Not feeling like going to school and not having to fake a hoarse voice or a fever.

Paying credit card bills

Knowing that, although I don't have to be, I am independent

When I was little, I knew when my mother got paid. I'd ask for money, she'd say no and say that she didn't have any money. I'd say "but you just got paid!" Mama, I so understand the meaning of that now :D

The fact that I have a budget makes me feel grown. In school, I would just buy that new outfit without thinking twice, now I have to look in my checkbook to make sure I can afford that outfit. Paying my rent is more important than new clothes anyday...

Other stuff:
My 9 to 5 job
My business cards
When I go home to visit and stay out a little late, my folks don't question me.
I don't have homework anymore, I can watch all the tv I want cuz I don't have to study. :p

To all the college students who can't wait to graduate: being grown is very OVERRATED, I do miss school sometimes.

How about becoming a role model for the people you considered role models when you were coming up? I just got my car title from the finance company in the mail on Monday and I still can't believe it!

I'm 30, but my dad was the first person I called -- after calling Bank One to make sure they hadn't made a mistake. He sounded so proud, and I hope he's inspired to knock his note down too.

(Don't nobody tell my cousin, tho -- he'll have his hand out in a heartbeat!)

Here's another one:

Last Thursday was Take Your Daugther/Son to Work at my job. I brought my daughter to work and volunteered as a group leader. There were some instances whereas the children in my group tried to "cut up". I kindly told them "I know your parents, so you better behave or else I will let them know how you were!" The expressions on those kids' faces were priceless, b/c they didn't know that I was an employee, they thought I just came along to volunteer.

This morn in McD's I asked some teenagers to cool it with the improper language. My mother gave me this, "I'm so proud" look and it just went to my head. I felt allllllllllll grown up.:D

My beautiful, brown-eyed daughter. Although she's 8 years old, it's sometimes still hard to believe I'm actually a mom!

These 2 dadgum car payments! :mad:

Being able to really talk with my mom on an adult level without hearing her tell people "she may be taller than me, but I'm still the mama!"

The kid who used to I babysit across the street has a car, job, and has possibly lost his virginity. :eek::( I feel old indeed.

1.Writing checks & paying bills online (I guess this coincides with getting calls from the collections people -UGH)

2. I'll be 30 this year and I still catch grief when I try to come and go as I please. I care for my 85-year old granny and she makes me feel bad when I'm out and about! :(

3. The last time I received any money from people outside of my house was when my mom passed away in 2000 :( :( :(

4. I try to go to bed early, but sometimes it doesn't work. Believe me, I FEEL IT in the morning!

5. I can't hang anymore...so sad...

my mom and I were watching a movie... the daughter in the movie was narrating and she said something along the lines of her and her mom being adult friends, not so much mother and daughter anymore.... I leaned over and asked my mom if we were adult friends... she said yeah... that made me feel grown up cuz she thought I was grown up!!! :)

1). When I was living with my mom, her making me clean up my room/the kitchen etc. would make me feel like a child. Now I take pride in keeping my house clean, and it makes me feel grown when people come in and say "Dag, your house is always so neat!"

2) Knowing that if I don't happen to clean up before I leave to go somewhere...NOONE IS GOING TO SEE IT!!! Things will be exactly the same way I left them!

3) Buying groceries and cooking real meals, I think I have gotten to be a better cook since living on my own.

4) Clocking in everynight, and getting a regular paycheck.

5) Getting mail/bills/voicemail!

6) Being able to tell my mother about something in my life and when she starts in on me, say "Thank you Mother, but I wasn't asking for your approval!"

7) Slipping in a curse word while talking to G-Ma and after excusing myself and expecting a reprimand, I get a laugh and a "That's my grandbaby, at least you got it honest!"

8) Deciding at a moment's notice to go out of town and just gas up Silvie and hit the highway...not asking for anyone's permission.

9) Being asked to HOST the family dinner! :eek: (My family is supposed to be coming down for Thanksgiving this year!)

What makes me feel grown.....
 

1) Having holiday dinners at my house

2) Going on vacations without the fam

3) Showing people the door in my house when they get on my nerves

4) Writing checks

5) Planning a summer schedule for my son (ie. camp, vacation with grandma, swimming lessons, etc)

6) Doing what I want, when I want!!

This must be on the first page of the "Momma Handbook" because I heard this too much in my house. :D :p

What makes me feel grown...
 

seeing my friends marry and have children.

1)Telling Kids I watched grow up good advice,

2) telling little kids stuff my elders told me. (I.E: quit running in church, quit fighting your cousins etc, etc)

or my personall favorite:

3) being able to sit around the grown folks when they used to make us "go out and play" and "quit looking in grown folks mouths"

Fraternally,

~Paying Bills
~Working and earning $$
~Giving my mom advice sometimes.
~Dressing grown (make-up and high heels)
~Going out or coming home when I want without having to explain anything.
~Being called Miss. or Ma'am makes me feel grown, but it also makes me feel old. :p