My husband steers in front and I'm the back seat driver on our new-to-us 2013 TI. We had sailing classes last year on a traditional JY sailboat, and after getting knocked in the head a few times by the boom on that thing, managing to avoid the mainsheet seems a minor price to pay! The only time it poses more than a momentary problem is when we get stuck in the wrong direction highly variable winds and the sail starts luffing wildly. At that point, I try to pull the sail in a more comfortable position until we can either pedal our way through a turn until the wind catches again. Either that or I ask Robert to furl the sail to cut back on the wife abuse.
I would highly recommend a basic couples sailing class if you can find one in your area. You'll not only appreciate and enjoy your TI a lot more once you realize how much more comfortable and maneuverable it is over a traditional small sailboat, but you'll both learn some theory that will make it more fun and safe for you both.