SD18 walked the stage yesterday, threw her hat and joined the ranks of being an actual adult.

The ceremony was incredibly long and drawn out... but worth it in the end.

When my kids graduated from high school... their grad present was a used car (very used) and six months of insurance paid for them.

SD18 got the same. We went and picked up her car while she was at 'practice' (bought it two weeks ago once we were sure she would graduate). DH and skids 2,3,4 washed it and waxed it and vacuumed and armor-alled it. When SD18 made it home from her graduation party, exhausted and happy according to her ready to go to bed she found a VW bug sitting in the driveway with a giant bow on it.

It was actually funny that she sat and stared at it for a full minute, seemed like it took her that long to process the fact that a) it was sitting there b) it is her favorite car c) the only party/celebration going on was all about her so....

By the time her brain wrapped around the fact the car was hers, instead of the squeal of happiness I was expecting, she broke down in tears and bawled her little heart out.

She did take DH for a test drive in the car once she got herself under control. Apparently she figured after all the shit for the last year the car graduation present would never happen.

Amazing what happens kiddo when you pull your head out of your arse!