Yesterday, on paper I became a year older than I was the day before, and a year closer to the big 4 0, and that got me thinking about whether I do consider myself to be an adult yet or still quite a large (well not large but old) teenager.
On paper I reek of adultness - I am married, I have given birth twice, I own a house, I have a mortgage, I manage my finances each week/month so that I can continue to own my house, I work, I pay for my child to have school dinners, I pay a childminder to look after my other child.
I sometimes read the newspaper, and occasionally watch the news on TV. I think i can hold quite a grown up conversation with anyone asking for one. I try and eat healthily and I try and get a decent amount of sleep at night (toddler permitting).
That is what an adult is, right?
But what about the other things, that children and teenagers do, that I do so often, and I know other people around me do..... where does that put me now?
Lets start in the car, oh, that's one for adults, I can drive and I own a car. But when I'm in my car and song comes on that I like, I will turn up the stereo full volume and pretend that I'm at Wembley Stadium singing that song to thousands of screaming fans. But it gets worse. I have a lot of music on my MP3 player that belongs to my 5 year old. Occasionally, this music will come on random play when I'm commuting home from work. I don't fast forward "I am the Music Man" or "The Laughing Policeman" but as above, I turn up the stereo and try and do the moves without taking my hands off the steering wheel (I might be childish but I'm still safe!). My route to work is all M25, and I pass Heathrow every day. I have a little game that I can't stop myself doing either, and that is if there is a plane coming in, I have to try and align my car to be right under it when it flies over. In my head thats a lucky day to come, but HA before you mock me, I know someone else who does exactly that!
So moving on to food times. As mentioned above, I buy healthy food, try and balance the families diet, lots of fruit, veg, protein, carbs etc. but if I'm on my own for an evening meal, what better food is there than a massive bowl of coco pops or frosties, followed by chocolate. If I'm at a posh "do" and there are lots of cream cakes sitting around waiting to be plated and eaten politely at a table, I will find myself running my finger through the cream to make it look like i've not just done that. And if at said posh "do" I drop some food off my plate, I will endeavour to move the food by someone else's plate so that they look like the messy ones.
Skin care is another area. I buy grown up skin creams because society tells me to, and it tends to cost a hell of a lot more than stuff for children. But if I decide to use the children's bathroom for a long soak, I would DEFINITELY and WITHOUT DOUBT pour in Molly Matey or her other half Captain Matey for a really foamy beard. I would go for the strawberry heart shaped soap over Imperial Leather any day and God help me if I find a spot somewhere on myself, it would get squeezed before you could say "children, don't pick at spots. Its disgusting" (again I will admit to this one as I know i'm not alone here).
As mentioned above I watch the news sometimes on TV. I also watch QI, and understand it, and other grown up shows. But the number of times I've found myself still sitting watching Peppa when the children have left the room, or even worse, laughing at ICarly or Victorious because I genuinely think they are funny. If you know who Icarly and Victorious are, then I think you can join me on this one, and I don't have to suffer alone. Please! ? Someone?
And what about playing pranks on people. I've told colleauges in the office that they didn't qualify for time off on a Bank Holiday, and nearly, so very nearly kept it going right up until the Bank Holiday. We have Nerf guns in our office full of "Adults" and if no one is looking (I'm a terrible shot) I will spend ages trying to knock things over by firing at them. I laugh at others minor mishaps and point out those things that shouldn't probably be pointed out on people when i'm out and about (particularly large bottoms in thin leggings, bearded ladies etc) and very occasionally I will compare my fashion sense to that of a teenager (although I don't go quite as far as to purchase the fashion items i'm scrutinising, but thats more of a budget issue than not wanting to). I also stick my tongue out and swear at people behind their back if they've "told me off" for something.
I could go on and on with my quandary on whether I am a fully fledge adult or not, there are so many more things that I do. But I don't have the time to right now, as I'm thinking of covering my new notepad in cool stickers and then playing on the trampoline (I'm sure I can still do a somersault) before I have to pick my daughter up from school.
What do you think? I would love to know if its just me!!! What age does Adulthood really start?
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