MOC9-11

Credits Go To The Following:
KAagard: License to Drive Kit

Journaling says: (Word Count: 658)
Getting a driver’s license in Mn can be tricky business. In our small community you can take your classroom instruction at age 14. After your classroom instruction, you are required to take a written knowledge test where they ask tricky questions like what color are the lights on a snow plow. After passing your knowledge test, you are now a permitted driver and you have to log 40 hours of driving time, if one of your parents attends a “refresher” course or 50 hours of drive time if they do not. Brady’s classroom was finished in the summer of 2019, followed by his dad attending the parent refresher and then the drive time logging began. some real “mom and dad” things were said while riding shot gun to this young driver, like the screaming “TOO HOT!!! TOO HOT” from the back seat when approaching a stop sign and if it had been icy out, you would have slid right through that intersection....in the middle of the summer on a 90+ degree day, and so much asking if you truly looked both ways. Oh, and let’s not forget that Mom did lots of weird panic noises and tight gripping of the door handle from the passenger seat, despite grandma mentioning over and over what a great driver her is. It’s possible, it had more to do with the fact that the driver was no longer my little man saying “mitmims” or hollering “basic remover” for what he felt were evasive maneuvers when his parent drove, to a nearly licensed driver. Brady’s behind the wheel training in the summer of 2020 seemed to go smoothly, but not going to lie, it was a tish bit concerning when he casually mentioned that he beat another student driver off the line at a stop light in Alexandria. He swears his driving instructor thought it was hilarious. Brady’s drivers test was scheduled for the morning of his 16th birthday in St. Cloud Mn. The directions for test day also indicated that it was necessary to pre-apply online for his driver’s license. In an effort to follow all the rules, I attempted to pre-apply Brady, but the system wasn’t giving me a driver’s license option. After sitting on hold for well over an hour, for the guy on the other end of the line to tell me that if I want to get Brady a REAL ID we would have to bring along two utility bills with Brady’s name and address on them. I tried to gentle mention that my soon to be 16 year old is not yet responsible for the utilities, to which he replied, that’s fine you can bring along a rental agreement too. I got the giggles and said, wait, are you telling me I should be charging him rent? Eventually it was determined that I would need to bring extra proof that Brady lives with me and proof that he lives with me. Finally, it was test day. We left home at the bright and shiny hour of 7:30am, which meant the birthday boy couldn’t or rather wouldn’t drive because he needed more sleep and had snap chats to check. Teenage life is crazy. We arrived to St. Cloud with snap chats up to date, well rested and ready to take the test. In the blink of an eye, Brady had passed his test and we were waiting in line to finish his Driver’s License/REAL ID process. I’m grateful I got to be a part of this process with Brady. He wanted to get right back home to school. He claimed he didn’t want to miss English, but I think it was more that he wanted to drive himself to school. We made a quick stop in Alex on the way home to get his skates sharpened and then a drive thru lunch at Culvers and then he was backing out of the garage and driving himself to school.