16 Truths About Growing Up That No One Warned Us About
Being an adult is exhausting. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, a new curveball comes flying your way. While we all like to think that our parents tried to set us up for success, there are so many things they forgot to mention. There is so much more that comes with being a grown-up that no one ever prepared us for. While you may already be in the midst of adulting, we wanted to talk a little bit about the biggest challenges we face as grown ups. Just knowing what challenges may lie ahead might just help us handle them like pros (or at least with a little less panic)!
Bills And Debt
Growing up, it really did feel like money grew on trees. When you reach adulthood, you quickly discover that it’s actually really hard to make enough money to survive. Education, housing, and health insurance are starting to teeter on the edge of unaffordable for most middle-class people.
No one tells you how hard it is to create and stick to a budget until you’re out on your own. With stagnant wages being the norm, it’s harder every day. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone.
Going To Work
Let’s face it: the vast majority of us are going to have to get a job at some point in our lives. Even if you get your dream job, the truth is that work isn’t always fun. It’s work. Work can involve anything from problematic clients, tight deadlines, and toxic bosses.
No one tells you how hard it can be to just show up at work on a regular basis. And yet, this remains the bare minimum of being an adult.
Parenting
Most people assume they’ll have kids when they get older. We often assume it’ll be a piece of cake. Your parents made it seem so easy, right? When you actually have to parent a child or become a teacher, it feels like you’re in a totally different realm. All of a sudden, you have to guide this young human being into adulthood.
You will have kids that give you flak. They will backtalk you. They will yell and shout, and at times, even tantrum. Yet, because you’re the grown-up, you have to handle it with a cool head. It’s not an easy task.
Taxes
Think back to your teen years. You might have been waiting for that one paycheck when you get your first job. Plenty of teens calculate the exact way they want to spend that first paycheck, too. Then you actually get that first paycheck, only to realize a huge chunk of it already got spent by Uncle Sam.
Taxes are rough. They eat into your budget and also are remarkably difficult to file. And yet, it’s a part of being a regular adult in society.
Dealing With Rough People
Growing up, most teachers and parents tell you that you will eventually need to get along with others. This much is true. What they don’t tell you is that it can be absolutely brutal to do. Bullies still exist “in the real world,” and they are just as intolerable as they were when you were a kid.
When you’re an adult, you can’t solve problems by punching other people or flipping out at them. That can get you terminated from your job, investigated by CPS, and even sent to jail. No one tells you how hard it can be to maintain your composure around jerks.
Dating Scene Drama
It’s no secret that finding that special someone can be a truly magical moment. We all dream of finding our perfect partner so that we can have that wonderful white picket fence and more. What we don’t dream of is all the chaos we endure to find that one person.
The dating scene is not what it used to be. It’s actually really rough on everyone. Between bad dates, abusive relationships, and risky situations, it’s unsurprising to hear that many people are simply choosing to stay single.
Disillusionment
There comes a certain point in one’s life when you realize that you might not have the future you dreamed of. We are often told that we can be anything growing up. In reality, a person’s chances of becoming an astronaut or pro football player are exceedingly slim.
Most people will have moments where reality hits them in the face, shattering starry-eyed hopes almost instantly. That disillusionment can be a rough ride, even if you brace yourself for it.
A Lack Of Stability
When you were a kid, you never had to worry about where your next meal came from. You never had to wonder whether you were going to school the next day. Everything was perfectly routine and laid out for you. Adulthood doesn’t have that same luxury.
Growing up means you don’t always know whether you’ll have a job in a week from now. It means you don’t know whether your stock portfolio will go up or whether you will continue to reside in your current apartment. It’s anxiety-inducing, to say the least.
Being Responsible
Society tends to give a knowing pass to children. We all know kids need to fail (or flail!) to learn certain lessons, which is why we give them a wide berth. The moment you turn 18, our society expects you to be fully equipped for life. In other words, you have to take accountability for your own actions.
Adults are always expected to act responsibly. They are also expected to keep an eye on others, such as their children, students, or coworkers. Realizing that you are expected to be responsible for your own actions, as well as others, can be pretty rough.
Less Time
You have to go to work. You have to study. Oh, and don’t forget your chores on your to-do list, too. Now that it’s all done, you have some free time…kind of. You look at your watch and realize you only have about an hour left in the day before you need to sleep for the night.
Where did that time go? It’s hard to tell, but this scenario seems to play out with almost every adult you’ll ever meet. No one ever tells you how busy you will be as a grown-up.
Endless Chores
Chores are never something people look forward to as adults. It’s also rare to see a child sweep or cook for fun. Though it should be obvious, it’s still worth stating that chores never end. It’s a cycle, not to mention a lot of work.
The moment your house is clean, you’re going to need to cook and do some laundry. Once you cook, you’ll need to clean the plates and dinnerware and take out the trash.
Outgrowing Friends
While growing up can be difficult at times, it’s always worth it in the end. Adulting can be fun. It can open up a ton of different opportunities for you. Being grown up also means you can sculpt your life into what you want it to be, and that’s amazing. Unfortunately, that also comes with a price.
You will probably outgrow some of your old friendships as you develop into a fully-mature adult. Not every friend you make will be able to mature with you. And to a point, that’s probably the most heartbreaking thing of all.
Lack of Milestones
Of course, we all know the huge milestones, such as getting married, buying a house, and having kids. But what if you’re not planning to do any of these? In college or high school, we always had the next exam or paper to focus on. We were always looking forward to a summer break or graduation ceremony. As adults, however, there seems to be nothing to propel us forward in life.
Endless Possibilities
When we are young, all choices seem to have been made for us. We have to go to school, graduate, and so on. However, we no longer have someone telling us what to do once we enter adulthood. Our possibilities are suddenly endless, and we can choose whatever we want. While this is surely liberating on one side, it can also be terrifying and paralyzing on the other. In which country should you live? Which job should you apply for? Should you buy a house or keep renting?
House Maintainance
Taking care of your house doesn’t only mean cleaning now and then and making sure it doesn’t get too messy. There are a bunch of maintenance tasks that should be carried out routinely. For instance, calling experts to ensure your chimney is clean and well-ventilated, dusting the refrigerator coils, and replacing air filters. All these tasks require quite some time and money!
Dental Drama
When you were a kid, you went to the dentist, and they brushed your teeth. You were on your way home. As an adult, I find that every trip to the dentist costs hundreds and thousands of dollars. Teeth are not as indestructible as we were led to believe. In fact, it is quite the opposite! They need constant care and frequent investment to keep them looking good and feeling strong. Make sure you prioritize your dental health as an adult or you may end up with high bills and no real teeth.
