Condition the Car Early

The car only feels safe if you build it that way, one easy step at a time. Rush it and you teach fear; go slow and you teach calm.

Work the ladder over days, not minutes:

• Engine off. Feed a meal in the parked car. Just sitting, eating, leaving.
• Engine on. Same meal, motor running, no movement yet.
• Short loop. A trip around the block that ends with a treat.

Only stack on the next rung once the current one is boring.