how old is an 'adult'

[Bugsareinthebrook]

niece is 19.
Therefore an adult in my mind
sister in law calls her a child.

what do you think

Being mature often comes from how life has treated you.

Some are forced to grow up faster than others.

Eldest 23, she's my child, she's also an adult

My DS is 23 and still depends on me due to additional needs. He is legally and physically an adult but mentally and emotionally he is about 15.

@MorningStarling

18 for legal responsibilities, but older if you define adult as someone who is no longer a child.

There isn't a set age when someone is truly an adult but for most it is between 25 and 30. Basically until you've done at least two of the following you're not an adult yet:

• had a fulltime job for five years
• had a permanent relationship for five years
• owned your home (incl. with mortgage) for five years

Biggest load of shite I've read on here!

[quote aliceca]@housemaus I am in my fifties and don't know anyone who bought a house at 20/1. Maybe I am part of the wring class though?[/quote]
Oh fair point - it's possible my parents and their friends were outliers!

They were all reasonably middle-class (rudely my parents decided to get their house repossessed, divorce, and generally be very poor by the time I came along, so I didn't benefit! Haha).

For me it was becoming 18 (ie the legal definition)

For my son... well, he’ll always be my baby (he does tell me he’s a big boy)

@Itsnotdeep

Why does it matter? A whole load of people will come onto this thread and tell you they were living independently/had 2 kids/were married by 19.

But why does it matter?

fwiw I had a dd who'll be 19 in Feb. She isn't an adult yet. She's on her way to it but not yet. And she'll always be my child.

Well I’m the eyes of the law, she is categorically an adult and that’s the clanger.

in

@DrCoconut

My DS is 23 and still depends on me due to additional needs. He is legally and physically an adult but mentally and emotionally he is about 15.

But that’s a different thing entirely.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

Being mature often comes from how life has treated you.

Some are forced to grow up faster than others.

True and it’s generally the ones that think a 20 year old is a child, who have done everything for their kids (often to their detriment) and said child couldn’t even cook a basic meal and needs guidance on everything.

Ds sent me this..
He is 27!!

I'm 47 but I am still my Dad's child.

Every young person is different, but on the whole even though a 19yo is an adult in the eyes of the law, they will still need a lot of support and guidance - including financially if they're at uni.

There's no magic age where you stop needing your parents. I'm 31 and mine still help me out occasionally, but 19 is still very young - but technically an adult.

Last time I spoke to my Ma (we didn’t know it would be the last time she died very suddenly with no warning) she said - about something small - ‘you’re a good kid’. I told her she was a good mum and it was never going to change. I’m in my late 50s. Think I’ve been adult (in my own definition) for around 30 years. Still miss my mum as if I was young child tbh. Like when you get lost/separated in a shop when 4. Bloody hell life, eh?

Um.... 18

I have an 18 and 19 year old, they are young adults but will always be my children

@Starcup I think you have it right there. My perspective is that you learn life skills as a child and adolescent so that by the time you reach 18 you can function as the adult you now are. There seem to be some people who think that their teenagers shouldn't do anything at all independently because they're 'children' and so it's not appropriate or safe - all that can wait until they're 18. And then they're surprised to have 'childish' 19-year-olds.