You remember when you were 14 and being a grown up just couldn't happen soon enough? Every time I said I was "sooooo ready" to go to college, I take it back. College is awesome. But adulting is an entirely different animal, and it hits you like a ton of bricks. You go from watching TV until 2 AM on a Friday night, to having to skip a few exchanges to study, to opting out of a night out to write a speech instead. I bet you never imagined yourself not being able to get your best friend a birthday present because you have to pay your utility bill. And the worst part about that is that you can't even control how high that bill is because your roommates contribute a substantial amount to that dollar amount. You don't realize that your childhood is quickly coming to a halt until some of the following things happen to you:
1. You volunteer your babysitting and dog sitting services any chance you get, including on your only free Saturday night.
And are almost okay with how little you get paid because you're that desperate.
2. You feel bad about yourself for eating pizza for lunch and dinner.
But you decide since you've already ruined your diet, why not have another slice for a snack?
3. All that money from your last paycheck goes towards alterations instead of that purse that's been in your shopping cart for a month.
You forgot that you spent last month's paycheck on a dress that's way too long.
4. You'd rather drink wine than vodka.
You catch yourself pouring Chardonnay into a flask instead of booze.
5. When your mom goes out of town, you take on the parental roll and run a hundred errands for your little siblings.
They forget their corsage for Homecoming; you happily agree to bring it to them when you'd usually tell them something along the lines of "sucks to suck" in a similar situation. Yep, mom is Superwoman.
6. You check your bank account at the end of the month very pre-cautiously.
Oops, spent all my rent money on the last few grocery runs.
7. Anytime something goes wrong, your immediate response is "it's fine".
No time to stress about it, you're too busy stressing about the previous problem. Just smile and wave, no one has to know you're falling apart.
8. You don't have to ask permission (or even tell your parents) if you want to go out of town.
Which isn't the worst thing.
