Challenges of adulthood

What the hell was I thinking?

When I was a young, I was small for my age. I was always the smallest or one of the small kids in my elementary school classes, but I was a smart kid. I read a lot. I kept up with my homework. I did my chores, I listened to my parents and my elders and minded “my p’s and q’s.”

Somehow in my crazy little brain, I couldn’t wait to be adult. I couldn’t wait to grow up and be on my own. I dreamed of having my own apartment, my own car, doing my own thing. I dreamed of being my own timekeeper and the master of my house.

I wonder sometimes what the hell I was thinking. I knew nothing about life’s little challenges:

• Work. Despite my parent’s warnings, I thought money “grew on trees.” I didn’t realize that I had to get up even on the days I wanted to roll over in bed. I didn’t realize that when I grew tired of my life’s work, I couldn’t just snap my fingers and become the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees.
• Bills. You need to pay bills that you never thought about when you were a kid. I went to the store yesterday and was shocked to see see my grocery bill. I spent $300 and came home with nothing. In that moment, I realized that I had become my parents, commenting on the rising costs of everyday things.
• Taxes. You need to pay taxes that never seem to go away.
• Having to worry about once silly things like health and exercise.
• The speed of time.
• The speed of aches and pains.

I thought I was prepared for adulthood, but no one really is. What in the heck was I thinking? If I pinch myself, will I wake myself up from this dream and still be 13-years-old? (Oh no, that might be a scarier dream!)

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