30 Folks Recall Moments They Were Hit With The Realization That They Are Adults

When I got mad that they rearanged the grocery store

I wanted to buy a box of fruit roll ups. But was feeling weird about it because as a kid we were not allowed to get it. It was to expensive and parents didn’t want to buy it. At some point While I was thinking about putting it down it dawned on me that I was a grown a*s man with my own income. I bought like 20 boxes.

Just after turning 16, mom was already in parts unknown for a few years and my dad left us for work in another state, I became legally emancipated by the state of New York. I filed for welfare to help pay my rent and received food stamps. Still had to work to cover the other half of bills. All while finishing my last 2.5 years of high school. I believe that's when I felt all adulty.

When I stopped going to bars and clubs. I was at some club that a friend was doing some promo work for, and I didn't want to go. It was 11pm on a Friday, and I had to find parking, and then the club was not doing well that night. I just saw a few people on the floor, I got hit on by someone that had more red flags than a Mao Zedong rally, sitting on a half-chair/half-barstool cutting off circulation to my swollen feet and ankles. Plus, I couldn't hear anyone worth s**t, and the mere thought of drinking may way through it went from "this is what you do to have fun" to "I shouldn't be drinking to force fun: s**t ain't fun, period. What a crock." And suddenly, I realized there was no FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) here. I used to attend so many things because of FOMO.

First weekend I spent in my apartment alone with no reason but not working. I did nothing. Nothing at all. I planned nothing. Before this epiphany, I would have seen this as a huge warning flag my life was the express headed to Losertown, but suddenly... I didn't give a S**T. And I felt like this immense release. I never understood why my dad did nothing on the weekends growing up, and suddenly, I got it.

Life has been so much better ever since. I felt like I stopped trying to be the "rebellion of youth" and a responsible adult for a change.

I woke up, opened the curtains and looked outside at a beautiful sunny day. I thought to myself "It's a great day to hang the washing out"

Then I instantly thought ach jeez I'm getting old.

My best friend's partner died abruptly one morning in under her eyes and she called me, and I had to sort myself out and step up for her. In that moment I thought "well we're not kids anymore and it's not a "my crush ignored me heeeelp" kind of teenage emergency, now you're an adult dealing with adult s**t". I helped her the best I can and I hope it made a difference for her it this hard time.

When I made my christmas wish-list and thought to myself:

"I could use some socks..."

Growing up our apartment caught fire. I remember running in and out of it, wearing just shorts (no time to put on clothes), because I knew we didn't have insurance and I had to get as much stuff out of it as possible so we didn't lose it. I remember running into my bedroom which was on fire to carry out my computer.

Looking back, that moment where I realized I risked my life and/or injury to avoid financial problems, was the day I think I really understood how the adult world works.

One day it somehow was wayyy too exciting when I went to a shop and found some really nice kitchenware that’s also easy to clean. That’s when I knew

I was broke and homeless and walking down the street and realized it was all up to me, and only me, to get out of that situation.

Ya know that drawer that has everything, shoe laces, batteries, twist ties, spare cords, "extra" hardware from "projects", bottle opener, deck o cards, bobby pin, yes, That drawer. When I moved out and realized I needed to make my own junk drawer was when it hit pretty hard.

I knew I was an adult the day the judge said "We're trying you as an adult."

When i realized nobody can stop me from buying a jar of nutella and then just eat it with a spoon. Obviously not the entire thing in one sitting but something about being able to do almost anything with no universe popup being like *you sure dude?* made me feel like an adult.

I work with children with special needs, there was a time that a decision needed to be made about a child’s school placement, and everyone in the room was waiting for my opinion (including parents). That was a really weird feeling, and the first time I realised I was an adult in other peoples eyes.

The first time I felt properly old, was when I had a manager who was younger than me (now had a couple).

Having to sort out some problems with my father’s mental health was also a weird experience, that definitely made me realise that I’m not a child anymore.

But honestly, I still feel like a child despite being 40 and balding.

Setting up a doctor's appointment and going by myself.

When I started feeling alienated from my peers because their common problems were just minor inconveniences in my eyes.

When I was buying my own groceries and had survived for two weeks on my own. I figured I must be doing it right since I wasn’t feeling hungry or diminished.

In college, I was with some friends at a party and one of them fell and busted his face so badly, he started bleeding badly. I went looking for someone to do something when I realized I was the only sober one there. Not a fun night or feeling.

When I got *excited* about buying a couch. It was decent, not like super expensive leather, but nice looking. I feel the same way still, nearly 20 years later, whenever I buy stuff like that. I bought a washer and dryer set a few years ago and remember commenting to a friend that it still feels weird doing these adult things and still looking forward to them.

The first day I moved out of parents house. I didn’t have toilet paper or food or drinks. That’s when reality hit