The Great Parts of Adulthood....

[Jester]

I have had this discussion before with friends, but it is still one that amuses me. Most people think back on childhood as a great time (forgetting the bad parts), and a lot of us wish we could still be children. While there are lots of things that rock as a kid (and many of them I still hold on to), there really are some great things about being an adult. These are the things that make me not want to return to childhood. To wit:

--Money. I am not rich, but I make my own money and, to a large degree, can do with what I want. Yesterday, for example, I dropped a stupid amount while watching football, drinking beer, eating, and buying other people drinks. And had a blast. Years ago I bought my bike, which I still have, which was the largest single purchase outside of a car I have ever made. And sometimes I revert to childhood and just spend my money on toys. Sometimes kid's toys, sometimes "adult" toys. No, not those adult toys--get your minds out of the gutter! One example is I am currently considering upgrading my old used 19-inch clunker tv to a flat screen LCD of similar size (I don't have space for a monster one).

--Driving. I LOVE my freedom. I recently got back from a roadtrip vacation, and I love the fact that I don't have to depend on other people to get places most of the time. Kids don't have nearly this freedom. Also, I just like driving, to be honest.

--Women. Sex. Relationships. Romance. Dancing. Puberty sucks, but the gates it opens up, even with all the bullshit (and there is bullshit aplenty out there), it is so worth it.

--Recreational Substances. It's no secret that I love my booze, especially beer, rum, wine, and margaritas. I love the taste, and honestly, I often enjoy the feeling of being (and getting) drunk. While I don't smoke cigarettes, I do enjoy the occasional cigar. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't dabble in some other mind-altering substances in years past. I did, and I enjoyed it.

So yeah, much of adulthood blows chunks. A lot of us would love to give most of it back. But share with the class--what parts of adulthood do you really enjoy?

[Green_Fairy]

watching cartoons and eating cereal for dinner. it's pretty awesome. the jack and coke makes it soooo much better than it ever was as a kid

[BookstoreEscapee]

No, not those adult toys

Why not? It's one of the perks, isn't it? (Not that I own any...anymore...).

Sex...uh...I don't really remember...:o I would like to have a relationship but so far that hasn't really worked out so well...


No curfew...not having to ask to borrow the car...

Ice cream for dinner...

(Sorry, I'm not coming up with anything good here... I'm in a "being a grown-up blows" mode these days...)

[blas]

I personally love the freedom I have living on my own.......being able to be out as late as I want without getting grounded and screamed at is amazing....

However, sometimes I do wish I was still a kid in school just working part time and my only bills were car insurance, cell phone, and gas for my car.

[tropicsgoddess]

.not having to ask to borrow the car...



Some adults (unfortunately) do have to ask for that...and not from mom and dad either (roomies, SO's etc).

But here's what I think rocks about adulthood...
no bedtimes

being able to (legally) drink, rent a car

playing video games till the ass crack of dawn

having your own money

having your own place

not being grounded for coming home late

having a final say in everything

being able to watch movies with R, NC-17 and even X ratings with no repercussions..same goes with video games with M and AO ratings.

SEX!!!!!! Men, relationships, friendships and/or friends that can give you "the hook up" ;)

[AdminAssistant]

Sorry, Jest...maybe if I weren't broke, single (and bitter), with so many worries about school and my future and what's going on back home...I'd be able to revel in my adulthood.

Right now, I just want to ride on my bike til dark and have Momma make me dinner, watch TV, and go to bed. :/

[Red_Dazes]

Being an adult sucks... and really I don't ever want to grow up all the way...but I will say some parts are pretty cool!

...Being able to stay up till the ass crack of dawn watching scary movies, eating junk food and drinking soda with out getting yelled at ((as long as the neighbors can't hear though the walls))

...Not having to convince Mom "I'm Sick" when you just need a day off ((not that I do it often but it is so much easier to just call the boss and say "I'm not feeling well" then to try and fake a stomach flu to get out of a math test..... not ... that ... I ...ever ...did.....))

... Getting to sleep in when you want. ^_^ My fav!

... Not having to clean your room EVERY SINGLE DAY. ^_^

.... Making my own money to spend how I see fit... and blowing it mostly on books.

.....but I think the coolest part is being able to live on your own... make your own decisions.... and then getting to drag yourself over to Mommies house when you get sick and need someone to make you all better. :p

[Eireann]

I like - no, LOVE - the fact that, as an adult, I'm identifying and working through the damaging issues from my childhood. I absorbed a lot of wrong ideas about life, about my place in the world, about a lot of things, and while I do have many fond memories of childhood, I have some very dark memories, as well. Now, I don't have the emotional baggage that made so much of my life so difficult!

I love not having to worry what I'm going to hear when I get home late.

I love eating what I make, and like, rather than what's put in front of me.

I love eating out if I feel like it.

I love eating ice cream right out of the container.

I love not having to ask permission to go somewhere.

I love having my own place.

I love watching all the movies I want to watch, without having a fight over the TV.

[CaroPhoenix]

This is what I like about being an adult:

-- I can run around the house with scissors.

-- I can sit 3 inches in front of the TV if I want to.

-- I can stand in front of the open refrigerator and stare at what's inside for long periods of times.

-- Hmmm ... I can ... aaaah ... dress myself without anyone (*coughmomandsistercough*) asking me if I'm wearing that to go out.

-- I can have any toy I want in the toystore and I don't have to give it to Child Rum

-- I can't vouch for the sex part - right now Mr. Rum is complaining that I want it once a week. :confused:

[gremcint]

not having to put up with bullies at school
not having to put up with bullies at school
not having to put up with bullies at school

being able to watch stuff like dexter and ncis while still enjoying justice league

being able to own a gun
having access to various places that a human body could be disposed of...

(what do you want from me we are close to halloween)
being able to just outright buy candy.

[MaggieTheCat]

-- I can't vouch for the sex part - right now Mr. Rum is complaining that I want it once a week. :confused:

I'm so sorry, Rum. :( :hug:

not having to put up with bullies at school
not having to put up with bullies at school
not having to put up with bullies at school

That was gonna be one of my first ones too! That, and generally being able to ignore people who I don't like, unlike school where you may be forced to do group projects with the jerks who don't pull their weight!

Here are a few more:

-Being able to keep my own schedule. If I want to sleep late, I can sleep late without getting a lecture about it.

-Being able to cook what I want, when I want. If I want to bake cookies at 11:00 at night, then dangit I'm baking cookies at 11:00 at night!

-Being able to take a shower whenever I want. Sometimes it's 2am and you just need to warm up/cool down/relax before you can get back to sleep.

-Being able to live with my husband, who is very supportive and understanding when I'm upset rather than just telling me to get over my problems!

-Having a somewhat messy (not dirty, just messy) apartment without getting lectured about every little thing not being in its perfect place.

[AnaKhouri]

My husband is one of those very nostalgic people. He's always talking about how great it was when he was a kid. I had an OK childhood, but I am always happy no matter where I am in my life. I can't wait to see what happens next (probably because I am a reader/writer)!

I love being an adult. I have my own place, a good partner, any kind of pet I want, I can drive and go to R-rated movies and buy stuff as long as I can afford it. I can go anywhere I want (almost) and best of all, I now have a kid and he is way more fun than any toy I had when I was little!:D

[Shards]

I'm currently a college student, still living at home, unemployed, and single, so I'm probably the single biggest child in this particular thread, but I'll tell you the things I miss that I always felt older when I did:

-Working. I miss making my own money and supporting my own hobbies, without having to ask mom and dad for it, plus, I just really did enjoy going to work every day, it always beat school, hands down.

-Commitment. I miss being in a relationship where there was a monogamous commitment, where I knew waking up that there was someone special and important in my life, and that I was important in theirs. Admittedly, it didn't work out, but I still miss the security of not having to deal with all the crap that comes with being single and giving a damn.

-Lunch Hour. My college schedule has me fenced in between classes for several hours right in a row, then lets me out at the end. This is very similar to how my high school schedule was. During the time between HS and college, even when I was working, I had a break for lunch that I could spend with friends, or, more often than not, my grandfather.

Oh, and here's one I actually do get to enjoy, even now:

-Knowing what the frack you're talking about: I don't go out of my way to absorb trivia, but I do know my way around what's going on in recent times, and when a debate comes up, I have a stronger grasp on it than I did when I was a child. My opinions are formulated, and I know where I stand, no more uncertainty. I'm quite fond of that.

[Javakat]

For me, it's all got to do with me not having to deal with my 4 younger siblings all the time. No more baby-sitting, no more yelling and fighting. It's so nice to have quiet and the TV to myself.

[draftermatt]

*Going to work and getting paid instead of going to school.
I was always good at school but I hated going there. I felt like I could be doing more with my time. So my senior year of highschool was spent largely at work. To the point that I have a hard time remembering a lot of people I graduated with because I wasn't there.

*The sex part is pretty cool

*Doing what I want, when I want.

*Being "friends" with my parents.
Maybe this sounds odd, but I like being able to hold a conversation with my parents, or older relatives and knowing that they respect my opinion as an adult. Being able to pick up the phone and calling them to say "hey". Being asked to become my parents Power of Attorney/executor of estate, etc.

*Knowing that my friends are my friends even though I don't see them every day.
Remember as a kid when summer sucked because you couldn't see your friends (from school) for so long? And now as an adult you sometimes go even longer without seeing or even hearing from friends? But it's alright and no one gets mad for "ignoring" the other?

[JoitheArtist]

Oh man, being an adult is SO much better than being a kid, teen, or college student. I can't imagine going back.


--Travel: I love traveling. LOVE IT. And being a single adult who makes decent money, it's not that hard for me to save up for a few weeks, and jet off with economy airline tickets to meet friends around the country. Next weekend I'm flying to Dallas for a weekend with some NaNoWrimo friends. We've met up in San Francisco and Tucson, and I can't wait for this.

--Working: No, really! Even with as crazy as CEO makes me, I still love my job overall. Getting to write for a living? HECK YEAH. Plus, I like my coworkers, I love going out to lunch with them, I love the whole adult-in-the-workplace thing.

--Housing: I live in a nice 2-story house with 3 other girls. We get to decorate the way we want (no more white walls, mom!), cook the way we want, invite people over, etc. LOVE that.

[Broomjockey]

Great parts of adulthood? I don't have to socialize with anyone I choose not to.

I can spend my money to get the things I want without having to run purchases past my parents. I set aside all the money for my bills, and then whatever's left I distribute how I see fit.

NO ROOMMATES. I've been living solo since March, and it's freaking AWESOME. Expensive? Hell yeah. Probably a damned sight more than I should be paying. But this goes back to point 2. I spend my money how I want. And how I want is people leavin' me the hell ALONE. BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAaaaaaaa...

Other than that, nothing, since a) I still feel like I'm the same arrogant, smart-mouthed thing I was at 16, and b) I'm working towards saving up for a non-apartment place, so once I'm in there, things should get even better! :D

[trailerparkmedic]

(what do you want from me we are close to halloween)
being able to just outright buy candy.

Quoted for truth!

Also,

-Not having Mom nag me about making my bed. I still subscribe to the "but I'll get back in it tonight!" theory.
-Not worrying about my professors calling my mom if I don't show up for class/turn in a paper/etc.
-No getting yelled at if the dishes sit in the sink for a day. I'm pretty good about not letting them all get piled up, but it's ok if I slack once in a while.
-Being able to eat on my schedule, not when my parents decide dinner time should be.
-Staying up as late as I want with no nagging.
-Decorating my apartment. My boyfriend does most of the decorating, but I still have input.
-Having people over to my apartment whenever I want.

[Soulstealer]

I can catch a train and go down to London on the weekend just for the hell of it.
I can set the temperature for whatever I want. (all through my childhood there was the fight between those of us who like it warm, the crazies who like it cold, and the cats who stole your spot on the couch if you left to get a drink).
I understand things I didn't understand when I was younger.
I can plan my own trips.
I can curse the law society on campus because the bus they arranged for alton towers leaves at 11:45 and I have to be on campus until 4 that day. (alright this has nothing with being an adult, I just really wanted to go and I'm too busy lately to go without the prearranged trip)
I can dance in my underwear at 3 in the morning without complaints.

[jedimaster91]

Best part of adulthood for me was being able to get a dog. My parents are allergic to fur, and while I love(d) the bird(s) that we have (had), I always wanted a dog.

I can watch TV shows without my dad giving me the stink-eye. I love Two-and-a-Half Men. Is it raunchy at times? Sure. But I love it. Dad doesn't approve, but he doesn't live here. :D

If I want to stay on the computer all day (or all night) I can. And I don't have to fight anyone for it.

That sex thing is pretty awesome, too.

Not having a curfew.

So what if my house is a little messy?

Cooking what I want to eat. Brownies for breakfast? Heck yes!

My car. MINE!

I can crank up the tunes and rock out when I'm cooking or cleaning.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Some adults (unfortunately) do have to ask for that...and not from mom and dad either (roomies, SO's etc).
I know...I didn't own my own car until I was 25, when I moved to PA (and I bought it from my parents). Until then I shared with my mom. (Though I drove it more than she did, since she and my dad worked together and carpooled.)


...Not having to convince Mom "I'm Sick" when you just need a day off ((not that I do it often but it is so much easier to just call the boss and say "I'm not feeling well" then to try and fake a stomach flu to get out of a math test..... not ... that ... I ...ever ...did.....))
I never faked being sick to get out of a test...I know I "exaggerated" my symptoms from time to time just to stay home, but never if I actually had something important going on that day. Am I weird? ;)

NO ROOMMATES.
Well, I have a roommate. I did live alone for a year, and it does have its perks.

-Not having Mom nag me about making my bed. I still subscribe to the "but I'll get back in it tonight!" theory.
Hehe, the only time my bed ever gets made is when I change the sheets. And it only stays made until I go to bed.

[gremcint]

-swearing!

[AdminAssistant]

Okay, positive thoughts. I'm going to dig myself out of this hole, damnit.

- Eating whatever the hell I want, when I want it. Has a drawback - gaining weight, but I never have to choke down something I don't like because "you'll eat everything on your plate and like it, missy"

- Moving out. Specifically, moving 8 hours away. So now, when I do go home, it's actually fun and enjoyable (for a while). 2 weeks is my maximum endurance.

- Buying clothing I like and wearing it the way I want to. God love my mother, she's a wonderful woman. But she's one of those that will say, "Honey, if you just fixed your hair, just wore different clothes, just wore makeup, why THEN you'd get a man!" *sigh* She means well, she really does. I still have a hard time shopping with her; she just doesn't understand that we have different styles.

[Jester]

Hehe, the only time my bed ever gets made is when I change the sheets. And it only stays made until I go to bed.

About the only time my bed gets made is when I know ahead of time I will be having female company over. And yes, I do mean that type of female company, thank you very much! :eyewaggle:

-swearing!

Fuck yeah!

[tropicsgoddess]

-swearing!

Hell motherfucking yeah!!! :D:p

[RavenStarr]

There have been a lot of cool things said about being an adult in this thread. Some of mine are:

Being able to drink pepsi and eat pretzels & dip for breakfast.

Being able to watch anything I want on TV

Being able to listen to any kind of music I want.

Being able to have my hair as long or short as I want.

Being allowed to have tattoos.

[NightWatch]

I love doing the things that I love but my mother finds offensive. Then I tell her all about it and watch her try to hide her feelings behind her smile because I'm too old to chastise for my "bad decisions".

Such as: Owning a motorcycle. I was fascinated by them as a kid, but my mom always told me they were dirty and dangerous. Now I own one. And it makes me happy.

Getting tattoos: Again, was always fascinated by them as a kid but my mom told me they were nasty and only criminals got them. Now I have lots of tattoos, and no criminal record.

I love the relationship I have with my dad now. We have the same sense of humor, but now that I'm an adult, he's not afraid to tell me a dirty joke.

I also love watching movies from my childhood and catching all the dirty jokes I never caught/understood when I was little.

Not having to try to hide the smell of alcohol and cigarettes from my parents.

Not having to get my mommy or daddy to co-sign ANYTHING. I specifically went and had my mother removed from all my accounts when I turned 18. This upset her because "what if you die!! then I have to work to get access to all your stuff!!" No shit? Like I'll have to do when you die? What a bummer... /sarcasm

Oh, and telling my deadbeat big brother what I really think of him and being old enough to realize he'll never admit to being wrong.

I also like finding my place in the world, most exciting.

I would never, ever go back to any part of my childhood. It was dark, lonely, and filled with bullies.

[SG15Z]

Well I still live with my parents as I can't afford an apartment with my income at the moment. Which sucks because they still want me doing chores and cleaning my room (not that I do anyway :p).

Still I love being able to just go anywhere and not having to ask permission.

I love being able to just buy and eat whatever I want.

I love sleeping whenever and as long as I want! (my fav) :D

I love not having to be in school. Seriously I hated school. It felt like a waste of time the last couple of years as they just kept treading on stuff I had heard over and over for years. Can I learn something new already!

I love the free time. Compared to when I was in school where I was there from about 7am till 3pm then had homework anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours. And of course my job in the later years. I hated never having time to myself, and now I do and I love it!

Being able to just sit on the computer for hours because there's nothing else to do and just relax without being yelled at and told I need to get to bed.



I still miss childhood to a degree, but when I think about it, I like adult life so much more. Sure it sucks, but the pros out weigh the cons for me.

[Jester]

I would never, ever go back to any part of my childhood. It was dark, lonely, and filled with bullies.

I dealt with bullies as well, but being the class clown, I probably didn't have it as bad as some others.

That being said, one part of adulthood I love is seeing how many former bullies have just completely failed at life. Or seeing how they have grown up and started treating people much, much better. I get satisfaction from that.

Or from standing up to bullies now, looking people who are larger than me in the eye, telling them I will take their hand completely off their arm if they don't stop bothering my friend, and watching the look on their face as they realize I am both serious and sincere, and watching these bullies cowards slink away. Having the ability to do that to them is freakin' awesome. It's also very effective when dealing with some of the less desireable assholes that date or want to date my teenage nieces.

Yeah, being my size and inspiring fear and dread in the type of people that used to cause me shit is unbelievably satisfying. :cool: (My father, who tried to teach me self-defense and how to stand up to these idiots, and seemed frustrated that his attempts were not seeming to work, would be so fucking PROUD!)

Well I still live with my parents as I can't afford an apartment with my income at the moment. Which sucks because they still want me doing chores and cleaning my room (not that I do anyway :p).

Being an adult, I have to side with your parents. See, the way you tell it, you aren't paying them rent or utilities, so it seems to me they have every right to ask and expect you to do certain things around the house. Just saying.

[SG15Z]

Being an adult, I have to side with your parents. See, the way you tell it, you aren't paying them rent or utilities, so it seems to me they have every right to ask and expect you to do certain things around the house. Just saying.

Actually I am paying rent at my parents' home. It's only $200 a month but it is rent. Just thought I should clarify.

[mandaliz8704]

I agree with pretty much everything that has been posted, I just wanted to chuckle about something... I think its funny how once my kids were old enough to start school, I didn't feel like so much of a grownup anymore. Yeah, I'm still the mom, and I'm "in charge"... but damn if the kids' (i.e. school's) schedule doesnt totally override my own just like it did when *I* was the one in school.

[Jester]

Actually I am paying rent at my parents' home. It's only $200 a month but it is rent. Just thought I should clarify.

By the way you say "only," I assume that means that that is not the market price for a room for rent in your area. Hence, my original comments on the matter still stand. :D

[McGoddess09]

I haven't officially moved out yet and I live in the dorms when I'm not home, but:

-I can be out as late as I want and not have to explain myself. I do let Roomie know if I'm going to be out later than expected just because we do share a room and I think it's only polite. When I go home, however, I can just take the keys and say 'bye!'

-If my mom says something about my clothing choice, I can say "I'm an adult. Now you know how grandma feels about you." "That's different." "No. It's not. I am an adult. You are an adult. Both our mothers try." Gets her to drop it.

-I can't get in trouble for my opinions. Yes. I used to get in trouble because I had a differing opinion from my mom. I tell her what I am thinking without her being able to ground me.

-I can be a friend to my grandparents. I can't really have much of a friendship with my mom for certain reasons, but my grandparents are great friends to me. If I go shopping with my grandma, she'll actually look at sexy things and give her opinion about them for me. :roll:

[Green_Fairy]

my new favoritest thing about being a grownup:

i'm having a peanut butter and jelly for dinner. with pickles and beer. yaaaay!!

[SnapAddict218]

i'm having a peanut butter and jelly for dinner. with pickles and beer. yaaaay!!

I love you......:wave:

[Green_Fairy]

I love you......:wave:

woo! another great thing about adulthood! random people professing their love and it not being a felony :lol:

[Misanthropical]

The perks of being an adult

-I don't have to eat things I don't like. I will buy things I don't like for my cubs, but I don't have to eat it. :p

-I can have insomnia without anyone yelling at me about it.

-My house, my rules. If you don't like it, the door is over there.

-I can tell people how I feel about them, for the most part.

-I can wear what I want. I grew up in a very strict religion.

-I can cut my hair. See above.

-I can have and wear jewelry. Again see above.

-I can have alcohol usually wine. See above

-I never have to go back to that church or any church like it.

-I can read and watch TV when I want.

-A big FUCK YEAH! on the swearing thing. Although, I try not to do it in front of my cubs. :angel:

-I can eat dessert first and have been known to do so. :D

[protege]

Let's see now...

Probably the best thing about being an adult? Not living with my parents! No more listening to them argue, no more having to freeze during the winter or scorch during the summer (cheap bastards wouldn't turn on the heat or A/C), no more having my mother whine at night because of my radio--even with the door closed, and it set at its lowest setting, it was still "too loud" :rolleyes: etc.

Should mention that I don't have to put all my model car stuff away when I'm finished. Hell, I build models in the living room! Nor do I have to keep my bedroom and office spotless. Of course, there are the kitties. I definitely wouldn't have them if I was still living at home. Certain relatives are allergic, and one won't take his allergy pills. Also, the MG wouldn't be with me--if I wasn't an adult, it probably would have been scrapped by now :(

[Dark-Star]

Nothing.

Additional free time? Goes bye-bye after you get THE JOB...or in this s----y economy, possibly JOBS. I had more discretionary time in the day when I was in kindergarten, and intentional sleep-deprivation to stretch the day's hours doesn't count.

Money? Three words: rent, groceries, utilities.

Food choice? Fat chance, literally. Babysitting a screen is leaving me with a nerd belly, and unless I really start watching it I'll be a nasty fat old man before I'm 30.

Hobbies? Collecting dust on the closet shelf - literally - for lack of funds. PTL that even cheap salvaged laptops can do for writing and have 'net access with Linux. (as a sidenote, bless those who make *nix distros free of charge to the public, you guys and gals are literally a godsend to some of us.)

Friends? Scattered to the four corners of the earth, and my fellow Americans value their #%$@! precious privacy so much you run the risk of being accused as a stalker if you try to so much as say "nice day" over the fence.

Participating in the political process? Biggest joke of the lot. Flip a coin or roll a dice to pick which of the the lousy choices you'll vote for this time around is the best system I've seen.

[almigi]

I pretty much agree with much of what already has been said in this thread. I definitely like being an adult way more then I liked being a kid.

The big thing, freedom. I can do what I want without having to get permission. I can go out with friends, and if the evening seems to be lasting longer then planned, I don't have to call and ask for permission to stay out later.

I also like living alone. I'm not antisocial, I do have friends whom I care about and enjoy spending time with. However, after a long day of going work (or going to both school and work), nothing is more satisfying then walking into my apartment, closing the door, and locking it.