What makes you feel like a real grown up?

[RealHousewivesOfTaunton]

I made a slow-cooked beef stew today. Slow-cooking anything is a feat of organisation and planning that makes me feel like the sort of "real" grown-up normally only found in paperback novels. I then ruined it by pretending I was a medieval publican serving stew to the travellers at my tavern, but I had a moment of feeling like an actual adult.

Going to parents evening is another one, especially when the teachers are younger than me.

What makes you feel like a proper grown-up?

Having a boiler and a freezer in an outhouse.

Having a solicitor

Mine's a manchet and a hogg's head pie please tavern keeper.

Throw in a sack of best malmsey while you're there.

😂

Having a child.
Getting students through exams.
Watching horror films.
Ironing.

Making cottage pie!

Sewing nametapes into school uniforms.

Recently we got our tv mounted on the wall and to me that felt v grown up, realise it’s pretty normal for many people!!

Nothing says "adult" like paying council tax. Or indeed any tax. Or bill.

On a more positive note - I feel like a grown up when I clean the kitchen last thing at night. It's lovely and very grown up to come down to a tidy kitchen.

Calling a school office to say my child is ill so won't be coming to school today.

Hiding Christmas and birthday presents from my almost-three year old DD

Being able to use cling film properly 😆

Having good sex.

Going to the butcher 🤷‍♀️

For some reason taking my cat to the vet makes me feel like a real grown up, more so even than taking my kids to the doctor or anything. Weird.

Having neighbours who are friends and nipping in an out of each others houses for tea or wine
Paying for things by cheque (extremely rare to be fair)
Using any kind of electrical kitchen device (e.g hand mixer)
Driving (I’ve been driving for 24 years lol)
Secondary school parents evenings
Speaking to the IFA
Going into John Lewis

Ironing school uniforms on a Sunday evening and dropping DC off at school.

Making a dentist appointment and attending.

We go to the dr only when we’re ill - and (most of us) don’t pay, other than in tax.

Paying someone a shitload of money to check your teeth when you don’t even have toothache feels grown up. You’re taking care of future you.

My mother used to say that she was the matriarch of the family. We all used to think it was hilarious and she had ideas above her station.
However, she died many years ago and I recently realised (I'm a bit slow on the uptake) that I am now said matriarch, if a matriarch is required. A bit of a shock tbh.
My grown up kids come to me for all sorts of advice re babies, families and various cuts and scrapes. I have no idea what I'm talking about but try to appear wise whilst spouting drivel.

I'm not grown up enough to feel comfortable in John Lewis. I still scurry through it like a shoplifter!

Mowing the lawn. Definitely something only an adult would do.

My ongoing divorce. No one to make it all better for me.

My auto immune condition.

My children's mental health issues.

My stressful job.

Sorry, no light hearted response from me! My life is just really fucking hard!

• Going to secondary school parents evening
• Having a secondary school aged child!
• Having a financial advisor
• Making definite plans to get an extension built, and having scary chats with builders about contingency plans and budgets
• When your child has their friends over, and you realise that they probably view you as REALLY old
• Making a Will, getting life insurance, and all that kind of proper life admin type of stuff

Cleaning my kitchen because I have to clean it rather than it 'needs' cleaning.

I make my own life decisions - I am moving house and I made that decision.

Exiting a multi-storey car park gives me that feeling. I suppose it was something I watched my parents do, and I subconsciously filed it as grown up and slightly more sophisticated than regular on-street parking.

Putting air in the car tyres at a petrol station.