When my dad died. I was 46. My mom had died 7 weeks before. I realized I had no one to turn to anymore and I was at the top of the trouble ladder. I wasn’t stoked about it. I’m still not.
Sorry for your loss.
As a parent and homeowner I definitely feel like an adult now. But I do still reach out to my parents for help and support from time to time. I’m really going to miss them when they’re gone, but being “at the top of the trouble ladder” isn’t something I had considered.
I kinda know the feeling. My dad died in '07 when I was 34, my mother in '20 and her last brother died this year. My sisters and I are now the oldest generation (together with nices and nephews on that side) My yongest sister just turned 42.
I still refuse to admit I’m adult, just old. (At least that’s what my body tells me from time to time, “you’re not 20 anymore, I’m not putting up with those shenanigans”)
I remember the exact moment. I had just got a Home Depot gift card from my in-laws and my first thought was, “I’m going to buy a really nice hose”
I’m old so things were a bit different…
When I was growing up, adults were Mister and Misses. When Mr. Jones became Jack and Mrs. Smith became Barbara it was an indication that I was an adult.
It’s funny you mention this. It was really weird the first time one of my coworkers referred to me as “Miss” plus my first name. In the southeast US, this is a common way to show respect to an older woman that you consider a friend too.
I’m being pedantic, but *missus
I’m a nurse in my late 40s, and I still have to open conversations with my elderly patients “Mister Smith” “Mizz Smith” when I first meet them. I can’t help myself; it’s how I was raised haha
Cashing in pennies so I could get enough gas to get to work and pick up my check… To pay for more gas
Reminds me of when I moved cities and was having a rough go of it. I borrowed 20 bucks for gas and my gas light was still on. This was only a few weeks after I had ran out of gas on my way to an interview to deliver pizza.
Wanting socks for christmas.
Probably the first time I realized someone didn’t like me and I honestly didn’t care. I hadn’t done anything to them that I know of. I guess I just wasn’t their cup of tea. And you know what? I was ok with that because I like me and that’s not something that I’ve always been able to say.
Well I like that about you. Good for you.
When I was excited about buying some mundane thing for my house, like a toaster oven or chair.
When I realized that adults are just kids in an older outer packaging. Things barely change, they just start involving money and hearth, that’s pretty much it.
Oh man, getting into a workplace and finding out folks are just as gossipy or petty about inconsequential bullshit as high schoolers are (Like that one tweet about a manager being upset that the CC’s on a e-mail weren’t in seniority order.) was an eye opener for sure.
Had to buy toilet paper. That shit magically appeared when I was a kid.
While hiking for one of the first times as an adult, I remember going to the local school and, upon seeing the school and having to remind myself I was done with school days, thinking “wow this feels weird, it’s like playing the post-story of a video game”.
Sometime in the past ten years, my doctors started being younger than I am, and I’m still conflicted about it.
This reminds me of when Matt Smith was cast in Doctor Who and, for the first time in my life, the Doctor was younger than I am.
When the centerfold was younger than me.
When the centerfold is younger than my kid.
Getting excited about vacuum cleaners. Oh and some nice produce at the local grocery store.
I’m 31, home owner with a husband, 2 kids and a cat. I still don’t feel like an adult and I don’t know if I ever will!
Mostly my job. I’m in healthcare and make life or death decisions on a regular basis. Was 28 when I started and am 32 now. I very regularly have the feeling like “who allowed me to get into this position”. And lately, I’ve started teaching which adds a whole other component.
