Growing Up
A lot of people I know speculate a lot on being grown, or growing up, or what it means to be grown up and how they don't feel that way. I've never shared these sentiments. Instead, here are thoughts I can remember wondering, starting around age 14:
I can't wait til I'm old enough to drive. Because then I can have a job.
If I was older, he'd like me back.
My dad is sooooo mean. He won't let me hang out with older people.
Having a job will be sooo cool.
I love my job.
Now that I have money to pay for driver's ed, I can get my license.
I'm going to buy a computer with all my hard-earned money.
Dude, I can totally get a job that pays twice as much!
I love my job.
I CAN'T WAIT for college.
Why is my dad moving away?
Why does everyone want to stay in the Midwest for college?
School is so boring compared to MAKING MONEY.
If I was younger, he'd like me back.
I'm moving to California.
Um, my life is awesome.
I'm going to buy a computer with all my hard-earned money.
I ran out of money. Again.
I can't wait to graduate.
I'm going to buy a computer with all my hard-earned money.
I love my job.
I ran out of money. Again.
I love my life.
There were a lot of I can't waits, and I still have those nearly every moment, but I've never wondered about growing up. Maybe it's because I never had an idea of what growing up was. For little me I think growing up had everything to do with making my own money. Independence was always my goal.
Making my own life was always my goal. And it continues to be. But I've never considered it "growing up." Maybe because if I did, I'd never be grown.
Comments
:::gasp::: You hang out with older people?
Only the pretty ones. ;)
Posted by: shari | November 12, 2008 6:47 AM
"Making a life for yourself" is a nice way to put it. I still have lots of "can't wait"s on my list, too.
One way to feel like a grown-up is to teach people younger than you, even if it's only by a few years. You will never feel so old.
I work with college students so I soooo get this.
Posted by: mysterygirl! | November 12, 2008 7:44 AM
You know what strikes me as funny about being a grown up? Everyone I used to look up to as "Grown up" was just faking it the same as I am now. It's like a secret no one tells you when you're young.
I think we just invent in our head who we think are grown ups. There are few people I can remember wanting to be grown up like.
I don't know if that makes sense.
Posted by: sizzle | November 12, 2008 7:44 AM
I love this post. See, I never ever wanted a job or to be independent, which makes growing up a little more traumatic and leaves me with many an unanswered question about where to go from here.
Posted by: Cate | November 12, 2008 8:19 AM
I think running out of money is the most grown up thing of all. I'm super grown up, then.
Posted by: Jennie | November 12, 2008 9:52 AM