Ascot, what an interesting thread, thank you ! And how well you write and paint the picture of those cocktail parties and the attendees .....it almost sounded like the beginning of a page turning novel, I was getting a great visual and was intrigued by the possible characters before there were any even !
I would venture everyone will come at this topic from a different angle because I feel it is greatly affected...{I nearly wrote infected then, Freudian slip me thinks !} by the type of childhood you had and as you so eloquently wrote, the type of example of adulthood you had set for you and specific to myself, how healthily you were raised and prepared for adulthood even.
JDeere writes that...adulthood can suck and still would like to be a kid at times...I think this suggests happy memories of being a child.
I myself never wish a return to childhood and whilst growing up in a very damaging and abusive environment to say the least I always viewed adulthood as a form of escape. It represented liberation, freedom...safety even.
And yet now I often find myself thinking in frustration...`for goodness sake, how old are you...you are an adult`...when I get anxious and worried about making choices for myself. In my eyes I became an adult at 17 when I found myself living in a bedsit and holding down a job and being self sufficient and surviving quite nicely thank you !
Since then I can do all the adult responsibility with ease, I am proficient at being an adult in so much as, bills are paid, house is kept well, and although I say it myself, my children are very well cared for on every level I feel. Thats all adult stuff right..adulthood ? Where I stumble is experiencing a childish guilt and fear of punishment for things like going to bed a little later than I know is good for me, which I would say are privileges and perks of being `grown up`..an adult.
So I view adulthood as being able to run your own life as a successful little empire, taking good care of ones self and loved ones, secure and comfortable home, money well managed and a healthy amount of time and focus on just enjoying life and having fun and making guilt free choices at times.
I think I am great at the sensible stuff but still need a lot of work in the carefree down time department....Ironically I could say to myself.....`You are an adult....lighten up and enjoy things with child like exuberance without the guilt...!!
I`m looking forward to reading others perspectives.
Daisy
