Eden Rayne: 16.

Eden turned 16 on February 1. It was a whirlwind of a day. She went for her driving test, waited and waited at the DMV, passed her test (in the old 1988 GMC pickup, same as Liberty – I’d love to hear what the cop that gives the test thinks when they walk out and see what she’s driving!) and we went to get the license… they didn’t like the proof of address I brought. Ok… run home, get the things they requested, try again. Went to a different DMV I thought would be quick. She was supposed to swim at the rec center that afternoon with her boy… not sure how to describe that but it’s approaching dating but not quite there. Anyway, hurry up and wait. More. Outside this time, because that’s less germy? It was cold. I was glad I hadn’t brought the baby with us. Two hours later, we finally finished. She was an hour and a half late to the pool. Happy birthday, Eden Rayne. Super exciting day. But! She did it! The road to freedom is hers.

The next day, she climbed into that old pickup and drove herself to work. This is a bittersweet moment as a mother each time it happens. Watching kids grow up, let go, is hard. Really hard. I’m thankful for the baby in my arms and the kids at my feet when we hit milestones like this.

(Aren’t those jeans cool? She literally paid money for jeans full of holes, then sewed fabric behind the holes so as to keep them appropriate. I do not understand.)

And she’s off. Doing well. She “bought” herself a cute little car… but her savings account wasn’t up to snuff when a friend offered to sell her a cute little Honda that is the brown version of Liberty’s blue Civic, so I’m currently the proud owner of a cute little brown Civic. When she can hand over the cash for it, along with taxes and insurance, it’s hers. And until then, she drives a beater pickup that’s a great thing to learn to drive in anyhow. Not much to wreck on it. And I’ll just rip around in this tiny little car that pulls into a parking space like a dream compared to my beast of a van!