What random tasks make you feel like a 'proper' grown up?

[BigBrownBoogyingBear]

I'm 48. I have two children (one with SN). I'm married. I've bought and sold a couple of houses. Learnt to drive. Been travelling. Worked and lived in London. Presented my work at international conferences. I'm now helping to care for my elderly parents (one of whom has dementia). So I've done a lot of the things typically associated with being an adult.

But the thing that always makes me feel like a 'proper' grown up is...marinading meat. Or squeezing lemon over fish. Whenever I'm doing it I get a frisson of...I don't know...maturity? Like the real grown ups are watching with approval!

Does anyone else ever feel like this when doing random, fairly mundane tasks? If so - what are they?

Haha I feel like this when I’m driving work cars! Like in utter disbelief they trust me (!) to drive this car which is not mine

Getting my hair cut and not bothering to colour it as well (also happy as so much cheaper!)

Paying bills

Cooking extra for lunch at work

Putting screen wash in the car
Actually (sod it, though this is embarrassing…) putting petrol in the car makes me feel like a grownup

Sending a parcel at the post office

Writing a job reference for someone.

An odd one but...sunbathing on a sun lounger. All throughout childhood I coveted those with gardens. I love having a garden now.

Cleaning gutters
changing a bed that’s been weed in!

My new car makes me feel grown up. Popping the boot open from the key fob makes me giddy!
Hanging washing out and thinking to myself it’s great weather for drying and realising how grown up and boring I am now.

Calling the school and they listen and believe me.
Discussing things with medical professionals myself and deciding for me or my dc.
Being asked for advice on my speciality, by people who I amazed even know I exist and worth talking to, except for ' excuse me'

Oh yes, driving work cars. Really?! And then driving like I've nicked it.

Being asked to sign people’s passport forms 😂

Ordering and using a second wheelie bin for garden waste. One is not enough and it makes me feel proper grown up putting both bins out to be collected.

Cleaning the loo

Doing my tax return but the big one for me is remembering which bin is due out.

Bleeding the radiators

Flying on my own, staying in a hotel alone

Buying a new hoover as one went bang so now I have even more credit card debt for me to pay off. Having an interview for a 2nd job tomorrow. So pleased my 6 figure earning ex wanted 50/50 custody so he has to pay no maintenance.

Cooking a roast

Getting my car valeted and helping my team members set objectives for professional development in one to one meetings. They always start negative and a bit passive aggressive then leave feeling pleased by my suggestions. I always sit back after each one and think..hmm I just did that.
Before that writing cheques then they took them away and I was in limbo again.

Buying really practical things for my house. I bought a mesh cover for my fruit bowl recently and felt so mature.

The rest of the time I feel like a 20 year old in a 40 something body!

Hosting guests in my home.

Being executor for a relative's estate.

Swiping into work with my ID card 😂

I made soup today. From stock I made from the carcass of a chicken I roasted earlier in the week. The sense of grown up / proper mother achievement was unreal.

It only counts if you're also excited about good drying weather😂

Peeling potatoes and feeling the generations of my ancestors behind me. (Northern Irish)

Being "allowed" to make decisions in my job. Don't those mad fools realise that I'm just a giddy 16 year old in middle-aged fancy dress?!

I studied in Europe as part of my degree. Felt very grown up getting a train to the airport and flying on my own back home.

Receiving official looking (paper) post addressed to me makes me feel grown up. I think its because as a child I always envied my parents picking up their post off the door mat.

I'm mid 50s so you'd think I'd be over this by now 😂