As a kid you look up at “the grown-ups” (anyone over the age of about 15, probably) and marvel at the grown-up-ness of their lives, imagining what your own version of it will look like when you finally get there. I think my version of grown-up me looked something like my Barbie, with lots of money and photogenic babies.
But growing up doesn’t happen overnight, and I’m beginning to suspect that maybe it doesn’t really happen at all. (Check out this cool little piece about grown-up dreams written by a good friend of mine a few months ago.)
When I was little, it seemed that grown-ups were the ones who could drive nice cars and who had to go to work, who enjoyed sitting around for hours just talking and telling younger people what to do. So I suppose I have reached this level of “maturity”!
I’m no longer always the youngest person in the room – with friends both older and younger, and the recent addition of a brand new little family member, there is a growing sense that I should probably know what is going on. (I don’t feel like I do, most of the time.)
In the world’s eyes we are adults now – but we still have child-like fears and dreams. Responsibility can be a burden, and sometimes we just want to forget everything and sing and play in the sunshine. Maybe the people we always thought were grown up have been pretending all this time too.
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If you haven’t heard it, have a listen to the song When I Grow Up from Matilda the Musical:
