Last summer I had my first taste of "the real world". Little did I know, I was spoiled last summer.
Mamma Shari often had dinner ready within 30 minutes after I got home. I did not have to make the entire meal. I generally cut veggies or fruit and set the table. Simple.
Groceries were bought and I did not have to lift a finger to get them. Simple.
Mo was around to help navigate the commute and pack meals/figure out what to pack for meals. Simple.
I was free to work, sleep, read, and enjoy learning who I was as an individual.
This summer I realize that although I thought I was in "the real world," I was far from it.
Cue this summer:
I want a warm dinner? I have to cut, slice, prep, cook, saute, etc. Besides all of the extended prep time, I have to come up with ideas. Making decisions is not my strong suit. Luckily, my stomach generally tells me how soon I need food and what I'm craving.
Groceries? A task that has been fairly easy as I enjoy looking at ads for what's on sale and making grocery lists (yes, Mom, I am your daughter!). Butttttttt.....when you get back from vacation at 11pm, a run to the grocery store is just exhausting. This week I chose to wait until the following evening. Even though this seemed to work, it still took a large chunk of my evening.
Commute? All on my own. Cue: Books on CD (a.k.a. Lifesaver!)
Packing Meals? Me.
Bills? Me. Getting the first bills in the mail this week reminded me that it is now up to me. No longer do I have a roommate who pays the bills and leaves a note on my desk telling me how much I owe.
All of these things seem small and mundane, but I assure you, they aren't.
Tonight instead of sitting through a class and helping the students at the beginning/end of class with any questions they had, I was the professor. Tutoring/Student Aiding already caused me to respect my professors more. But tonight, I learned what night professors go through. Putting in a full day at work and then going straight to teaching for 3 hours is exhausting.
I got asked tonight if I had children. I was reminded yet again how amazing mothers are. I find all these tasks exhausting. I'm only taking care of myself.
Ladies and Gentlemen. The Lord knows me well. He knew I needed extra time to become an adult on my own. Maybe someday way way WAY in the future I will be ready for a husband and/or family. I'm confident the Lord will continue to prepare me for the future in ways that only He can.
Until then, I will continue to respect teachers, parents, and adults in general. This whole growing up thing is a lot harder than it seems.
