View Full Version : How will I know when I've become an adult?
In fact, what constitutes being an adult? Obviously in our society we don't have rituals about killing wolves to become a man or perhaps even being chucked out of the house anymore and being made to fend for ourselves. A lot of people my age are still at uni without a care in the world...
So genuinely, how do you know when you've become and adult? Was the any time or incident where you specifically stopped and thought to yourself 'Wow, I'm no longer a kid now.'?
rwoodcock01
22-09-11, 02:05 PM
Not sure how to explain, I guess its been lately that my wife and I share similar hobbies and she wanted to buy something and I told her not this month as the car needs to be serviced and we could use the money there.
Something in me has changed over the last year or two whereby you kinda thnk more ahead than you used to.
Had to explain hope it makes sense.
Cheers
Rich
SoulKiss
22-09-11, 02:10 PM
The only difference being an adult makes is that if you want you can have cake/icecream for dinner if you want.
Littlepeahead
22-09-11, 02:11 PM
I think it might have been the first time I got called 'Mrs' after getting married (at 33). I was sitting in the hospital waiting room and they called me about three times before I thought, hang on, Mrs Skinner, that's me.
But then I went to Hamleys and the Transport Museum the other week with my nephew who is 8 and I think I had more fun than him. I made them let me have a go on the 'be a tube train driver' simulator.
when you have responsibility's and you can be trusted to do them by your own means and don't have to rely on mummy and daddy. but its usually at 21 when you become a full adult and 40 when you become a teen again.
DarrenSV650S
22-09-11, 02:19 PM
I don't feel anything like an adult. People at work who are younger than me are more mature and more adult-like.
_Stretchie_
22-09-11, 02:25 PM
"How will I know when I've become an adult?"
When you trade the SV in for a real bike
** runs and hides to watch the fireworks **
beabert
22-09-11, 02:32 PM
I strangely haven't ever got used to being an adult (Im 27), though i have always been boring and mature even as a child.
I often hear children say to thier mothers as i pass 'That mans got a motorbike' it sounds really weird to me. Anyone else feel the same or is it just me? lol.
DarrenSV650S
22-09-11, 02:34 PM
I often hear children say to thier mothers as i pass 'That mans got a motorbike' it sounds really weird to me. Anyone else feel the same or is it just me? lol.
Yeh lol I've had that too
I'm currently at the stage right now where I never know whether to call myself a man or boy, or females girls or women! 23 is a weird age.
Owenski
22-09-11, 02:44 PM
I have my adult moments but they're mainly through work. Those occasions when I feel like a "grown up" are often when I've got someone stood infront of me asking my opinion on something worth millions as opposed to what bar to go to, it kind of changes your opinion of yourself. Makes you realise its not just a joke anymore, this shizzles for real dwaggg etc.
Failing that... It'll be when you change your facebook status to "Adult!"
Seggons
22-09-11, 02:54 PM
When you trade the SV in for a real bike
Does that make you a youngster still with your power ranger toy. ;)
As to the question, your an adult only when you decide. I personally find it too much like hard work so I'm still a young whipper-snapper. :D
Its a label, don't worry about it.
I'm 50+ and I still hate being called Mr.
Last year some snotty nosed kid offered me his seat on the bus... now that did make me feel old
lx_online
22-09-11, 02:55 PM
When you join the National Trust?
Amadeus
22-09-11, 03:33 PM
I think fairly early on for me - when I realised that I could get in the (my) car whenever I wanted, go whereever I wanted, without needing to ask anyone. Not sure most people have such a "revelation" moment tho.
As you (OP) said, it's not like it used to be.
DJFridge
22-09-11, 03:51 PM
Still feel like a kid half the time at 41 (especially on the bike - big grin most of the time). The most "grown up" I've felt was signing for the mortgage on my first flat.
Sid Squid
22-09-11, 06:13 PM
In fact, what constitutes being an adult?
You've grown up when you realise that your parents aren't as dumb as you thought they were.
All that stuff you did they knew nothing about? Wrong, they knew and they did the same - only 20-30 years before you did.
I strangely haven't ever got used to being an adult (Im 27), though i have always been boring and mature even as a child.
I often hear children say to thier mothers as i pass 'That mans got a motorbike' it sounds really weird to me. Anyone else feel the same or is it just me? lol.
I get something similar at work when parents tell their kids "that man will tell you off" feels weird
Haha... I hope it never happens.
My daughter and I went out with some of her friends when she was about 25ish, so I'd have been mid 40s - during the night my eldest declared to a club doorman that even though I was her dad, she was the responsible adult looking after us all. Worst thing was... she wasn't lying.
I left the company I did my apprenticeship with and moved to a new job which I had no clue about, knuckled down, learned what I needed to in under a year and then thrown in to running jobs with 7 - 10 people under me (that were much older than me with 20 odd years experience), I was only 22. I stepped up to the plate and that's when I had to be professional, that's when I grew up!
---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.217289,0.245260
thedonal
22-09-11, 07:25 PM
Never. Become. An adult.
When you are in Currys looking at the washing machines instead of the games consoles
You've grown up when you realise that your parents aren't as dumb as you thought they were.
All that stuff you did they knew nothing about? Wrong, they knew and they did the same - only 20-30 years before you did.
Completely agree with this, only wished i had realised it sooner!!!
andrewsmith
22-09-11, 09:04 PM
Never. Become. An adult.
Wish I hadn't
Hit home when I was managing staff after being in a job 1 shift.
Hit home even harder this year working in the bar I was at. I was one of the oldest working there
minimorecambe
22-09-11, 09:13 PM
When I became head of my unit and I am in charge of people twice my age but they still take me seriously
Oh and meeting Wideboy - I have responsibilities now I have him to look after :p
-Ralph-
22-09-11, 09:34 PM
You've grown up when you realise that your parents aren't as dumb as you thought they were.
All that stuff you did they knew nothing about? Wrong, they knew and they did the same - only 20-30 years before you did.
And you've really grown up when you've got past that and you realise that whilst they were right when you thought they were wrong, actually they were only human too, and some of the stuff you idolised them for, they were actually pretty dumb at.
Recognise the wisdom your parents have, but also recognise where they fell short, and don't make the same mistakes with your own kids (though making different mistakes is OK)
When hair starts growing in places you'd really prefer it didn't.
It's at the point where you feel like you need a kip in the afternoon, you enjoy watching Country Tracks, and when you resort to saying 'when I was a kid' in conversation and then laugh it off.
beabert
22-09-11, 10:01 PM
You've grown up when you realise that your parents aren't as dumb as you thought they were.
All that stuff you did they knew nothing about? Wrong, they knew and they did the same - only 20-30 years before you did.
Depends on the parents. Its opposite in my case, when i was about 14 i realised they were both planks.
Depends on the parents. Its opposite in my case, when i was about 14 i realised they were both planks.
:lol:
_Stretchie_
22-09-11, 10:27 PM
Does that make you a youngster still with your power ranger toy. ;)
You mean the BlackBird :D (not that I'm compensating for anything... Honest)
When you are in Currys looking at the washing machines instead of the games consoles
I understand where you are coming from. I walk around looking at vacuums and fridges instead of TV's
When hair starts growing in places you'd really prefer it didn't.
I found grey hairs in my nose today
I was thinking more of the disgusting black ones that grow out of your ears the minute you get to 32:p
Andrew you have a few years yet:D
Jayneflakes
22-09-11, 11:43 PM
I grew up the day I sat in front of a Psychiatrist and didn't want to punch his face in! Recently realised I was a grown up when I started to believe in things that are important, like human rights and responcibilities. I think that I also grew up a bit when I met the person I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. With every new mile stone I feel more grown up than I did the year before.
However, I still laugh like a demented child when I happen to pass wind which the wife hates! *snigger*
timwilky
23-09-11, 05:51 AM
When you start taking responsibility for your actions.
Usually when you realise you have turned into your father.
andrewsmith
23-09-11, 06:39 AM
When hair starts growing in places you'd really prefer it didn't.
and escapes from places you wish it didn't
When you're talking about a job you did, and an employee says "that's the year I was born." Honest, I didn't hit him.
Wideboy
23-09-11, 09:18 AM
I left the company I did my apprenticeship with and moved to a new job which I had no clue about, knuckled down, learned what I needed to in under a year and then thrown in to running jobs with 7 - 10 people under me (that were much older than me with 20 odd years experience), I was only 22. I stepped up to the plate and that's when I had to be professional, that's when I grew up!
+1
I still act a knob tho, don't really care lifes to short. I'm going to grow old incredibly disgracefully
I'm not sure about being an adult but when you go to a club or a pub & think that everyone in there looks about 12 & they're actually 18+ it's a bit worrying. Oh yeah & going bald was a sh!tter.
DJFridge
23-09-11, 04:29 PM
Oh yeah & going bald was a sh!tter.
Too true!!
dizzyblonde
23-09-11, 08:39 PM
You grow up when you have your own kids............
And can pretend you were only clearing up their room when you built that lego pirate ship back up again ;)
DJFridge
23-09-11, 08:58 PM
You grow up when you have your own kids............
And can pretend you were only clearing up their room when you built that lego pirate ship back up again ;)
Lego pirate ship, lego spaceship, lego castle etc etc!!
Jayneflakes
23-09-11, 09:25 PM
And can pretend you were only clearing up their room when you built that lego pirate ship back up again ;)
Lego pirate ship, lego spaceship, lego castle etc etc!!
The wife thought I was joking when I asked for Star Wars Lego for my 37th Birthday, maybe the 38th will bring more luck (and toys!)? :smt040
andrewsmith
23-09-11, 09:27 PM
haha
I got them all in the loft in peices
Reeder - come back and ask us in 5 years or when you start to grow pubes, whichever happens first.
beabert
23-09-11, 10:44 PM
Lego pirate ship, lego spaceship, lego castle etc etc!!
I nearly bough this last month, i wanted it so much as a kid :(
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lego-Technic-8868-Pneumatic-Truck-Claw-Rig-Lorry-/370540179716?pt=UK_Construction_Toys_Kits&hash=item5645ea7104
Shall i buy one? :smt040
andrewsmith
23-09-11, 10:46 PM
i need to start selling my lego mountain off
beabert
23-09-11, 11:07 PM
Anyone played minecraft :D like virtual lego... Ill get my coat.
hongman
24-09-11, 04:52 PM
Good question...
Only as old as you feel! For me that varies between 5 and 75 depending on time of day and mood!
i felt like an adult when i told the girlfriend, as we was riding past a new fangled medical centre in erdington "it all used to be fields across there" i had to take a few moment to re-listen to what i just said. 'twas a sad sad day
hongman
24-09-11, 05:26 PM
When I was 18 I'd look back at things I'd done previously and smile at how young I was.
Same thing every year since, I now look back to when I was 23-25 and do the same.
Right now I'm a cat's whisker from 27, I feel pretty mature at this point in time, especially on topics where it matters.
Does this ever stop? When I'm 30, will I think back to now and smile at how naive I was/am? 45? 50? so on...
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