What does it mean to be 'grown up'?

[ble]

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[zammap]

When you're a poor kid growing up having to work and help support the family, then aren't you already grown up?

[MK_Wizard]

Honestly, it means being independent, mature and responsible for yourself and your own actions. It doesn't define your hobbies or taste.

[IdiotWithPencil]

IMO you give up your get out of trouble card I.E your actions/decisions have real consequences now, and only you can deal with them no mom or dad to bail you out when your an adult. You punch someone you go to jail, you disagree there's a real possibility that person will deck you, tell a bad joke and your reputation gets a beating.

responsibility is the curse we bear as adults =/, we never "grown up" we just stop being treated like we are kids

[beta1042]

Pretty sure you're there when you stop asking this question and just know you're old. -_-

[Jenna_A]

I'm 30 years old and I STILL don't feel grown up. I used to think my parents knew all the answers when I was younger and now that I'M the parent, I realize more and more that my own mom and dad just made it up as they went....and the cycle continues... LOL

[LT1986]

I view being a grown up as taking care of yourself without major assistance from parents/guardians. I don't really count physical appearance, because some people might have genes that cause them to be 40+ years old and have the body of young child.

[DruidPeter]

Personally, I feel like you are an adult when you truly understand that your actions will have consequences, and that you are responsible fully for the circumstances of your life and how your approach it. Even if your own current circumstances are the result of so many things outside of your control, being an adult means that you don't expect anything or anyone else will help you out of your problems, nor are you entitled to that expectation. (Granted, many times others will help, but being an adult means understanding that you aren't entitled to that help.)

Other than that, just be yourself!

[GamerPrincessXI]

Growing up means losing your friends who stuck with you through middle school. Paying taxes, finding work, paying off loans and/or moving to a different town not knowing anyone or across country. Having kids, getting married, arguing over money or cars. Getting depressed and fear of your parents dying. Fear of you, dying. Fear of your kids, dying. Death, everywhere. It's pretty jarring. Sorry for scarring you.

[TheFalseVyper]

This.... is oddly poetic and I love it lol

[demthorshie]

I'm still trying to figure that out myself at the ripe age of 32! The obvious answer to what it means to be a 'grown up' would be to move out of your childhood home and work a job you hate to survive. It would also mean giving up all of your free time and not being able to spend time with your friends. It means having to learn responsibility and following the law.

To be honest, I think the only things I've done on the above checklist was to move out of my parents house and become a responsible, law abiding adult. Since I chose not to work a corporate job, I have most days at my disposal unless I get a commission. I think I probably have more fun now than I had as a child, considering I grew up in a lower class family. I think that each one of us is capable of defining what it means to be an adult. You can still have fun and feel like you're 18 in your 30s and 40s as far as I'm concerned.

[minerrale]

Glad you do! Feel free to reuse it XD
Although I'm kind of serious, I'm 27 and still love jumping in puddles, except sometimes I know it would be a really bad idea and I have to refrain from it. You don't want to go to an appointment with muddy jeans, you can't save a very expensive pair of suede shoes when they've been drenched, you don't look professional when you run after pigeons just for the sheer pleasure of seeing them fly away ^^'

[sushy00]

this is like the essence... Unfortunately I relate so much to this.

[Rodimus13]

For me, today, it means giving up my big old bonus I was gonna use to get books printed for the comic, for a new computer we needed more and paying off some debts so we can qualify for a remodel we need. (it's that or move and I like my neighborhood and street)

[unknown_user]

Growing up means losing your friends who stuck with you through middle school.
...
Having kids, getting married, arguing over money or cars.

These parts are not necessary.
1. Some people manage to keep in touch with school friends, if they are important for them, for many years. One of my friends still communicates with his friend from school regularly, despite they both are older than 25 already. They talk and visit each other. Also you always can try to find new friends, if you've lost connection with old ones.
2. You are not obligatory to make a family, if you don't want it. I personally also don't argue about money and cars, because I have neither cars, nor any significant amounts of money or real property or whatever of this kind. I know a bunch of people like that. It's ok.

[Trevor]

Pretty sure "Growing up" is when you give up having to go to school lol (college being an exception)

[Rodimus13]

1. You are not obligatory to make a family,

TRUTH! From the 35 year old with a kid and hubby... but I don't have that expectation of anyone else. I kinda hope my kid does give me grandkids- but he's hardly obligated and I won't think he's not grown up if he never does.

Most of the money discussions we have are about "Ok, do we need/want this or would it be better to pay off that?"

[lynestjules]

Being a grown up as per my mom when I just turned into an adult, was to act your current age. More responsible, forget your child like ways, be more serious and leave those graphic tees behind.
To me, it meant turning into someone I was not, just when I had figured out who I was.

Now, at 35. My mom changed her views after seeing a different side of what it is to be a grown up. I see a change in her personality as I am very comfortable with who I am, even if I'm different from adults she knows. I always thought we were very different people, but as it turns out, she was just hiding that side of her all these years. I think it's because it was what she was told she had to be, to become grown up.

It doesn't mean you leave everything you are behind, it just means that you take responsibility of your life. You become independent, but know when to ask for help. It's to fall down and being able to pick yourself up to keep going. It's taking the consequences of your actions and do what needs to be done to survive, even if it's a job that you hate.You don't need to be an "adult" to be grown up. You can do that at any age.

But, it certainly doesn't mean you stop having fun and have to hide your true self to become like everybody else.

[whiskeyjack]

I think a big part of knowing you're now an adult is realizing your parents don't have all the answers.

[Shanny8]

Def feel ya. Been goin hard taking care of debts for the past 3 yrs; I'm at the point where I'm getting tired of living in an apartment- been trying to get my credit looking decent so that I can start making a push towards getting a house. I want extra space so that I can have a studio room that is separate from my bedroom(currently have my desk in my bedroom; most of my other art stuffs are put away coz I dont have enough space).

Also need to get a new(er) vehicle- my current one is still running, but I'm on borrowed time with it- plus tired of sinking $$$ for repairs and it is getting up there(over 240K miles).