To ask how 'grown up' you were aged 22?

[Soyamilkisniceintea]

I started my first job at 22 and looking back, I was really, really immature

What were you like at 22?

Reasonably grown up I think. I'd moved to a new city to do a post graduate course, in a house share with strangers, commuting at the weekends to see DH, who was working and living in a flat and interviewing for jobs. I'd grown up a lot since I was 20 and finished my first degree, and since my parents were living overseas I had very little practical day to day support from them although they had supported me financially - so the normal things that you'd expect an adult to do like moving house were all done by me personally.

I'd been married a year, we had a mortgage and we were considered unusual to not already have a child. But back then most people did not go to university so it wasn't unusual to be working and either engaged or married at that age. It was more unusual to choose to wait several years after marriage to have children, in fact, I know that both our families had come to the conclusion we wouldn't / couldn't have them. I suppose waiting until we were financially and emotionally ready for a family shows some level of maturity rather than allowing ourselves to be railroaded into it because 'everyone else does'shows a level of maturity. It's different now.

Oh k forgot to say I'd also moved 250 miles from home for uni and was used to living on my own

I had been married for six months and was supporting my husband through a mental breakdown. I was on a management fast-track in my job in hospitality but would soon leave for a level entry office job. It was tough for a few years but has paid off as I'm now in management in the new area of business.

I was working in a crap job to pay for my university fees (Ireland). I was also in a relationship and was married at 23 and a home owner as well.

I was far from grown up though. My first marriage lasted 5 years. I think I matured when I was around 26/27. Definitely when I had my first child at 32.

On my 22nd birthday my DP and I got called to say the application for the rental we had applied for had been accepted! I had been in a house share previously and was so happy to get a proper house with him

I'd just left Uni a year before, was underwriting mortgages, living alone and doing up the house with my Dad. I was mature enough, but hadn't matured properly so in an argument or disagreement I'd say and do rash things. On the outside I probably looked more grown-up than I really was; I still relied heavily on support (emotionally) from my parents.

I was in a long term relationship, been to uni, had a baby, mortgage. I don't think I was emotionally mature though, that didn't come until my early 30s.

I hoped I've grown up !

I'm 23 now but at 22 I already graduated from University, had a 6 year old DS, was going through court proceedings to get my son into an independent special school ( we won !). I was in a DV relationship with DS dad and left that relationship at 22. I was working part time but quitted in the final year of my degree as it all got too much.

I'm working now and thinking of going into another degree or a postgraduate as I want a change in my career.

I was a big kid. Spent that whole year traveling in South America with my boyfriend, having an amazing time, blazing rows, learning Spanish and being generally gorgeous and ridiculous in equal measure. He's my DH now and we have two kids. Wouldn't change that year for anything.

Reading all these makes me feel sad for 22 year old me. I'd finished a degree with no idea what I wanted to do next (and no confidence to apply for anything, having struggled the last 3 years with crippling depression, anxiety and bulimia, none of which I sought help for). I moved to another city with my boyfriend as I didn't know what else to do (couldn't face going back to my parents), and did awful, badly paid temping jobs. I don't think
I actually felt 'grown up' until I had my own kids, at 29.

I was living with my parents with my OH, so we could save extra money for our mortgage deposit.

A few years later & now we are in our own home & have a gorgeous DS :)

I'd finished my degree and was working. Had been married 2 years and was pregnant with first DC

This thread is just a massive stealth boast, surely?

"oh by 22 I had a mortgage, was married and had 2 kids". Those things don't automatically make you mature or wise

I was working as a nurse which requires a degree of maturity. Was still single and going out drinking etc in my private life. I've always felt pretty mature and responsible, I was brought up that way.
This was in 1982 ,when you were expected to be mature at a much younger age than today.

Errrr no user I wasn't! I was at the early stages of screwing up my life!

user They're life experiences, and yes, they require or should require a degree of responsibility and maturity.
It all depends on how you look at it though. I don't mind people thinking it's a stealth boast, we worked bloody hard to get our mortgage.

I was an unstable mess at 22. In and out of jobs, unstable relationship which was very one sided, immature and desperate for approval. Bleurgh, I was just such a mess

Just about to finish my placement year and start my final year of undergraduate degree. I was totally emotionally unstable trying to deal in counselling with abuse I experienced as a teenager and with a huge tendency to lash out at everybody who tried to help me.

Also the year I met somebody who would soon become my best friend who has helped me so much with everything that was (and to a certain extent still is) going on and in time became my now DP.

I had done my degree and PGCE and just started teaching. I'd been with my boyfriend (now DH) for a year and we were renting a house together: I think we'd just got a joint account .

I didn't feel remotely grown up and remember feeling like I was playing house when we first moved in together!!

Oh and I was gradually getting myself further and further into debt by spending money on stupid things and being stuck in a relationship with somebody who dragged the life out of me, was physically abusive and had never worked a day in his life so I spent all of my uni funding and more on supporting our house etc. For some stupid reason I stayed with him and thought I could turn things around with him and us if we just stayed together.

Ugh, the things we do and think when we're younger.

At 22 I was having fun.

IIRC there was a rented room above a gay bar called Bananas. And a succession of beautiful men

Just finished my degree, had a 3 year old and had started a new job. I also thought I knew it all and looking back I knew nothing!

I only turned 23 about 6 months ago. Working anywhere between 30 and 50 hours a week whilst also doing a very intense degree (I graduate very soon). Own a car, rent a property year-round, gave my mother a couple of hundred a month to support her and my siblings a bit since her income significantly dropped as shes had to become a full time carer. Got into a relationship but ended it very quickly when it became too intense and he wanted more than me, now in a lovely relationship. Due to the nature of my job I was/am still able to have a reasonable social life too. Life is pretty much the same 6 months on to be honest!

I had to mature a lot from about age 11. Single parent household and my mother, bless her, has always been a bit scatty and highly strung, so I learnt quickly that if it needed doing I should do it myself. People have always commented that I act a lot older than my age, which I've always put down to my circumstances. I know my own mind and always trust my instincts. The only year I was a little less mature than I should have been was my first year of uni!

I was working in my first proper job and was renting a bedsit. I went back to an emotionally abusive ex and was suffering from PTSD due to a sexual assault the year before but the people supporting me did not know or realise it. They just thought I was acting up. .