I spent my time daydreaming about being a professional, getting married, owning a home and having kids… all by 25. Let’s just take a moment and laugh about that.
As a kid, I couldn’t wait to grow up. I spent my time daydreaming about being a professional, getting married, owning a home and having kids… all by 25. Let’s just take a moment and laugh about that. When I got older, I wanted to be an adult because I could make my own decisions and do whatever I wanted. Now that I am on my own, I kind of want to take it all back. Being an adult is something that I wasn’t, and probably never will be, prepared for.
I never knew how expensive everyday life could be, how time-consuming it is to cook yourself dinner or even how hard it is to transition to independence.
Recently, I moved into my first apartment. It was then that I realized how awful it is to be an adult. I never knew how expensive everyday life could be, how time-consuming it is to cook yourself dinner or even how hard it is to transition to independence. I call my mom practically every day to ask some sort of question, whether it’s about how to set up a checking account, where’s the cheapest place to buy groceries or how to get red lipstick out of a pair of jeans. I still feel like a child thrown into a grown-up world.
Sure, paying rent, water, electric, internet, car insurance and renter’s insurance every month is a downer, but I knew that was coming. What throws me off the most is buying items that I never even thought about when I was living at home. Things like lightbulbs, dish soap and trash bags were always just there and ready to be used. Now I have to actually remember to buy these… and believe it or not, trash bags are pretty expensive. Working 20 hours a week certainly does not cover all those expenses, no matter how many times I tell myself it’s fine.
It’s not that my parents never taught me any useful life skills. I know how to cook and do laundry and all that. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to be so much work. After being at school and work all day, I’d rather not have to come home and make dinner or do dishes. But hey, I guess this is growing up. (shrug emoji)
I’m not trying to scare anyone about being an adult. It is, after all, inevitable. I’m just saying, make sure you’re appreciative of all that your parents do for you now because soon you will be on your own. Take it from me, it’s way harder than you think. Just because you finally get to make your own decisions, it doesn’t necessarily mean you want to make those choices. Good luck out there; I promise we’re all struggling.
Good luck out there; I promise we’re all struggling.
