When was the first time you felt like a grown up?

That would probably when I first accomplished something socially responsible, probably around 19 or 20. But the first thing that came to mind was my mid-50’s after a life-changing event. For the first time, I became mortal and realized that there would one day be an end to all this and I’d better not waste a minute of it making myself unhappy.

February 32, 3045

What’s your guess for what was the number one answer? I think they poll average people in a mall in Atlanta. That’s my guess, since the show is in Atlanta, and a lot of focus group companies rent space in malls.

When they were first molested by their priest/pastor?
When they first engaged in copulation?

When I stopped crying like a jilted prom queen during sex, i was 28

November 20th.

When I bought a house at age 35.

22

Top answer: When I started paying rent, maybe?

My answer: 16 years old, doc is telling me I have to start this ridiculous medication that is made out of mouse proteins and that the average human body is at least mildly allergic to. If you ever stop taking it you’ll become full on allergic to it. So if it works for you, you’re kind of just stuck with it. And, it’s never been tested on pregnant women. So at 16 I’m deciding, ok, fine, I guess I don’t get to have kids. Felt like a big-ass grown-up crying on the floor. I’m off that med now but I still don’t think I’ll get to have kids.

@Mariah Won’t get to have kids because of the medicine? Tons of meds aren’t tested on pregnant women, that doesn’t really mean anything.

It was advised that the med not be used on pregnant or breastfeeding women, and I couldn’t “take a break” from the med. It’s in the past, anyway.

Oh, I see. I thought you were saying because of the med it might damage a fetus now even after you stopped taking it. It’s my mistake.

You have been through so much. You and your family.

Oh yeah, the deal now is just that I straight up don’t trust my body to handle something like pregnancy. Also I’m not allowed to do vaginal birth, and another abdominal surgery just sounds like….no thanks.

Will you reveal what the top answer really was, after awhile?

Still waiting for that, but I am not holding my breath.

Sure, I’ll reveal the answer a little later.

A hint is: you gotta think the average American teenager. Most jellies aren’t “average” I don’t think.

When I was 29 and bought my first house in San Francisco.

First time having sex?

Age 23 working in my first career and tasked with leading a big project.

I’m not sure I have felt entirely grown up yet! I suppose I felt independent and responsible for myself at 16 when I left home and had to learn to fend for myself. There have been various points along the way where my need to behave as an adult has been very evident.

The answer: the first time they had an alcoholic drink.

Not to be confused with the first time they were legally allowed to drink.

It’s like I always say, teenagers want to grow up, and if the adults around them drink, that’s what they associate with being adults.

Mind you, it wouldn’t surprise me if the 100 people they surveyed were mostly very young adults. Maybe when those same people hit 40+ years old they will have a different perspective.

There were other answers also, I don’t remember the other ones.

^^...or a bunch of drunks that they pulled off Melrose ave in front of the studio.

The first time they had a drink? Jeez, I sure as hell didn’t conceive of myself as anywhere near to grown up when I had my first drink. At that age I was trying to make sure the eighth graders didn’t pick on me.

@Espiritus_Corvus My best guess is a mall in Atlanta.

I first knew I was an adult when the judge said “were trying you as an adult!”

Sorry that’s a gag from The Simpsons. I don’t know, I felt like an adult when I started making enough money to live on my own. When your parents are paying your rent, you still feel like a kid.

Death of a love one? When my dad died. I was 18 years old and I felt I had to put on a brave face and be strong for my mom. I couldn’t let her know I was dying inside. So I tried to help out with small things to try to make things easier for her and even was the one to direct my older siblings in matters dealing with the wake and plane tickets and other matters so that my mom didn’t worry about anyone but what needed to be done. I held off breaking apart till the funeral and then after my little break down I pulled myself together again. People thought I was so cold being that I was my dads favorite but what they didn’t know was that my dad made me promise to be strong for her. I was determined to live up to my responsibility no matter how much I wanted to fall apart. Even in my pain I realized she was in more pain. She knew him even before they dated. He was her rock always. That was when I realized my childhood was forever gone. I had to learn to be responsible and think what is needed even when my heart screams something else.

I think n my early 40s when I saw a photo of myself standing next to the 6-year old daughter of the single mom I was dating. COULD THAT OLD GUY REALLY BE ME??!! I asked myself.

Hard to believe THAT was 30 years ago!

I think the thing that stands out for me is one day in my twenties when I came home from a particularly hard day working and while getting ready to shower off I lifted my shirt over my head and caught a whiff. I distinctly remember thinking, “Wow, I smell like my dad did when he came home”. I think this was the moment I realized I had become an adult.

I think the first time I really felt like an adult was when I began working a full time job as a receptionist in an office. Prior to that, I had been working at a coffee shop since I had turned 18.

After sex with my boyfriend at the time. Next morning I felt very grown up and ecstatically happy. But I was confused because the church had preached how dirty and guilty I would feel. Glad he was such nice guy from a wonderful background.
He is now a retired American Airlines pilot . But he was not what I was looking for back then.