What’s a moment when you realized you were officially an adult?
Very interesting question.
Should I say it is when I earned my first money from teaching some random kids in our neighbourhood. I was just about going into the university.
I had a friend; actually, a boyfriend to my best friend at the time. He was always getting gigs to teach children in the neighbourhood to get some extra cash. While he needed it because his father’s bookshop business was no longer doing well and he had a younger brother to support along with his dad, I could not say the same of myself. My parents were fully supporting my education. At least, I got my first degree with their help and support. I ensured that my graduate degrees were from my personal income.
Anyway, as I was saying, he invited me to teach English to these children because his specialisation was Mathematics. So, I was teaching these children after my parents gave their consent for to take the job. We got paid at the end of the month. When I got my first pay, I used it to buy foodstuffs (groceries) for the home to support my parents. This was not because they asked me to but I felt good doing it. After all, they had been taking care of us since we were little. To be precise, I bought a number of yam tubers that the money could cover.
The next pay was used as part of the preparation for my going to the university. I bought some of the things I would need in my hall of residence while my elder brother gave additional support to me financially to cover things my money could not cover. All these in a bid to reduce the burden on my parents, not because they asked me to. After all, I never paid for my own school fees or accommodation cost throughout my university days. They paid for all my expenses, my sustenance and my books. So, giving a little help seemed to make sense.
However, the point is that the day I bought those tubers of yam for every member of my family to eat from the money I earned made me feel like an adult.
My parents were very proud of me.
As much as my mom would not to hold back with her disciplinary rods and smacks, she never held back her praise when she saw you using your initiative to do an unexpected but innovative act. That was my mom. My father’s praise was quieter. But it was always there in his many sacrifices to make us comfortable and become well educated.
My childhood was great. So, coming into adulthood was a fun transition too. I glorify God for His mercy.
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