Growing Down

Growing up is one of the hardest tasks I have ever faced. I have always convinced myself that I was as mature as I could possibly be. I’ve always thought I was very diplomatic, very classy, and very diligent. I am an adult- what I have always imagined an adult should be anyway.
I have recently realized that, it’s not your age that makes you an adult. The older I get, I seem to remain in a certain frame of mind that is far beyond the age my birth certificate says I truly am. I’m not exactly trying to say that I am advanced and mature, but more along the lines that my mind was forced to grow up before the rest of my body was ready.
My parents expected more out of me than any five, six, seven, eight, or nine year old previously have had expected of them. I will sheepishly admit that I thank them for it every day. While everyone else was playing with Pokémon and Barbies, I was learning reading comprehension and language arts far beyond my level. People used to overlook my proper grammar with a simple, “Her mom was almost an English major. She makes her talk good at home.” To them I would reply that she makes me speak correctly, not talk good. People hated me for that. It was never a child’s place to correct an adult.
What I didn’t understand then that I understand now is that as long as you can keep someone guessing at your age, the longer you can enjoy an intelligent conversation. Once they figure out you are merely twelve, not sixteen like they had assumed, their vocabulary level drops, their ideas wander to things of lesser value, and they start asking you about your elementary school.
The reason growing up is hard is that you have to admit your immaturities and move on. You have to be willing to say, “I am still a child here. Can you help me fix this?” Admitting your weaknesses is what growing up sums up to. It takes someone who has completely dropped their guard, to advance another level of maturity. That is why most people never fully reach adulthood.
It’s a peculiar subject- this growing up. It is open to interpretation. One might say at age 18 you are fully matured- I’d say this person is an idiot, but that is the child in me. Debatable as the specifics of the matter are, growing up is the over purpose of life. Growing up is what keeps the youth of today striving for the promise of tomorrow.
Guide us well parental units
-Jessica D Hunt