Things have really changed. My friends and I were eager to get our driver’s licenses, when we were that age fifty plus years ago.
It was a step towards assuming responsibilities as well as having some freedom to go places and do things.
I remember my father had me take responsibility for getting gas in the cars, and for taking the cars for oil changes, and taking the car to the shop for repairs.
It sounds like many in this generation are missing out on things like that.
The only reason I got my license at 17 was that I lived in Japan until I was 16. In my USA high school, everyone took driver's ed at 15 in order to get the license at 16, and there were perhaps a half dozen of us in a "classroom" of over 200 who were 16 or 17.
OTOH, my sister, who turns 75 this year, never got a license: she has lived in center city Phila. for a half century, and to her a car was a nuisance, though getting the license does not require owning a car.
Yes that drivers license was a major step to responsibility and maturity. Anyone that wanted freedom wanted that license.
With regards to my up bringing, I had to work to pay for my first car as well as the insurance not to mention gas, oil, tires etc. So along with this new freedom I also learned financial responsibility.
Today’s kids sorely miss out on all of this. I suspect this kid is one of many that are afraid of everything and really do not want to let go of mom’s overprotective apron strings. I doubt it if he’ll ever be a Seal Team or Special Forces member. He will be walked on his whole life.
A catastrophic fraction of children today are being trained to NOT assume responsibilities.
“I remember my father had me take responsibility for getting gas in the cars, and for taking the cars for oil changes, and taking the car to the shop for repairs.”
You were lucky. My father had me doing the oil changes, lube jobs, brake adjustments, tune ups, wax jobs.
Especially enjoyable was waiting at the hot shop while the did the recaps.
“getting gas in the cars”
I had to get gas for the boat. A 60 gallon tank, five gallons at a time in Florida heat.
Taking the cars for oil change? Part of me learning to drive was learning basic maintenance. We crawled under the car. That was the deal.
I got lucky. My dad was a Sevice Manager at a local dealership.
They did that for me. Well, I bought the gas and washed and waxed it.