There comes a time in every early 20-year-old’s life where they realize that they may actually understand this whole adulthood thing (well, kind of). The moments are small, but build up to make you realize that you’ve actually reached the point of no return when it comes to responsibility and independence. If any of these apply to you, there may be a possibility that you’re turning into one of those people that kids like to call “grown-ups.”
1. Paying your bills.
As a kid, you didn’t even think about bills because everything was probably taken care of at your house. Power, cable and internet, water, heat and air conditioning…the list goes on. Once you pay your first bill or send out your first rent check, you begin to notice that you are the one paying for all of this.
2. Grocery shopping by yourself.
Once you move out, you notice that the food doesn’t just magically appear in the refrigerator and that you actually have to go out and buy that stuff for yourself too. Walking down the aisles of your local Kroger and noticing all of the things you need but don’t have money for is pretty brutal for multiple reasons. For one thing, you notice how little cash you have to spend on things like food and other necessities for life. Another thing is that you have to pay for all of it. So when you go to buy almond milk or cereal, generic brands are your friend.
3. Cooking for yourself everyday.
OK so this goes along with number 2, but it still stands that this is definitely a moment where you realize that adulthood has arrived and smacked you in the face. Upon coming home after a long day of either classes, work, or both, you are probably starving. Then comes the time where you realize that there is cooking to be done (or pizza to be ordered). This is a wake-up call to the fact that you, sadly, do not have a butler or a chef to make you food, and that this job is all yours.
4. Making doctor’s appointments by yourself/handling medical issues.
Unfortunately, this is certainly a pivotal time where you notice that you’re officially an adult. As a teen you could always pawn your doctor’s appointments, dental appointments, and orthodontist visits off on your parents, but now that you’re older, you get the overwhelming joy of calling to make your own appointments. Alongside of this, you gain the responsibility of calling in medications, and handling medical billing. Once you can handle these, you’re on your way into becoming an official grown-up.
5. Buying household items becomes exciting.
It really is the smallest things in life that can make your entire outlook change. For instance, if you go to the dollar store and find a cheap rug for your bathroom and it excites you. Or you get to buy laundry detergent and the thought of clean clothes and soap for them makes you happy. These moments, when you get to buy small things to make your home a little better, are those which force you to face the fact that, yes, you have grown up.
