Things that made you realise you’re a grown up now

[poppymango]

I was watching Geek Girl on Netflix and found myself really identifying with the parents (not least because they’re played by Tim Downie and Jemima Rooper, who were in loads of stuff on TV when I was growing up in the 90’s).

The parents are easily my favourite characters. They look fun.

A few days later I clicked on a targeted ad on Instagram for a dress I really liked. It turned out to be Monsoon - a brand I’d always thought was a bit too grown up for me. I used to look at their clothes and think "ooh, mum would look lovely in that". Looking through the website now and I realise could happily spend hundreds of pounds in there! 😆

It hit me – I’m properly a grown up now.

What made you realise?

(Just a bit of fun!)

Trying go watch Geek Girl on Netflix and absolutely hating it because it felt like it was geared towards teenagers (sorry OP 😅)

Oh it totally is! But honestly I still like that kind of stuff. Some of it, anyway. It’s like comfort TV for me.

Several things recently, actually.

Someone complimented me on a new top and my instinctive response was to say that 'I like it because it washes well'.

I was referred to as 'that Mum' by a random teenager despite having no child with me at the time. A double whammy for both being old and also losing my identity as anything other than a parent.

Took a penalty in the garden at the weekend, which resulted in me saying 'ooh my hip!'

Years ago now, but I'd gone to a concert with a friend and as we both stood there in the queue in our coats we looked around at everyone else in their strappy dresses freezing.

Officially old... but warm!

• my hip has started hurting when I put my knickers on in the morning as it hasn't had a chance to loosen up yet
• driving (still sometimes think 'look at me, I'm driving!'. I have been able to drive for 18 years).
• organising DM's funeral. Burying my mum at 29 made me feel very grown up.

organising DM's funeral. Burying my mum at 29 made me feel very grown up

My DM died when I was 31, and I remember at the hospital someone asked who was organising the funeral and everyone looked at me, even my Dad. I suddenly felt horribly grown up then, even though I already had 2 DC, a full time job, a car and all the other grown up things.

Sometimes waking up not being arsed to go to school. Thinking I might just not bother going in and binge watch Bridgerton.

I then have to remind myself that I need to really, because I'm the teacher.

My DN phoned me to tell me that she was now an adult

As she was 34 at the time and a staff nurse I was obviously surprised

The reason that she now felt that she was an adult was that she had just bought her first black handbag!!!!!

Thinking oh those shoes look comfy, COMFY omg. I'm definitely old now

The speed with which the checkout person presses the "over 25" button when I'm buying alcohol.....they jab it immediately and don't even need to have a second glance at me nowadays 🤣

Singing along to something from my teenage era (early 00s) like Blue or Steps and realising that it's exactly the same as when my mum played ABBA or Duran Duran in the car when I was growing up.

Realising that I'm someone people turn to directly for expert professional advice in my field - rather than going to my boss and me doing the donkey work.

Being responsible for 2 dogs and a cat!

Buying a prepaid funeral plan. A strange comfort in knowing it's done and what will happen.

I realised I was grown up after my parents died. I suddenly realised that my siblings and I were now the oldest generation in my family . . . a sobering moment . . .

Sorry, I know you said this should be fun so the first time I ever felt grown up was when I got my first flat and had to buy a toilet brush!!!!!

Becoming a taxi service for my teenagers, I had this sudden realisation that I'm now a proper, responsible grown up and parent, as I dropped my 15yo to yet another sleep over.

Getting a promotion into a leadership role. I used to look for an adultier adult with a work crisis, now I am that adultier adult that others look to.

On the plus side, everyone seems surprised at my age and tends to peg me a good decade or more younger so I clearly wear adulthood well 😆

Absolutely this. I am now the oldest surviving member of my immediate family.

One thing that really got to me was when I realised I had been born less than 20 years after WW2. I can remember things from 20 years ago really well.

Also when I realised that most of my clothes come from M&S, Seasalt and White Stuff!! Although I have got a few things from Next.

When I stopped being carded for buying alcohol. The last time it happened I was probably about 40… never happens now!

Grey hairs, wrinkles, contemplating an AVC… I could go on!

I read this as pot noodles, politics and pensions 😂

I got excited about the bin day when they collect all the bins at once when all the stars collide and all the different bin/recycling cycles coincide.

It’s now called Bindependence Day in our house.

This is bloody brilliant 👏🏻

Love it🤣

Only purchasing m&s multipacks of 100% cotton knickers (still have lace on though!)

Preferring the clothes in m&s to river island. Shin splints in poor fitting footwear. ‘Needing’ a sit down after an active day.

I can clean the crap out of the kitchen sink plug hole and not heave.

I bought a chicken shape basket for my eggs because I hate them in a box and also a butter dish lol. Showed my sister who is older than me and she called me a granny 😂

Going out late infrequently enough that I can afford a taxi home from central London when the Tube has stopped

As of today, have a 16 year old