Daughter-in-law told she's not ready to be a Mom because she can't drive

There's a lot to consider when you're becoming a parent for the first time.

If you want to become a parent, by all means, go ahead! There's very little stopping most people from actually having a child. But caring for and raising your child takes a ridiculous amount of time, energy, money, and planning, and it's just not something that every parent fully considers before they commit to having a baby.

When you're expecting a baby, you get to have all the fun of telling people about it, picking out clothes and a stroller and a crib, painting the nursery, and so on. But once the baby has arrived, it's just 2 partners and a screaming newborn. It's 3 AM and your baby hasn't slept in days, and there's no one around to help out except the 2 adults. It's these less-than-glamorous parts of parenthood that not everyone is prepared for before baby arrives.

This person thinks they might be overcritical about their daughter-in-law's sudden announcement that she and her husband are going to start trying to have a baby.

But… are they? They made a simple observation that really upset their DIL, and I don't even think they're wrong for pointing it out!

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Mom sits in driver's seat with baby on her lap.
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Am I wrong for being honest and telling my DIL that they are not ready to be a parent, since she can not drive?

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Silver minivan in a parent's driveway.
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Hmm… This person made a lot of good points!
I myself don't drive, so I know that it is limiting. I live in New York, which has excellent public transit, and you know what? I still would have an easier time if I could drive. There are some times that driving is just not the best option — like, for example, work less than 20 miles from my home, and it would be a 40 minute drive. But since I don't drive, it's 90 minutes to 2 hours each way for the commute. If there's an emergency issue, yep, Uber is the only way to go. And that will add up over time if you're trying to take your child to lots of places.
Even things like grocery store trips and doctor visits are going to become very difficult if you live in a suburban area without a car.
Maybe this person took a stern tone, and that's what the DIL didn't like, but I can't help but wonder if she hadn't thought about the car issue before this person brought it up. Maybe she's just reacting like this because she thought everyone would be 100% excited for her, instead of cautiously optimistic and warning her that she might be biting off more than she can chew.
via Getty Images

Smiling mom and her baby sit in the driver's seat of a car.
_{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}