to feel nervous and anxious about driving with my two young kids?

[artlesschaos]

I used to be a fairly confident driver in my twenties but after a long spell in London where I never needed to drive at all, I now find myself scared and panicky about driving. I do force myself to do it occassionally but find myself making excuses. When my eldest (they're now 3) was a baby, I'd take her out if I had to in a tiny Smart Car but would only go on journeys I felt sure of.
Now we have a huge people carrier (7 seater)(between my partner and I we have 5 kids) and I am a complete wreck every time I have to go out in it. DH paid for me to have a few refresher lessons in it but still I feel scared. It is a thousand times worse when the babies (3 and 1 yr old) are in it. Not because they distract me, although they sometimes do but because I am TERRIFIED of having an accident and killing/disabling them. I cannot think if anything significant that has made me feel like this but it started to happen around the time my eldest child was a few weeks old and DP expected me to start driving with her in the car.
It also doesn't help that we don't have a drive and have to park "the beast" often quite a way from the house..not easy getting the buggy and two little ones safely in/out of the car in a bust street.
Am I being a pathetic wimp? I'm underconfident of my own driving ability and wary of everyone elses.
Do I keep forcing myself to drive or give up?

I have also had major fear of driving in the past, made all the excuses, wouldn't even get in car but somehow pysched myself out of it through sheer determination. Had some hypnosis and also read general Paul Mckenna stuff (seemed to be a switch with him)- I think he's very good.

Still have prob with motorway driving and hope to overcome that in due course.

I actually think driving in central and inner London is not so hard because your lanes etc are so regulated

Also for dss football has involved driving to suburban areas under time pressure. Don't use satnav but study maps/route planner.

I actually now enjoy driving quite alot.

Also had critical disbelieving male relatives.

Can I ask, does anyone else feel extra nervous with babies/toddlers in the car? Do you worry about driving more with them in the car?
No one else (mums in RL) seems to know what I'm going on about!!

Artlesschaos - Not with driving, but with flying i am so anxious, i have never flown with any of my 3 children.

I think it has something to do with being out of control for me.

I drove a short route today with the kids..less than 10 minutes and a familiar route but I feel proud and relieved that it was ok.
I listened to Radio 2 and a song from the time I used to be a "normal" driver came on so that helped boost me up.
I just wish it wasn't so scary for me.
I am paranoid about injuring my kids to the point it is ridiculous.
I quite happily take other risks, push buggy across busy roads, take them on planes...I just don't get it.

thats great

it really is mind over matter. Something major eventually just clicked in my mind. Unfortunately I can't attribute it to anything in particular.