When Do You Become An Adult?

Legally, you are considered to be an adult at age 18. The funny thing about age 18 is that it is so random. There are still so many restrictions. An 18 year old can go off to war but he can't have alcohol. So he is responsible enough to carry a gun but not responsible enough to drink? In addition, I think you become an adult when you are independent in all ways (financially, emotionally, ect). At 18, most of us are still living at home. Yes, we are most likely in college living in a dorm away from home but we don't consider that our home. We still have a bed waiting for us in Buffalo Grove. That home is the one we go back to on holidays, over the summer, or just to visit the family. Living away from home is when we no longer have a room in our parent's house. But, having your own place does not make you an adult. You also need to be financially independent. That means your parents aren't paying your bills and managing your home. The question is, how do we learn how to do all this. After college, we are expected to move out and be independent. Yet, it doesn't happen over night that we understand how to live on our own. We must ask our parents to help us. Maybe for the first couple months or so we still have our parents help us manage the house. Soon, we will be able to do it by ourselves. It is just like learning to cook or do the laundry. It is a gradual thing that your parents try to teach you before you go off to college. I am a little nervous to be on my own because I am very dependent on my parents. Possibly it is because I am the youngest child. My sister always mimicked my mom and took care of me as well. Because she could play "mom" she learned how to cook and do the laundry. My problem was that I had two moms doing these things for me. I got so used to it, I never bothered to ask my mom if she could teach me how to make real food (not just mac & cheese). Now that I am aware of this, I am going to do all that I can to watch my mom and ask her questions so I can someday be prepared to live on my own and become an adult.