CAUTION: GROWN UP IN PROGRESS

"When I was a child..."

     I remember a fond moment between me and my mom when I was six.  We were sitting at the dining room table, it was breakfast time, and my mom said, "What do you want for breakfast?"  "Chocolate cake." was my reply.  "You can't have chocolate cake for breakfast."  "Why?"  "Because it's not a breakfast food and because I said so."  And so, since I was given a matter-of-fact answer, I gave a matter-of-fact reply.  "Well, when I grow up and move out and live on my own can I have it then?"  My mom snickered at this but calmly said, "If that's what you want."
     It's funny to think about the words "grow up."  When we are kids, we wanna be grown ups.  Because we think that grown ups make their own rules- do what they want when they want.  That might be true except their are bigger rules and consequences than before.  And I'm not talking about going to jail or losing your job.  See when i envisioned adulthood, I saw an independent woman w/ great clothes, great job, money, friends and partying.  BUT, you can't have the clothes and money unless you have the job.  AND no one tells you that you gotta work your way up in that job!!!  So having the best and newest doesn't happen for a loooooong time. 
      Our parents always say, "Work hard, and you can achieve anything."  What they should say from the get-go is, "Hey we're broke.  You aren't gonna get a new car when you're 16, you won't go to college unless you get a scholarship, and if you graduate and get a job, you will have no life until you get a promotion."  You know why they don't say that?!?!  Because you would NEVER leave!!!  Our parents say "apply yourself."  I have news for you:  10 YEAR OLDS HAVE ZERO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS!!!! 
     I don't know if this is how everyone else grew up, but this is how it went for me:  Don't take high school seriously, take college seriously.  Don't worry about this part-time job, you can get another one.  You won't work at Wendy's the rest of your life.  Now, I love my family, but that screwed me up.  It was not until I was 24 that life hit me in the face.  I never took anything seriously; so when it was time to take things seriously, I didn't know how. 
It's hard to let go of childish things when you don't grasp reality until waaay later.  Growing up is serious work.  You have to work at it everyday, but because you have had more experience working toward an ideal than the real deal, growing up is- dare I say it- disappointing.  See, it takes time to "grow up."  It doesn't happen the day you turn 18, or 21 or whatever.  You had 18 years of thinking like a child; do you really think the day you turn 18 that you magically think like an adult?  It's like planting flowers; you don't see the bloom for a while, but, when you do, it's beautiful.
So this is me. My life. My opinion.  This is about my journey of becoming a better woman, daughter, wife, parent and friend.  I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned...