What makes you feel like an adult or grown-up?

Question

I'll admit this a selfish, navel-gazing question.

I have never really felt like an adult, even though I am very close to 30. I often question why I don't and actually wonder if I would be happier if I did feel like an honest-to-goodness grown-up.

So what makes you feel grown-up, or what is preventing you from feeling that way?

Having kids, a full-time job, a college degree and supporting yourself all seem to contribute towards adulthood. I have two and a half of those (working on the degree, but no kids).

Answer 1

Playing games, watching cartoons, paying bills, living on my own or getting older not of that makes me feel different, what makes me feel like an adult is those moments of choosing what I have to do, thinking two steps ahead, making choices not to satisfy me, but to give me a better life, even if in that moment it's not what I want.

Answer 2

Let's see, I don't have kids (but do have a puppy...close?), pushing 30 (27), have the degree and working on the Masters, living on my own in a great place, and have a pretty darned good, full-time job. I have no idea what makes people feel grown-up, but if there's some rain-dance I need to do to get ahold of that, let me know and I'm all over it!

Answer 3

I am 41 and I still do not feel like a "grown up"
I believe being a "grown up" is overrated!
I have 6 children am a responsible upstanding citizen,I have many responsibilites in home, church and school.
I think you would be a GREAT parent even if you didnt "grow up" so to speak!
You would probably know how to have some fun with your kids!
As far as being happier.......Just look right in front of you,you have so many more things to be thankful for than you realize......
gratefulness is a large part of happiness

Answer 4

well for starters i am a grown up, i have five children and many responsibilities. i act like a kid often times but i know my place, when i need to be grown up i am , when there is not a need i have fun. i don't think there is anything wrong with acting how you feel if you know when i bill is due and pay it, or tell a friend you will over and actually show up, that's being an adult. if you are responsible for your actions that makes you an adult, have fun , because you take your responsibilities doe not mean you have to be a prude...

Answer 5

I think our society measure progress by material gain. We are successful because of what we have, not what we think. I am an adult because I : have a job, have children, pay bills, can drive, got my driver's license and turned eighteen; this is what most people are raised to believe. I think people are adults when they can finally think for themselves. I feel like an adult sometimes because I am more experienced, and as I get older, I feel a sense of knowing what I was never told. I don't currently have a job or a child to raise but I am not a child? Adults are people who are not children. So, what does that make me? I used to think that what made me an adult was being able to go to college and not have to ask to go to the bathroom, but I still sort of feel like I'm in high school - in college. I'm still older than I was when I was a kid.

Answer 6

It's funny you say that I am 29 & I often don't feel like an adult. I look about 17 and have a very soft voice so that doesn't help either.
Once I got Married (8 mos. ago) and started having to make real decisions I started feeling like a real adult. My Husband I guess helped me grown up.

Answer 7

I don't have kids, a full time job, I'm living off a gift ... but I'm so an adult. So I'm batting 1 outta 4 for your list. I so accept my status as an adult.

I would say that my acceptance is my realization that my needs are less than the needs of others. Sure, I still have hopes for my personal needs & wants, but I balance this with my community around me. It is the actions I take to lead others, and graciously accept being lead at the same time.

Answer 8

The first time I felt grown-up was when I got my first apartment. I had the full-time job, but I wanted a significant other to complete that part.

Now, I have all three of those, and I'm getting married on September 1. I think I'm feeling pretty grown-up! :)

Good luck on the degree!!!!!

Answer 9

i don't feel grown up yet. but the times that i feel better about myself is when i pay bills and go to work. cus i know that i have done something right for the day.

Answer 10

Staying up with my son when he is sick makes me feel like a grown-up. It is easy to see then that someone is depending on me for everything.