Who said life is an easy ride? I sure thought it would be once I could leave my parents' house to live on my own. I couldn't wait to turn eighteen so I could be an adult and do "adult" things. I had an entire plan laid out: go to college, get a degree, come and go as I please, and live happily ever after. A lot of people have that dream, right? And everyone I knew who accomplished that dream seemed to make it all look so easy. But, there's more to becoming an adult than that. It comes with new responsibilities and much more.
Plain Broke
College...yes, it's great, but no, it's not so great. Of course, you get to meet new people and you make lifelong friends, and it's fun. However, you also have no money to go out with your friends. Every last penny you have sitting in your pocket will be spent on other expenses. There are bills to pay, and someone has to put food on the table. More than likely, it's you if your parents aren't helping you pay for anything. So, a tip in advance if you're a young reader: save your money while you have the chance, you won't regret it later.
Expect The Unexpected
Do you remember the smooth plan that you had laid out? Yeah, it's not so smooth. It's going to be a bumpy ride. I had my days planned out down to the hour. Something unexpected almost always came up every day. Your evening plans with the girl/guy of your dreams will be covered in homework, and the mornings you plan to sleep in will be cut short by work and classes. If you play sports, it's a possibility that a practice will pop into your schedule unexpectedly. Your homework will constantly be shoved to the side, and you will become the master of procrastination. Therefore, you will be awake almost every night, and coffee will be your new best friend every morning.
"Mommy, Mommy"
Although your mom has always been there to help you through the hard times, she won't necessarily be there this time. You have to learn how to handle different situations and be able to take care of yourself. She won't cook for you or clean up your messes, and she definitely won't do your laundry. She might give you advice on some things, but don't expect her to answer your phone calls every minute. She also won't call you every night to see if you're asleep or what you're doing. It's fun being independent and making your own decisions, but it's okay to feel homesick and miss your childhood. It's part of growing up.
Neverland's Not So Bad
Now that you have a small taste of what adulthood really is, you might not want to wish your childhood away. It's going to go fast. No money, new responsibilities, independence; it sucks! Even if you're eighteen and ready to be on your own, just slow down. Turn around while you can and fly with Peter Pan to Neverland. Trust me, Neverland doesn't sound so bad after all.
