas to where my hands should be on the wheels to how close to the stop sign I should stop.

Cherie, I know that I am still learning to drive, and have had maybe 15 hours behind the wheel, but can you just tell my mom to shut up? Half the mistakes I make are because she's yammering away. It also doesn't help that she has one hand glued to the emergency brake like it was built that way. —Ready for My Tricycle Again

Hey, Ready!

Oy. I can just picture the scene of the two of you in the Saturn to my right at a red light. You are clutching the wheel at 10 and two for dear life, and your mother is criticizing your clutching technique.

There is almost nothing that's more excruciating than learning to drive, except having people in other cars realize that you are a new driver learning to drive. But I digress.

If you can't find another driving instructor that your mother trusts — and it feels to me like she wouldn't even trust Tony Stewart to teach you, unless there were restrictor plates on the Saturn keeping it below 35 miles per hour — then you are going to need to build up her confidence in you as you increase confidence in your own driving. The way to do this is to change up where you go to drive.

That is, make an agreement with her that if you drive in the parking lot of the community college on a Saturday morning at 7, she is not going to comment on what you are doing unless it's a serious safety matter. From there, take it to the quietest streets and byways in your town. From there, go to somewhat busier streets.

You see where this is going? Go with it. The more confidence she has in your ability, the more she will chill. Probably, unless your mom is just one of those people who clutches when someone else is behind the wheel. If that's the case, hang in there. After all, it's her car.

Hey, Cherie!

I have this chore at home that really grosses me out. I am in charge of feeding the cat. You would think that this isn't a gross job, but you do not know our family cat, Winnecatt. Winnecatt is a cat that throws up all the time.

My mother insists on feeding him that gross wet food, which means that I have to open a smelly can first thing in the morning. Then there is always old cat food stuck to his bowl, and there is nothing grosser than old cat food stuck to a bowl. Do you have any ideas on how I can get a new chore? I am only 12 and don't want to do this chore until I go to college.

— Sick of Feeding

Hey, Sick!

Ugh. The smell of wet cat food at 7 in the morning, or whenever you wake up, would gross anyone out. I have a few practical suggestions. Is there someone in your family you can swap chores with? It doesn't hurt to ask. Can you try Winnecatt (love the name, you'll get it when you take intro to psychology in college) out on some moist packets instead of wet food? A little less disgusting. Finally, lining the cat bowl with plastic wrap will prevent the stick-to-the-bowl problem that makes you gag before breakfast. Give it a try.

Cherie Bennett is a best-selling author of books for teens and young adults. Visit her website at www.cheriebennett.com. To find out more about Cherie Bennett and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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