All “Growed” Up

Some would say it is turning age 18.  Others would say it comes with earning a steady paycheck, moving away from Mom and Dad, and paying income tax.  Yet others would agree it is becoming parents.  But after passing those milestones of life, (some of them achieved a couple decades or so ago!),  I don’t feel like a grown up.  Not even close.  And I’m pretty sure I don’t act like it.  Here are some examples that serve as proof:

~ I have never read Dickens or Austen…nor do I feel the urge to.

~Occasionally I find myself giggling with my kids about bodily functions.

~I buy and hide tooth-rotting cereal so I can eat it myself.

I could go on.  But so I don’t humiliate myself further, I won’t.  Still.  Do we ever really, truly become “grown up?”  Having mortgages, careers and kids imply we must certainly be so.  Obligations + Responsibilities = All Grown Up.  But those tangible aspects of life don’t equate an internal sense of maturity.

Even though parenting is an obligation and responsibility, having kids “keeps us young.”  They make us laugh with silly knock-knock jokes.  We take them to youthful playgrounds like water parks and Legoland and, well, playgrounds.  Candyland, Chutes and Ladders and Clue dominate family game nights.   No wonder adulthood seems a far-flung idea. Between paying the bills and answering work emails our lives are devoted to kid-geared activity.

So on that note, I need to run.  It’s a rainy June day and the kids have cabin fever.  PJ party with Christmas music anyone?