Maci Bookout marked a major Teen Mom milestone this week, celebrating her son Bentley Edwards turning 17 with a heartfelt Instagram tribute that had longtime viewers feeling nostalgic — and a little stunned at how quickly time has flown.
The 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom alum posted a pair of sweet beach photos with her eldest on October 27, sharing a playful moment between mom and son. "How is my Benny 17 years old? Happy Birthday @bentleycedwards," Bookout wrote, adding, "I love you beyond measure!" The duo traded piggyback rides in the shots, matching the easy, lighthearted tone of the caption and hashtags like "benny baby," "sweet seventeen," and "happy birthday."
For fans who first met Bookout in 2009 and watched Bentley’s earliest days on camera, the photos underscored just how long they’ve followed this family — and how much Bentley has grown up on screen and off.
Fans React To Bentley’s Milestone
It didn’t take long for the post to flood with comments from Teen Mom viewers who have essentially watched Bentley grow up in real time. "We really watched him grow up," one follower wrote, while another added, "17?? Omgggg. Most of us been Team Bentley since 16 & Pregnant. Happy birthday."
Others highlighted the bond between Bookout and her son, praising the way their relationship has evolved alongside the franchise itself. "Literally watching your first episode right now because I’m feeling nostalgic and I LOVE how much you’ve continued to evolve. You’ve always been that girl!" a fan commented. Another longtime viewer shared, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENTLEY! I remember when he was born. He’s always been a great kid. [Maci], you are a great mom and has always been about your business."
That sentiment tracks with the trajectory many Teen Mom fans have seen over the past decade and a half: Bookout growing from a teen navigating new motherhood into a parent of three, advocating for her kids and working through complex family dynamics on and off camera.
Where Maci And Ryan Stand Today
Bookout welcomed Bentley in 2008 with then-boyfriend Ryan Edwards. Their relationship — and the challenges of co-parenting amid Edwards’ addiction struggles and legal issues — has been one of the franchise’s most-discussed storylines. Despite years of ups and downs, Bookout recently said that she and Edwards have found a healthier rhythm as co-parents.
Speaking earlier this year, Bookout described their current status as "healthy" and "much more stable and stronger than it’s ever been — and than I ever thought it could be, to be honest." She emphasized that the progress took time and effort from everyone involved, noting, "It took a lot of self-awareness and accountability, but also patience and just a lot of individual work."
That growth undoubtedly adds another layer to Bentley’s milestone birthday. For a generation of viewers, his 17th isn’t just a number — it’s a marker of the franchise’s longevity and a testament to the real-world stakes of the stories it has told.
A Teen Mom Timeline For The Bookout-McKinney Family
Following her split from Edwards, Bookout went on to marry Taylor McKinney in 2016. The couple shares two children: daughter Jayde, 10, and son Maverick, 9. Over the years, Bookout has balanced family life with public scrutiny, using the platform she built on Teen Mom to advocate for her kids’ well-being and her own mental health, all while inviting cameras into some of the most difficult moments of her life.
That openness is part of why Monday’s tribute resonated. The joyous, simple images of a mom and her teen on the beach offered a snapshot of normalcy — a reminder that behind the headlines and episodes are real families hitting the same milestones as everyone else.
Why Bentley’s 17th Hits Different For Teen Mom Viewers
For many, Bentley has been the touchstone of Bookout’s storyline since the beginning. His earliest days were captured in 16 and Pregnant, and his growth paralleled the series’ evolution as cast members aged into new stages of adulthood. Seeing him at 17 turns the clock forward for Teen Mom loyalists, many of whom were teenagers or young parents themselves when they first tuned in.
It also highlights the franchise’s unique place in the reality TV landscape. Few series chronicle the long arc of family life in such a sustained way; fewer still invite audiences to see tangible progress in real time, whether in co-parenting relationships, personal recovery, or the everyday achievements that mark growing up. That context gives more weight to a simple birthday message — and explains the outpouring of support for both Bentley and Bookout.
As Bentley edges closer to adulthood, the family’s focus remains on stability and support. Bookout’s post doubled down on those priorities: love first, always, with gratitude for how far they’ve come. For fans, it was a feel-good check-in that connected the past to the present in a single scroll.
Seventeen years after Bentley’s arrival introduced viewers to Bookout, the teen’s birthday serves as a milestone for the franchise and a personal victory for a family that has weathered more than most. If the comments are any indication, Team Bentley is as strong as ever — and still cheering him on.
