When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

I’ve been rolling this daily prompt question around in my head all day.

I started working at the age of 15. I joined the military at 17. When I was hired on to my first ‘good money’ job, I didn’t fully realize that I was beginning a career. It was a way to support my daughter and myself. Even today, many promotions and job changes and pay increases later, I look at my employment simply as a means to an end. A grown up means to an end, I guess?

When I bought my first house, I definitely felt like I was “adulting”. As a single mom, however, I lived paycheck to paycheck. The inability to plan for the future with any sort of savings very much felt like I was going through the motions. Today, I no longer live paycheck to paycheck. My husband and I have a beautiful house that we’ve put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into. We are close to paying off our mortgage. In a very grown up way…

Throughout most of my adult life, “fun” was prioritized in the form of drinking.  Since the drinking age is 21, you would think that the simple fact that I was able to legally imbibe would make me feel like a grown up. Quite the opposite, actually. Since I’ve stopped drinking, I’m making better choices. Which feels pretty grown up.

I don’t have “Peter Pan” syndrome, but I stand by the motto that life is short, have fun. I have an inappropriate sense of humor that I’ll probably never shake (that’s what she said). I still throw the occasional temper tantrum. I pout if I don’t get my way. My favorite thing to do is flip people the bird. I drop “f” bombs more than I should, but fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke. I am quite the baby if I am inconvenienced or hungry. I cry when I’m mad.

I’ve mastered quite a few grown up qualities, but I am not all the way there. Probably never will be….