“I guess I’m an adult now.”
This thought pops into my head so often lately.
It’s not a shocking, new, awareness.
I passed my 18th birthday several years ago and have become used to being an adult.
But since moving out of my parents home, adult life is taking on some new dimensions.
When I come home from a day of work, and the first thing I do is go find my laundry hamper to collect all the dirty laundry… and I don’t even consider the couch because I can’t enjoy relaxing anyway until my laundry and dishes are done… I am an adult.
(When I hear myself telling someone I enjoy doing all my laundry on a Monday evening while supper cooks, because it’s so relaxing, I wonder if I’m getting old!)
Oh, I’m learning some seriously practical things.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I got super excited when I opened a bag of supplies the VS board purchased for my kitchen: a dish drying rack, sink mats, a whisk, a small roast pan, and a bottle brush.
It was like Christmas. What? New things are fun. Even when they’re practical.
My new favourite meal reminds me every time I sit down to eat it – I am an adult.
This new top menu choice of mine is called, “leftovers from the freezer.” It’s quick, it’s easy, and creates no prep dishes besides the one you microwave it in – and when you’re cooking for one, that’s the same dish it’s eaten out of.
Today I experienced another angle of adult life – going shopping for home remedies to treat a cold, while off work because I was sick. By the time I came home with a good supply of lemon juice, honey, cough syrup, and ACV, I was wondering why I didn’t stock up on those things before getting sick… probably because I’m not always very good at this adulting business. 😉
Last evening, I hosted guests at my house. 6 ladies came in my door for an evening of chatting and tea, while their husbands had a VS board meeting next door.
5 of them are old enough to be my mom – the 6th one brought all her children along. (The former teacher in me was SO delighted to see small people in my house!)
I enjoyed my evening immensely, but couldn’t help thinking after they left – I guess I am an adult?
Teenage me would never have invited that many middle aged strangers over and called it a good time. But I guess it must come with adult life to put aside my fear of people, and go out on a limb to form connections.
It was a little out of my comfort zone, but I really wanted to meet the ladies whose husbands created the mission program I’m working for. I truly am glad they accepted my invitation.
This evening was an adult lady’s luxury – I had time to fold my laundry and wrap some Christmas presents. I even cooked supper instead of just having leftovers from the freezer.
Technically I’ve been doing work all evening? But household odd jobs bring a sense of accomplishment that make them fun. (Even if the fun is simply crossing it off the list and knowing with relief, it’s done!)
I don’t know how it happened, but I’m turning into my Mom. I do things more like her than ever, and I enjoy it.
She taught me well and I’m grateful.
Now, I should exercise one more thing she always told me, and that is, going to bed early when you’re sick will help you get better faster.
I didn’t always do well with the “early to bed” ritual when I lived at home.
Somehow, living in a house where no one tells me to go to bed, makes me listen more to the voices echoing good advice from the past.
And so, like a truly old and practical adult, I’ll be going to bed now.
More wisdom and sense will hopefully appear in another post, when I’m more awake and shake the cobwebs out of my head 🙂
Notes from My Heartsong 