I was in line at Target the other day, chatting with the casher (my sister Amanda says this is one of my more annoying habits, but that is a whole different post) I made the comment that I should just sign half of Matts paycheck over to them, she said they should just keep her money, too. She was young (19-ish?) and lamenting adulthood.
I have, for a long time, thought growing up was completely over-rated. Now, I am not a pessimist by nature, usually the opposite (I have been known to be called "irkingly perky", also by Amanda) But I feel I was handed a whole load of crap when it came to this adulthood thing. Here are, what I believe, the top fallacies of growing up:
1. Money- When your young you dream of making the big bucks. what you don't realize is the big bucks, once made, are not for you. They pay for taxes, rent/mortgage, health care, school loans and a bunch of other un-fun things
2. Marriage- Ahhh, the dream of having a "soul mate". You spend your time gazing lovingly into each others eyes, thinking how they complete you...until the honey moon ends. I consider myself happily married (I hope Matt does too) but marriage is hard work. It is a lot of sacrifice; time, closet space, money, and ideals are no longer your own. Your committed to make it work, which means you have to solve problems instead of hopping they will just get better. Want to know how selfish you really are? Get married.
3. Career- Oh, to spend your time doing something you love and getting paid for it. Could there be anything better? The problem is, work is...work! Starting new jobs is hard, with a steep learning curve. Sure you make money, but see #1. If you have any money left to have fun with, you don't have the time. Why? Because your working! And summers off? Forget about it!
4. Parenthood- Could anything be more fun than a baby? Wow, I don't even know where to start on this one. I could mention the loss of your beautiful body to the creation of another. Or I could mention the fact that you have no idea how truly selfish you are until you have a child. Your time will never again be your own. The loss of privacy, time, sleep, all fashion sense...And babies don't write you a paycheck or say "thanks".
5. Body- Remember standing in front of the mirror in high school lamenting your "chubby belly" or "huge thighs". Guess what hon...this is as good as it gets. It is all down hill from here. Your nice rack will sink to your knees, your belly and butt only get bigger, and any dimples from here on out won't be the cute kind.
When I was young, I always imagined there would come a time in my life where I would feel like I had arrived into adulthood. A moment when I felt strong, secure, confident and in charge. Who knows, maybe that day will still come, but if it hasn't been triggered by a marriage, mortgage, child birth and parenthood, then I am not feeling too optimistic.
I have, for a long time, thought growing up was completely over-rated. Now, I am not a pessimist by nature, usually the opposite (I have been known to be called "irkingly perky", also by Amanda) But I feel I was handed a whole load of crap when it came to this adulthood thing. Here are, what I believe, the top fallacies of growing up:
1. Money- When your young you dream of making the big bucks. what you don't realize is the big bucks, once made, are not for you. They pay for taxes, rent/mortgage, health care, school loans and a bunch of other un-fun things
2. Marriage- Ahhh, the dream of having a "soul mate". You spend your time gazing lovingly into each others eyes, thinking how they complete you...until the honey moon ends. I consider myself happily married (I hope Matt does too) but marriage is hard work. It is a lot of sacrifice; time, closet space, money, and ideals are no longer your own. Your committed to make it work, which means you have to solve problems instead of hopping they will just get better. Want to know how selfish you really are? Get married.
3. Career- Oh, to spend your time doing something you love and getting paid for it. Could there be anything better? The problem is, work is...work! Starting new jobs is hard, with a steep learning curve. Sure you make money, but see #1. If you have any money left to have fun with, you don't have the time. Why? Because your working! And summers off? Forget about it!
4. Parenthood- Could anything be more fun than a baby? Wow, I don't even know where to start on this one. I could mention the loss of your beautiful body to the creation of another. Or I could mention the fact that you have no idea how truly selfish you are until you have a child. Your time will never again be your own. The loss of privacy, time, sleep, all fashion sense...And babies don't write you a paycheck or say "thanks".
5. Body- Remember standing in front of the mirror in high school lamenting your "chubby belly" or "huge thighs". Guess what hon...this is as good as it gets. It is all down hill from here. Your nice rack will sink to your knees, your belly and butt only get bigger, and any dimples from here on out won't be the cute kind.
When I was young, I always imagined there would come a time in my life where I would feel like I had arrived into adulthood. A moment when I felt strong, secure, confident and in charge. Who knows, maybe that day will still come, but if it hasn't been triggered by a marriage, mortgage, child birth and parenthood, then I am not feeling too optimistic.
Comments
these are the Days of Our Lives!
Whenever I talk about my parents and their friends, or the aunts and uncles I still refer to them as "the adults". Wonder if I will ever see it differently