Posted this on the teenage forum, then remembered this is where more people post.

I cannot believe we have entered a new stage of the boys' lives - Driving!!! The boys just turned 15, and all got their permits last week. They had their first driving lessons driving around a parking lot at a local park. We've let them drive around our subdivision a little, and a little bit on a couple of other two lane roads, but we've not had enough practice to drive on busier roads. They are doing well, but it's hard!

Now I just wonder, HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR CAR INSURANCE NEXT YEAR!!!

Heather, BBBB (two identical, two fraternal) 28 1/2 weeks, now age 18!

Wow, driver's permits?! That is amazing.

"

Pretty amazing! White knuckles yet?

My three boys are thinking about it and they still have a month or so before they are 13! As we were driving off in the '88 Honda Accord (243,000 miles), one asked if they would have to learn to drive in it. Well, if it is still on the road in 3 years, I told them, yes they would be driving it. And I told them that learning to drive the stick shift would be good for them! Then the discussion went of to cars of the future.

Best of luck with it all! When it is time to teach these three boys to drive (and pay the insurance bill!), I'll think of you and think, "It could have been four!"

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

Vaughn, this is all they have wanted to do their entire lives! From the time they were two on, they always had a car in their hands. It is hard to find the time to teach them. We haven't attempted to back up yet. Not ready for busy roads, yet.

Yours will be this age before you know it!

Heather, BBBB (two identical, two fraternal) 28 1/2 weeks, now age 18!

I have a 16 year old son. He has a permit and will be taking the test at some point. He's not thrilled with driving but is thrilled with cars. He realized that a car can be deadly weapon and doesn't want to kill anyone on the road. But I made him driving last night in the dark, on the highway, at rush hour and he did great!

It's hard to see the need for driving - to him. We live a short 5 minute walk to school and the pool. He's a five minute drive to his dojo and we're going with the other boys anyways. With such a heavy school work load, there's not a lot of time to drive.

Our insurance will skyrocket once he has his license. It will be up to $150 per month. Isn't CA lovely!

I can't even imagine what it will be like for the triplets since they can't wait until they are 15 1/2!

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 16 year old son

I don't remember all of the costs when our 4 were all driving, but we did survive. It does depend on how many cars you have and what they are. When we had 6 vehicles and one of them was a Camaro, I think we were at about $6,000.00 a year for car insurance. The more vehicles you have the more it costs. Keep the tickets and accidents to a minimum. The boys were pretty rough on our cars and we had many bumps, dings, transmission replacements, and flat tires. They had to pay for their own gas. Some times I would toss them a twenty if they were heading out, but I wanted them to respect the costs of driving. Once they purchased their own vehicle they had to pay their own insurance. That held 2 of them off for quite a while.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!