Tuesday, October 20, 2009

On Growin' Up

My son got a phone call yesterday asking him to do a survey. I don't do surveys anymore. I remember when I fit into the 18 to 30 age bracket. After that, it just seemed like it was 30 to death. Nothing in between. I mean, really folks?

I was in my early twenties when a teenage clerk at the grocery store called me "ma'am" for the first time. I looked around to see who he was talking to. "Are you talking to me????" I know they are told to do that to be polite, but I was not amused. Nothing like being put in your place by a 16 year old. Sigh.

After I got married, some people thought it would be fun to call me Mrs. _______ (my last name). Every time they called me that I always ignored them because I thought they were talking to my mother-in-law (we went to the same church).

My pediatrician was a twelve year old. I'm just sayin'. He looked that young, folks. And he was about that tall too.

As my kids got old enough to talk, and their little friends were old enough to talk, I had to make peace with the Mrs. label. It was either let them call me Mrs. so-and-so or let them call me Nan. I don't think so.

It is a little strange having a four year old call you by your first name when he comes over to your house. So, you have to make peace with the Mrs. label or just accept a four year old as your peer. Not that that is a baaaad thing.........

However, the Mrs. label is only the beginning of what ya gotta make peace with as you turn into a grownup. It's not so bad! There are lots of benefits to being a grownup!

  • You can eat at the big kid's table.
  • You can drink pop for dinner if you want.
  • You don't have to wear that outfit if you don't want to.
  • You can wear shorts and flip flops in winter if you want to.
  • You don't have to wear a coat outside unless you want to.
  • If you forget something, you can just blame it on getting older.
  • You don't have to eat all your vegetables if you don't want to.
  • You can stay up past your bedtime.
  • You can eat dessert for breakfast if you want, *cough*not that I've done that*cough.
  • You can see over the counter at a fast food restaurant.
  • You don't have to sit in a high chair or a booster seat.
  • You can try on clothes and not worry about outgrowing them
  • You can buy new clothes if your love for chocolate is not agreeing with you.
So, you see, there are lots of things to love about being a grownup. Now go have a lollipop. Oh, and hop over here to my personal blog and enter for a free blog makeover!

16 comments:

  1. A few years ago I had surgery to remove a tumor from my breast....my surgeon appeared to be 12. There was definitely something wrong with that picture.
    andrea

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  2. I hear you. When I started teaching, my students were kids that I went to school with. One of them was my best friend. We have a small church school, and you don't have to have a degree to teach. You do have to complete a training course, though. Anyway, it was so strange hearing them call me Mrs. Lexie. Kids that I was in the Christmas Pageant with, kids that I had acted up with, kids that I had talked about other teachers with--they were now my students. I was the one making them be in the Christmas Pageant. I was the one making them behave. I was the other teacher they were no doubt talking about behind my back. Ha! It's just strange.

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  3. I actually don't like when kids call me Mrs...I know it is a sign of respect which I appreciate, but I just can't wrap my brain around it. I always say..it is OK to call me Tarah. So- I feel younger LOL!

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  4. I guess growing up isn't so bad after all. I'm sure, after reading that list, that kids are gonna envy us. So hey, what if their skin is as smooth as a baby's bottom or that they have a metabolism faster than the speed of light. If we want to eat a cookie, we don't need anybody's permission. It may suck big suckers when we have to lose all those calories and we have to work our butt off trying to do it, but I can eat that cookie whenever I WANT! Gosh, that's a great thing! So, Naaa Naaa Naaa Booo Booo, Beautiful kids of the world.

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  5. Yea, I hate it when my kids friends call me "Erica". In my mind, I'm like "Oh no you Di'int!" I promptly correct them and say "Mrs. Scott". Now my youth group or my close friends' kids call me "Ms.Erica" and I prefer that to Mrs. Scott. But if they think they can walk up and call me by my first name, they're gonna get stuck with MRS SCOTT! ha!

    Hey, at least it was your pediatrician that looked 12 and not your gynecologist! YIKES!

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  6. I have found as we have moved...different areas do it differently. The south...you better mind your manners(or Mrs Erica is going to come find you), but when we moved from TN to our current area the teachers told my children to stop saying "Yes Mam", or "Yes Sir". If they didn't say in down south they got in trouble, up here I think they feel the kids are being sarcastic. I must say...I miss the manners. Do you agree Ms. Erica? (have to give her a bad time) Great post Nan!

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  7. Well, down south these kids are a'changing just as fast as the rest of 'em. =0)

    There's little respect still left, but I'm old school and they'd BETTER call me at least "Ms. Erica"! I can't stand it when kids are so bold to call me by my first time.

    Now see what you did Darcie? You made me go off again!

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  8. The only thing I miss about growing up is that when I get sick I got noone to pamper and take care of me. I do love that I can eat whatever I want when I want:) That is the best perk.

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  9. I love today's post! It makes me appreciate all the things I admired about adults and now get to do as a grown up myself including uttering all those famous grown up sayings like, "Just wait til you have kids of your own."

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  10. This is a great post. I don't like being called Mrs. Stephens or ma'am. But I'm so old now, I just have to get used to it. But that's okay, I've been know to call a teenage cashier or clerk ma'am or sir before too! Ahhh sweet revenge!

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  11. You are right!! Being a grown up isn't so bad after all!!! :)

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  12. Oh, I WISH the store clerks here would call me ma'am. Here, the clerks/cashiers/bag boys call everyone (take your pick)sweetie/honey/darlin'/dear. They call all men "buddy". You should see the looks I get when I ask them to please call me ma'am...the little brats! ;-)

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  13. That "Mrs." thing always got me. Now I just go by Daniela or Dani. Even the young kids here in Spain. I don´t think I hear anyone ever use Don or Doña.. or Señor or Señora which is Mr. and Mrs. in Spanish.

    Well, Mrs. Label.. who ever that is! I will see you on the Christmas Challenge Blog! Can´t wait!!!

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  14. I just wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed your blog so much. I have passed on a blog award to you.
    http://sahmiam77.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-was-honored-with-blog-award.html

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  15. I had trouble with the Mrs/ma'am thing too, but I was raised that you say them to anyone your elder, so even I say them!! (To my mom and grandma, etc) I would be upset if a teacher told my kids not to say it, Darcie! I would explain that we consider it polite, and please allow them to continue!! I usually like being grown up, till the bills come in and things get tight!!
    Jen

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  16. Ha! Especially Love that last one :)

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