Adult?
I am my fathers only child. I know that I am important to him. Actually, it's funny. It's one of those things that a selfish child mind doesn't really think about, the commitment of a parent. When I was 20 or so, my neighbor and I were having a conversation about our pasts (as we watched "Psycho" of all things) and in telling him my family history he said, "Wow. Your dad uprooted his whole life. For you. He moved to an entirely different country. For you." I hadn't really thought about it, but it's true. Because regardless of his relationship with my mom, he has been in the United States for 25 years longer than they were together. Raising me and sharing time with me.
But that's not even what I'm writing about right now. That was just a little, barely-scratching-the-surface, back story to lead up to this joke he and I share. As a child, we are always struggling to prove our independence, and how grown we are. I guess I've always been pretty headstrong, and damn near obstinate about it with him, so once I was old enough to take a joke he would start being extreme. Reaching out to feed me left over food. Forcing my shoulders back so I wouldn't slump. Asking if I'm paying my bills. Always in a joking manner and when I give him the sideways look he always says the catch-phrase. "Adult?"
But that's not even what I'm writing about now. I had a dentist appointment this morning. A deep periodontal cleaning, scaling, x-rays and check-up. As I sat in the chair, watching "Ellen" and then, because my gums were in that bad of shape, "The View", I started thinking about ways you realize you're an adult.
Things like: not ignoring that little tooth sensitivity for 5 years so that you don't need to sit through a 3 hour cleaning. (I have 3 more scheduled, and will be going like clockwork from now on). Going to the gynecologist, not just on a regular basis, but when anything seems out of wack (nothing was wrong, she just switched my pills and my TMI symptom went away). Getting a grip on your credit (I really need to go handle that). Basically, taking control of your life, and not thinking that anything that happens is fixable by someone else.
So instead of me just babbling on, I would love to hear from you guys. And I'm mainly asking because I'm right at that age, where I can't really deny it anymore. I'm on the verge of being an actual grown up. And these things are hitting me like lightening bolts, and it might be cool to get a heads up before they hit me, from people who've had them already.
What were those types of things, those responsibilities that you took on, that first let you know that you were an adult?