to think that 25 isn't that young?

[wannaBe]

yes, thread inspired by a thread, but I've seen it a lot on here:

"she's only 25, give her a break." "he's only 20 something, it's still very young..." etc etc as if somehow one doesn't stop being a child or being able to take responsibility for one's actions until one is at least 30..

At 25 my parents had two kids, a mortgage and had emigraded half way across the world.

At 25 most people are holding down responsible jobs/many have mortgages/are in long-term relationships, etc.

And while 25 is young in comparison to 40, really, by 25 one should be mature enough to act responsibly, and 25 certainly shouldn't be an excuse-all age - eighteen maybe, but not 25...

I'm 30, single, no kids. I live in rented accommodation and go out every night (not necessarily drinking, just socialising and doing my hobbies)

If you're single and earn relatively little I don't see a) how you can afford a mortgage and b) what else you're supposed to do with your time but go out. Let's face it, I am hardly going to sit in my flat watching tv on my own every night am I? Does that make me immature?

I had 3 kids by the time I was 25. I was a gym slip bride.

I'm younger now than I was then

Slinking - It depends how you look at it I am definitely not in my domesticated years yet I have a very packed social life. I dont think having children has stopped me but I do realise I am very lucky been to seen numerous bands, all sorts of nights out, parties, raves,weekends with the girls to see comedians and always have stuff on the go constantly. My best friend is single and 20 and I manage to keep up with everything she does.

I dont think marriage or mortgage has made me grow up yet or be particularly mature yet, and I dont think it will for a considerably large amount of time yet maybe 55!

lol i was married with my own house at 19, had two kids by 24. so no 25 isnt young. Its all relative anyway

Dsd is 24 and we ask her advice

I was living with exdh had a house and job at 25, well from 16 I worked. I do think it depends on the family enviroment sometimes. Some people are babied. I was babied but rebelled. And if they're babied at work too then there's no hope!

I was just talking about this the yesterday! My friend (who is 24) was talking about being "very young" and I had to tell her, "um...honey, you ain't." :o I went on to say that no one would remark if she had a baby and she seemed shocked.

I was married at 24 (5 years ago) and had DS at 25, and everyone commented on how young I was. It's not like I was 14!

I think it depends on the attitude of those around you. I'm 25, 7 months pregnant, own house, long term partner, joint bank account, responsible job etc. All of my friends are in much the same position and are either pregnant or have young DCs, have homes, partners/spouses.

If my friends had been of the mentality 'we're gunna be young forever whooooooo!' then maybe my attitude would be different. As it stands, being a 'grown up' is just the norm at my age, within my social group.

In fact, my DM probably thinks I'm a late bloomer as she was married with a mortgage and me at the age of 16.

Perhaps it should be looked at in terms of what we have done since we were 25.

Bought a house, got married, had children, gave up a brilliant career, lost a child, had 8 brilliant years as a SAHM, seen the dc through primary school, watched the dc grow from helpless babies into capable teenagers, forged a partnership lasting 21 years so far with the man I love, fallen in love with France, gone back to work and been successful again, completed an MBA, between DH and I we have buried two fathers and five grandparents, run a home, grown older with our neighbours, transferred two children from primary to secondary, dealt with the various troubles of two children, watched one's parents slowing down, and yet deep down inside, both a bit older and fatter, we are still the same people. Experience, has perhaps knocked off our shrillness and we appreciate our good fortune and one day the DC will listen to us - but now, we have to give them the freedom to make their own mistakes.

By 25 I was in charge of a ward.

You hear this all the time....

It's like the "well, yes they're rude and disrespectful and look at you like youve just crawled from under a stone, but THEY'RE TEENAGERS"

I was a teenager. I wasn't like that and neither were my friends!