Rhonda,
         I know that every parenting situation is different.  For us, 
even though Greg is sighted, we had decided that our kids would have 
to earn the money for their drivers education and when they received 
their drivers licence, they would be responsible for their part of 
the car insurance until they moved out on their own.  We would cover 
maintenance costs if they were using our car, but they would have to 
pay for the gas.  When they move out, they move out completely.  They 
get a car in their name and insurance.    This explains why Chris 
still doesn't have a car, but that's just his tough luck.

         As far as Christa's attitude toward helping you out, well, I 
can understand how her reaction can be disappointing, but I can see 
both sides of the coin, so to speak.  You are offering, what seems to 
be a fair, contractual agreement, but as with all contracts, she does 
have the right to refuse.  Granted, she's not refusing for very noble 
reasons, but she is a teen still, after all.  I believe that we, as 
blind parents, need to work hard at not taking our children for 
granted.  This can really breed resentment in our children if they 
are the ones we always lean  on first, to help us out.  After all, on 
their part, it's not a strictly  volunteer situation.  They didn't 
ask to have us as parents.  It's not their fault that we need more 
help than other  parents.  We would cut other people who help us out 
some slack, so I think that we need to be at least as gracious toward 
our kids.
         Is there anyone from your new church that heads in that 
direction who could give you a ride, at least sometimes?  It wouldn't 
hurt to ask.  I think that Christa will eventually come around and be 
glad to help.  I think that the key is not making her feel 
obligated.  Some kids don't mind helping their parents out, but 
others want their freedom.  They do deserve this  as a right of 
passage into adulthood.
Just my thoughts,
Kathy


At 10:08 PM 6/1/2006, you wrote:
>Hi, have a question for all you visually impaired or blind parents with
>sighted teens:
>Ben and I bought Christa a car, a 200 Kooger about a year ago.  We have
>payed the insurance until Ben started r3eceiving a Ssdi check for Christa,
>he gave her part of the money and she payed her insurance with it.  We no
>longer get the check for her since she is now 18.  The thing is, her car
>recently had a lot of work done, a fuel pump which was 500 dollars,  I gave
>her 180 and Ben gave her 100 she paid the rest from graduation money that
>she got from friends and family.
>Now...in the Fall we will both be going to the same college.  Jenna and
>Austin are thinking of moving to  Carrollton the town in which the college
>is located.  The college is about 13 miles from where I currently live.  So,
>I asked Christa if she wouldn't mind if I rode in to college with her, I
>would give her money for gas I get a millage allowance from rehab.  She said
>that kids shouldn't go to college with their parents, and since I have
>Bowers my guide dog I stick out like a sore thumb!!
>I didn't want Jenna to have to come the 13 miles from where she will live to
>pick me up only to go back to the college, it semed  foolish since Christa
>and I were going to the same place.
>I felt hurt, as though somehow Christa w4ere ashamed of me, instead of being
>proud her Mom was going back to school and would be a junior in the Fall,
>she doesn't want to be seen with me.  I understand that kids don't want to
>be with their parents, but  do you think I'm being to sensitive?
>I have decided that Ben and I will look for a h ouse closer to school.
>There is a transportation service that only would help me with
>transportation if I lived in Carrol County, so perhaps we can find a house
>there.
>Rhonda