Made by Maura

I babysat for 8 year old twins a few weeks ago and one of them decided to give me some words of wisdom at the dinner table.

Charlie: So can you drive?

Me: Yes, I can drive.

Charlie: So you’re a grown up?

Me: Sort of.

Charlie: Well how old are you?

Me: Guess.

Charlie: 22?

Me: How did you know?

Charlie: I guessed. So are you married?

Me: Nope. Am I still a grown up?

Charlie: Yeah. But you should probably think about getting married.

Me: Ok.

Charlie: Like in the next ten years, you should get married.

Geez, Charlie – way to put the pressure on me! Kids are funny.

I look like I am about sixteen years old.  Eighteen on a good day when eyeliner is involved.  Whenever I tell people I graduated in the spring they reply, “Are you going to college in the fall?”.  And of course when I explain that I graduated from college they never fail to exclaim, “Oh my gosh, you look so young!”

I know.

It’s fine.  If I really had a problem with this I would put more effort into a morning makeup routine.  I guess I just prefer a few extra minutes of sleep.  (Plus I’m such a natural beauty!)  People usually like to make a remark about how in ten years I’ll love looking this young.  Yeah, I hope so but there’s no guarantee that I won’t wake up one morning looking ten years older than my actual age.  That would be stink.

The one hindrance of looking young is that it makes it a little more difficult to accept young adulthood.  If it barely looks like I can hold a driver’s license why should I be worried about a career, a retirement fund, or even the possibility of some day upgrading to a smartphone?  I’m a child!  Well, I look like one at least.  If I don’t look grown up why should I act like it?  And what does it even mean to be grown up?

Growing up and trying to find a balance between the carefree ways of childhood and the responsibilities of adulthood is challenging.  Children are full of imagination and often quite a bit of bravery.  Adults can be cynical and jaded.  But children can also be naive while adults have the wisdom that comes with years of different life experiences.  So how do you take the best of both worlds with you through all stages of life?  If someone has the answer please let me know.

Someone told me today “Refuse to grow up” and upon reflection, I think it is the best advice I have received in a while.  This individual is someone I have incredible respect and admiration for.  She is an extraordinary leader and certainly knows how to get things done when it comes to her job.  In addition she is also full of life, fun to be with, and has a great sense of humor.  When I sit back and look at how this person has combined the best aspects of both childhood and adulthood, it makes a bit more sense.  “Growing up” can mean a plethora of different things but if someone leads you to believe that it requires losing all the wonder and possibility that childhood is full of, then by all means, run the other way and refuse to do it.  Instead of growing up, I think I’ll to try to grow outward.  I want to learn from experiences both good and bad, build relationships, try new things, and never ever stop imagining.