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?

Which is what I'll be doing this morning 😭

This is lovely! I guess it's a position you inherit, whether you want it or not. Not sure it would make me feel like an adult though... more like just old!

Driving (didn't pass til 40)

Taking my Dad to the oncologist. That felt really grown up and I really wished there was someone bigger to do it for me!

He's doing really well now but it was tough at the start.

Alone with DCs when something horrible happens (eg mice, head lice, vomiting) my first reaction is to look for a sensible adult and then I realise that the adult is me and I have to deal with it! So instead of running off screaming into the night, I manage to pull-out all the coping mechanisms and somehow deal with the issue in a composed and confident manner. Makes me feel quite grown-up.

Leaving my house in the morning with toddler/pram/his bag/my work bag. I imagine how I look from the outside - a proper mum with a proper job

Flying to another country.

Nursing a dying parent.

This is one of the best adult things to do isn't it lol I love Christmas Eve when I'm getting everything out again to put under the tree.

Being organised.
Bills paid and savings accruing.
Tidy house with clean bedding and clothes.
Full fridge and meal plan done.
Ready for school requests (world book day/ Xmas jumper/ £1 for this and that).
Basically being fully prepared for every eventuality whilst spinning every other plate, Parent, Employee, Wife, Child, Grandchild, Housekeeper, Chef, Family Manager.

Having an 18 year old daughter should make me feel like a grown up.
It hasn't yet but it has only been a few hours.

Being a parent to my elderly parents, one now passed.

Most of the time I feel like an overgrown child but when I have my annual pay review, not rolling in it so not a stealth boast but just the fact that I’m in a fairly well paid job that I’ve worked my way up in and am being told that I am worth the money - that makes me feel like a grown up (as well as quite proud).

I am late 40s, married, kids, pets, mortgage, job etc. I feel like an adult all the time because I have been forced to become one but the one and only time I felt like a grown up was when boyfriend (now dh) were on our way to pick up a dog and I was like 'holy shit, we're totally responsible for another living thing'.

Felt like a total fraud when we left the hospital with eldest DD for the first time, I thought I should ask permission. I even said to the nurse 'so we can just leave then???'

Maintaining my garden.

Less nicely, being sued. Have been a lawyer for years and when you are actually a client it is a very different thing. A grown up fight.

Also, piped pyjamas and designer specs.

Tax tax tax

Being the designated driver for work outings with colleagues. I didn't learn to drive until my late 20s and even now 7/8 years later I can't believe I'm grown up enough to drive a car and people are happy to be passengers and trust me to get us there!

Playing taxi to my teenagers

"Travelling" for work, with hotel stays and everything!

I'm now allowed to hire and fire employees, still feel like I'm an imposter there a bit though. Like, only the adultier adults can have such responsibility even though I've now hired 8 people I keep feeling like I need to ask permission.

Doing a ‘big shop’ at the supermarket.

filling my car with petrol

going to parent’s evening (esp now it’s secondary school)

when my children are ill and I go into super mum mode, where I feel like I could stay awake and alert all night to care for them (very far from my normal state!)

When I talk to me elderly parents (in 80's), not only do i sound like an adult, I sound like i've got my shit together when I really really haven't, especially when I fix dads phone lol 😂

Meeting with a financial adviser, retirement planning!
I think it was actually my colleagues reaction to this revelation coming up in a lunchtime conversation that made me realise I was doing adult stuff that they weren't.

This (I'm 62)

Spending bank holiday in homebase

Putting the back seats down in the car or removing the parcel shelf in order to fit in important grown up items like Christmas trees or rubbish for the tip.

Going to secondary school open evenings, taking my parents to medical appointments. Actually those just make me feel old. I don't think I've felt grown up yet.

Successfully sourcing a tradesman to do work to my house, plus dealing with them on the day, when they, and I, realise that yes, I am the only one in charge of this house.

Dealing with elderly parents - PoA, speaking for them at medical appointments.