Genuine maturity

I don't think there ever was a time when I thought about it particularly.

There was a day when I realized that if the house was going to be clean, dishes done, meals cooked, it was ALL up to me.

I do remember the shock of being called "ma'am." I did not like it. 8o)

I remember bringing my first child home and realizing I had never changed a diaper before.

But the most precious moment of seeing adulthood was when my child called me "Mamma." Wonderful.

 

For me it was when I was 18 and I looked into the face of my newborn son and realized that I had to grow up and make it for the both of us because no one else was going to. I thank God that He gave me the strength and courage to do it.

 

Wow. I don't know that I can honestly answer this question, because on many levels, I don't feel that I'm mature at all.

I'm independent, as far as paying my rent, gassing my car, cooking my meals, caring for my cat, but that doesn't equal maturity.

I do acknowledge that I don't know everything, that I won't know everything, that I can't know everything. I've met a lot of adults who haven't figured that one out yet.

Whoa - that tells you something right there. I'm 25, which in all states is considered an adult, yet I still see that separation.

But you know, I don't know that that has a lot to do with age at all. I have friends in their 30s and 40s, and I include them in "my" category, whatever that is.

I think I know that I am an adult now, but what I am not is a carbon copy of my parents, which is what I grew up thinking adults were. It doesn't help that in my family, you're not considered an adult until you're at least married, but really not until you've bred. So, my 19 year old cousin is considered an adult, but I'm not. Scary, that.

I still stand on the shoulders of those wiser than I, but if someone used mine for the same purpose, I think they'd be okay.

I'm 25, if that matters.

 

When I was sitting in a group of friend I had grown up with and we were discussing CDs -- Certificates of Deposit, not music CDs.

I suddenly felt very old.

 

Heh heh. That also goes for realizing PDA meant Personal Digital Assistant and not Public Display of Affection!

Having a 401(k) and a Roth makes me feel old sometimes, at least when I'm talking with college friends. So does talking about buying a house.

 

After the initial shock wore off, genuine maturity came for me when I realized I had been abandoned [by the one whom I loved more dearly than life itself] and was left to raise our children alone!

But there's a happy ending...he came back! PTL!

 

One word: Disneyland!

When I was a child, I loved going to Disneyland to go on the rides and attractions.

When I was a teenager, it wasn't cool to go on a lot of the rides. Only the roller coaster type ones.

I know I'm an adult now because I get to go on the rides I liked when I was a kid, and I don't have to worry about whether it's cool or not.

 

Physically, in my teens.

Mentally, in my thirties.

Emotionally, only in the past few years (my fifties).

Spiritually -- still to come. God is working on me! If the pattern follows, and I live until then, should be showing signs of it in my seventies?

sometimes, still, I don't feel grown up at all.

And sometimes I feel absolutely decrepit!

Moody, that's what I am! Either that or easily exhausted and arthritic even though when I am lying in bed in the morning planning the day I feel like I have enormous energy to get everything done I would like to.

Then I get up, and that shoots the works!

 

When my husband had open heart surgery, I realized I had gotten past most of my little girl actions and reactions.
It took a long time, through raising two children and finishing college. I was a slow learner. But five years ago I had to face the reality that no one could go through this for me.
Now I am slower to anger, easier to make laugh. I am more serious, but I have alot more joy.
The Good Lord works in strange ways but always to his glory and our good.

 

Rosa! Bless you.

How old were you when he had his surgery?

 

I don't know! I think I'm still in denial.
What does that even mean?
Guess it all depends on how you define mature.
I still love to ride the carousel, and the toys in this house get about as much wear from me as from the children. ('specially the Tinker toys. )
I never did like spending money on things like electric and long distance phone calls, and I still want sprinkles on my ice cream.
If something needs to be done and I don't feel like doing it, I don't do it unless it's a life or death situation, and even that's questionable. LOL
And I still cry when I break something, like a dish. (don't cry when I break a bone or when I get in an argument, go figure!)
All in all, I'm pretty impulsive, I don't like responsibility, and I'd rather play tag than clean the toilet.
Guess I'm still pretty immature. I'll let ya'll know when I grow up. Deal?
Gina

 

I was shocked to be introduced as "Hannah's mama". I think I matured a good bit when I got my MAster's degree, lost my father, and had a baby all in the same month.I still like playing in the rain,though, and licking beaters!
TaterTot

 

(Have you taken your child out puddle-
splashing? I used to love to do that! That is,
I think, why our God invented grandchildren.)

I remember, too, the frst time of being intro-
duced to someone as "Jennifer's mother." What
a proud, serendipitous moment!!

 

I was around 15/16. I know you might think this is young, but coming from a single parent home and my mother working nights and me also having to hold down a 6 day a week job, this show me responsibiblty of how to manage everything from children to a job and money. By this age I was paying my own way and attending school. Some nights I would only get 4 to 5 hours sleep and eyedrops were my best friend. I learned alot from this and it has made me a strong person that I am today. This has allowed me to taken on great responsiblitys at times. I know from expereince that God doesn't give us me then we can bare.

 

I am sure by this time I should feel like a full-fledged adult, but actually, it is more fun feeling like a child I have so much more to learn....and I am enjoying life so very much at this age.

In the past, I spent too much time worrying about things that really never happened. I was anxious about everything. When I learned to take worry out of my vocabulary and be anxious for nothing (which was about 10 years ago), was probably the time when I began to mature as an adult and I was in my 50's.

 

I am soon to be 52 and I really never considered the question.

Upon some thought, I am and have been an "adult" in many areas of my life since I can remember. Being the oldest of 10 children pretty well saw to that. What I find now is that I can fairly easily "fit" into whatever category is available. I can be a child with the children and an adult with the adults.
The only area that really separates any of us "oldies" is trying to fit in with teenagers. I am no longer able to identify with any thing they do or say. Does that make me an adult????

 

Uhhh.... It means you're in a river in Egypt!

 

That explains a number of things!