I grew up without a family car, so I was used to commuting. When I started working, I lived close to the office. Even after getting married, we stayed in the city, so there was really no need for me to learn how to drive. It just wasn’t something I ever had to think about—until life gave me no choice.

Living in the province forced me to embrace driving. My reasons? Emergencies. Bringing my daughter to and from school. Going out and actually having fun. Driving for my husband when he’s tired, or, let’s be real, when he’s had a few drinks. See? A mama can take the wheel too!

Here’s the story of how I finally learned—and what I did to make it happen.

I really think this is the first step to learning how to drive (or learning anything, really). Sometimes, we’re not even sure if we can do it. But having just one person who believes you can makes all the difference!

For me, that person was my husband. He pushed me, believed in me, taught me, and supported me all the way. It was such a relief that he trusted I could do it. Not once did I hear a sigh of disappointment or a single discouraging word, even when I was just starting out.

You know what’s funny? I’ve heard from friends that men can be so naggy when teaching their wives how to drive. But with my husband, it was the total opposite! He was the most patient, funniest driving instructor ever!

Once you’ve finally decided to take the plunge, the next thing you need to do is set aside some time to go through the whole process. I knew I needed a driver’s license, so I did my research on how to actually get it. If you’re in the same boat, here’s what you need to do:

This 15-hour class is required to apply for a student driver’s permit. It covers basic driving skills and road safety. I checked out different driving schools, asked around about the TDC, and found out they also offer online courses. Of course, I had to grab that option—learning in my free time at home? Super convenient. I just had to go to the driving school to take an exam and officially complete the course. You can also check the LTO website since I know they offer a free TDC as well.

As soon as I was done with the TDC, I went straight to LTO to process my student driver’s permit. I remember feeling so happy when I finally got it—one step closer to my goal! This allowed me to put the theories into practice as I can already drive provided there’s another person with a driver’s license with me.

Thankful to my husband for being my first (and the best) driving instructor. My first “drive” was around our village with 10kmph speed because I was super scared and stressed! But my husband remained very, very calm. We practiced almost everyday until it’s time for me to get my driver’s license.

This is an 8-hour mandatory driving lesson to get a non-professional driver’s license. I enrolled in another driving school that fit my schedule and budget (PDC courses range from ₱3000-8000 depending on the vehicle and hours you will choose). Some schools offer 8 hours, while others offer 16. It really depends on how much practice you think you need. I went for the minimum since I knew I could practice at home with my husband as my personal instructor.

As soon as I am done with the PDC, it’s time to finally get my driver’s license. Sounds easy but it’s not especially that I failed in my PDC online exam. Not too proud but not ashamed to admit also. That only means, I needed to review! Haha. At least I am more than aware of basic driving skills and road safety! If you don’t want to fail, make sure you study and review — there’s a lot of resources found in Youtube. Good thing is, you can take the test again the next day and so I did. After I passed, I had to show the LTO officers that I can drive and park. An hour later, I got my driver’s license! Hooray!

My first driving assignment was to pick up our daughter Monica from school. Even if my husband was with me, I was too tense, too close to the steering wheel, too stiff. But I just went ahead and did it. I gained more confidence by practicing everyday. I drove to and from the nearest mall.

One day, my husband told me, “Go ahead and pick up Monica alone.” I did not know how to feel! I was scared and excited. I can’t emphasize how his trust and confidence in me pushed me through. Days went by and I found myself confidently taking the wheels to and from school, going to mall, and even going home after a party. Before I knew it, I am already driving without much fear.

With my two and half years of driving, I can say that I am more confident now. Though I still can’t drive going to the Metro as I’m still scared, I know I could do it in time. Just like anything in life, nothing worth having comes easy. Learning to drive is honestly hard at first, but there’s nothing we, moms, can’t do. Let’s take the wheel, too! I promise, it’s worth it!