05 mar 07
In the US you are considered an adult when you turn eighteen. You can vote, and you can buy cigarettes (because you’re old enough at this point to know better… not). But, are you an adult? You’re just out of high school, possibly getting drunk every weekend at college, only been driving for a few years, etc. Car insurance and rental companies don’t consider you an adult. You can’t run for Congress.
When the marriage between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline ended, numerous experts showed up in articles and on shows saying they married too young. So, I’m not trying to relate this to marriage especially, but I read one article in particular (can’t find it now) where they blamed her young age at the time of her marriage. Apparently no one should think about getting married or making other such “life decisions” before they are twenty-five because (paraphrasing) the decision-making part of your brain hasn’t matured until then.
I think about things like this a lot because in many ways I don’t think I am the same person I was at eighteen (or even twenty-one), or at least I’d like to think that. If I had gotten married between eighteen and now (twenty-five)? Huge mistake. If I had bought a home? Totally would have gotten the wrong one. And thank goodness I don’t have any kids yet.
So this begs the question… when are you an adult? Of course it’s different for all. I didn’t really feel like an adult until maybe during the last year, so around twenty-five, but for all I know I’ll look back on this time and think I was a total idiot. What about you? When did you feel like an adult? A specific event maybe?
C / 06 mar 2007 / 9:09 a.m.
I think I have adult issues with a not adult mind. I’m 28 and married (for 4 years this month) and although we’re young still, I think we’re growing together a lot and we’re both very aware that we’re changing all the time and that we need to make sure we focus on each other.
I definitely don’t think everyone should, and it wasn’t without it’s share of turmoil - but I think marriage in particular, is hard at any age.
Shaun / 06 mar 2007 / 12:04 p.m.
I felt like an adult when I was twelve and have gotten progressively less mature over the years.
Noreen / 06 mar 2007 / 12:15 p.m.
I’m 25 and I’ve never once felt like an adult. I had an adult job (management), but even then I felt like I was playing dress-up every time I went to work.
Although when I went to buy my car two years ago, I felt more like an adult.
Laura / 06 mar 2007 / 12:45 p.m.
Still waiting. I feel like I’m no different than I was at 20… just playing a different role now and waiting for somebody to realize I have no idea what I’m doing.
titilayo / 06 mar 2007 / 4:55 p.m.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot myself lately, because I’ve realised that I finally do actually feel like an adult (I’m 29, by the way). I think that a lot of things that happened in the past year of my life have contributed to the shift, but I can’t pinpoint a specific event. I just gradually realised that I was feeling like a grown-up, even though I had never been able to define what “being a grown-up” would mean. I think it has something to do with taking more responsibility for myself, and not immediately going into panic “I want my mommy!” mode when the going gets rough.
Meredith / 06 mar 2007 / 6:33 p.m.
I guess I kinda feel like an adult now. I turn 25 tomorrow. I think it’s settling in more because I now have my own apartment, and a dog. I cook. I like to keep it clean. If I don’t get at least six hours of sleep or so, I lose coherence (like now). I can’t drink like I used to. I rarely party. My car insurance went down (woo)!
I don’t particularly want to be an adult, but I’m more content now than I was at 21, that’s for damn sure.
Hilary / 06 mar 2007 / 9:49 p.m.
I officially became an adult when I was summoned for jury duty. Twice.
Emma / 06 mar 2007 / 11 p.m.
I think I’ll be an adult when I stop feeling like a complete fraud when wearing high heels.
Lindsey / 06 mar 2007 / 11:47 p.m.
I’m still at that stage where I’m getting drunk on weekends at college and my road test is scheduled for next month sooooo yeah. I don’t feel like an adult.
(I’m 20 btw. Little late for not having a license but I’M NOT ASHAMED! that much.)
Stacey / 07 mar 2007 / 8:14 a.m.
I think I feel like an adult now - not an old or wise one - but an adult. And I think that’s because a couple years ago my life got really boring. Haha. I kind of settled down into routines and didn’t go out as much unless it was planned - hardly any spontaneous outings left in me it seems! I think that makes me feel…boring. And I always thought my parents were kinda boring compared to the kids, you know? So…yeah. I associated adulthood with a more boring or slow lifestyle.
I should do something spontaneaous. Hmm.
cristinamarie / 07 mar 2007 / 9:52 a.m.
Being a grown-up has too many responsibilities that at this point I’d like to retire all my responsibilities and be a little kid again.
Aubrey / 06 mar 2007 / 7:45 a.m.
I’m still waiting for adulthood to kick in over here… I mean, I pay bills and own a house and am married, but yeah, there’s no way I feel like a grown up.