Entering adulthood has its challenges. It has its obvious ones, like having to pay for everything yourself and having to shave every other day, but it also has some unexpected ones you might not think about until it's too late.
Here are some of those challenges:
1) You don't get week(s) of vacation
Remember when you were a student, and you got two weeks off for Christmas, three months off for summer and a week off for spring break? Well, you can kiss those days goodbye (unless you're a teacher). Adulthood welcomes (maybe) two weeks of paid vacation and a few public holidays a year to match up against those precious days of childhood vacation.
2) Half of your friends still get week(s) of vacation
It's inevitable; After you graduate college, you'll no doubt have friends who are still in college, or who have become teachers, and guess what? They still get all those wonderful, student holidays. "Oh, you have to go back to work tomorrow? That's stinks. I don't go back until Jan. 2." Get used to that line. It's a back breaker.
3) Saying 'See ya!' to casual
Wasn't it nice rolling out of bed in the morning, throwing on a pair of sweat pants and a hoodie and trotting to class just in time for the professor to start the lecture? You could wear whatever you wanted, and it didn't matter to anyone. No rules. No judgement. Sadly, those days eventually disappear. If you're a guy, get ready to say hello to khakis and collars, and if you're a girl, well, I'm not sure what you'll say hi too, but you'll probably say bye to the 'messy bun.'
4) Mom and dad?
Remember those wonderful people you've lived most of your life with and who you said a tearful goodbye to when they dropped you off for college? You know, your mother and father? Well, it turns out now you're almost on their level, and it's just kind of weird. For the longest time, they've been the "old" adults, and now it's your turn. You're the adult, as well. I still get chills thinking about it...
5) Cooking your own dinner
After a long, hard day at the office, what's the best thing to come home to? A nice home-cooked meal. But wait. Who's going to cook it? Oh yeah, you are. No more of mamma having the food on the table when you come home from a long day- it's up to you to find the energy to stay on your feet another few hours to cook, eat and clean up the dishes. THEN you can relax (after you go to the gym, answer emails, etc. etc.).
The truth is, growing up has its pains. It has its expectations and its surprises, but despite these few, little things, it's pretty nice. The freedom, income and experiences are all worth it, and so is growing into the person God has made you to be. It's just important to remember this, that growing up is more than mortgages; it's memories.
-Cliff
-Cliff's Note: "There's always life after death, and taxes."