Adulting is scary. None of us know what we're doing and secretly still need our parents to help us a surprising amount of the time. But don't worry- you may be closer to truly adulting than you think.
1. You start buying your own toothpaste, instead of using your parents' or the samples from the dentist.
When yours fell off the shelf, you were crestfallen.
2. One time, you called your bank and didn’t cry.
I’ve accidentally locked myself out of online banking too many times to count. I’m closer with half the bank call center employees than I am my own family.
3. Similarly, one time you made your own doctor’s appointment and nothing went wrong.
You showed up. You told the person in the white coat what was wrong. You didn’t cry if they took blood. And you only kind of wanted to take a sticker from the front desk.
4. Then, after you went to that appointment by yourself, you paid for it by yourself.
Even if you’re still on mom’s insurance, copays don’t pay themselves.
5. You have an emergency contact other than your parents.
Deciding who this should be was pretty hard. Should I put down my roommate, that ex I’m still friends with, or maybe that homeless guy I see outside Starbucks who I give money to sometimes? (Hint: the homeless guy probably cares the most)
6. You kept a plant alive for a time longer than it took you to get it home.
This counts for cactuses and succulents too. Even if you’d probably have to light them on fire to kill them.
7. You know what a CV is. Bonus points if you know what the differences between a CV and a resume are.
Rumor has it some people actually have things to put on their resumes, too.
8. Pixar movies are a lot funnier than they were when you were a kid.
Either the writing is getting better or you understand more of the jokes these days.
9. You spice up your mac n cheese- broccoli, anyone?
No longer is your Kraft plain-you make that stuff gourmet.
10. You have to distinguish between your freshman year in high school and your freshman year in college.
My freshman year of high school, Taylor Swift only had one cat, a questionably attractive boyfriend, and three country albums. My freshman year of college, she had two cats and the indisputable title of Taylor Swift of House Basic, First of Her Name, the Questionable Feminist, Queen of Handing It To Apple and Killer Red Lipstick, Mother of The Best Country To Pop Transformation The World Has Ever Seen.
11.You look back at your teenage years and realize your parents were probably right to not let you have a mohawk- actually, your parents are pretty smart.
The true sign that you’re growing up is that you understand that your parents really do just want what’s best for you, and aren’t complete idiots who just don’t get it.
12. You know what April 15th is.
No, it’s not just National Titanic Remembrance Day (RIP Jack)!
13. You can’t get through the day without naptime—or at least wanting naptime.
Sometimes, this means falling asleep in the break room during your first 40-hour work week.
14. You have a favorite Trader Joe’s product.
My friend Becky tells me that the premade pizza dough is a lifesaver.
15. You see herds of teenagers walking down the street and recoil slightly.
16. You’ve ever said the words “when I was your age.”
When I was your age, all we had was Tamogatchis and the Oregon Trail computer game, none of this Candy Crush crap. Whippersnappers.
17. You get satisfaction from vacuuming.
Watching all your terrible roommate’s food crumbs and hair disappear is so cathartic.
18. You know that there are two kinds of screwdrivers that don’t have alcohol in them, and one of them is named after a person.
Stevens? Adams? Michaels? Doesn’t matter, because there's a good chance you still can't use a screwdriver.
