It's true. It has to be. Didn't Arthur Conan Doyle say “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”

So DH's kid was over this last weekend. DH and I went out Saturday afternoon to run errands, and ended up having lunch together. Over lunch, he was pondering if Uberskank had been taking their kid out for driving lessons. His kid was able to get her Learner's Permit in November and we both realized she hasn't really talked about it since she got it. I said, remember how she told you that Uberskank had her drive home from the DMV? In typical Uberskank fashion, I bet you $1,000 that she was setting the kid up to fail. Knowing the kid probably panicked the minute she got out into traffic, Uberskank probably used the kids reaction against her and is refusing to take her out.

DH said, that would be just like her to set her up. But why would she do that? My response, Because Uberskank doesn't want the kid to gain any life skills that would give her any independence from Uberskank. This way Uberskank calls the shots.

Later DH and his kid are talking. DH relayed the conversation to me and I swear this is not made up:

DH: So kid, how's the driving going.
KID: Not so great, Mom won't take me out.
DH: Why not?
KID: Because she's afraid to drive with me. Remember when I told you she had me drive home after getting my permit?
DH: Yeah.
KID: Well when we got home, Mom said she knew I'd be bad but she didn't think I'd be THAT BAD. So now she doesn't want to drive with me.
DH: :jawdrop:

Did I nail it or what?? So what did DH do? The next day he and the kid went to an empty parking lot and the kid got her first driving lesson. She was very skittish (according to DH, I thought they should go on their own) and her confidence and self esteem was non existent. But he kept telling her what a great job she did and that every weekend she's over, she's getting a lesson. He said he'd start her slow and then work up until she was fully confident with driving. Hopefully by her 16th birthday, she can get her license.

I told DH this was a win/win/win for him. They get some one on one bonding time. He's teaching her an important life skill that means something to her (independence). And the best.....Uberskank is going to be PISSED when she finds out.