the Graham Cracker House

Once upon a time, I had a conversation with a dear friend in which we tried to settle on the definition of "adult-hood". We were just about to graduate BYU at the time, but still didn't quite feel like adults yet. If being a college graduate didn’t do it, then what would finally make us adults? Since then, we have hit
many life milestones together and kept checking back in with one another. Was this it? Were we finally adults now?

Was it serving a mission? Paying our own gas, electric or phone bills?
Applying for graduate school? Attending graduate school? Actually graduating
from graduate school? Nothing ever seemed like it was quite enough…

By now we have decided that rather than all at once, becoming an adult happens moment by moment, month by month, year by year.  Hardly a conversation with most friends or family members go by without my realizing I have perhaps hit yet another milestone.

Today I offer you:  THE LIST (as much as I have come with so far)

• Graduating college
• Purchasing furniture (not from DI)
• Paying bills (gas, electricity, internet, phone, etc.)
• Tying the knot
• Interviewing for jobs
• Being responsible for your own health insurance
• Having a child
• Bringing said child to a doctor’s office at which you are asked questions as if you were a competent, responsible, adult (and you actually have to come up with answers).  
• Hiring a non-family-member babysitter.
• Buying a house
• Getting a loan or mortgage
• Buying a car
• Going to girls camp as a LEADER (being officially "in charge", as opposed to just pretending to be in charge).
• Having a real garbage can that you have to take out to the street
• *Bonus adult points if you have a recycling can as well.*
• Not having an apartment number on your mailing address.
• Being responsible for the care of a backyard.... YOUR OWN backyard.
• Shoveling your own walk and driveway after a snowstorm.
• Planting a garden.
• Having the missionaries over for dinner
• *Bonus adult points if you actually eat food grown out of said garden.* 
• Painting your future child's bedroom.
• Asking others for advice and help on how to remodel your bathroom...
• Actually remodeling said bathroom.
• Making more than 4 trips to Home Depot in one weekend
• Making (and attempting to keep) a budget.
• Renting a car.
• Checking into a hotel (and NOT racing straight to the pool).
• Living in the same location for more than 2 years

No doubt, adding to this list is going to be a life-long process. Perhaps we will never feel like true adults, but looking back at all I have accomplished in the past almost six years since this conversation started- at least I am on my way!