The Reality of Adulthood.

I remember sitting in junior high thinking that they should have classes about making and keeping friends, having a boyfriend and other important issues such as where you put your hands when your kissing or how to breathe while your kissing (thank heavens I didn't even need this class until I was a freshman in college, but it probably would've been helpful to know that my hands didn't need to hang down in their usual position like a dead animal), applying for a job, creating peace with your parents and siblings, transitioning schools, deciding what to wear in the morning, doing your hair in a way other than a slicked back pony tail, organization (it's important that you don't put all of your disclosure documents in one folder), and how to solve locker partner conflict.

Seriously though.

I remember sitting in college and  thinking that they should probably have classes in college about parenting, strengthening your marriage, managing your money, dating returned missionaries, advocating for the family, surviving in below zero temperatures,  getting along with your roommates, surviving on Top Ramen and other college cooking issues, effectively packing and moving every 3 1/2 months, and surviving without social media.

Again, I'm being totally serious. These are all very important things and thank heavens they had the majority of those classes.

Now I'm sitting in my little 3rd floor Charlottie apartment wondering why the heck they don't teach you the (really) important things in college. Things such as adjusting to real world food prices, living with one car in a city bigger than 10 square miles, paying more than $200 in rent per month with included utilities, how to make friends with all of our neighbors from India, how to effectively carry our groceries up three flights of stairs in only one trip, how to budget your money so that you have enough for student loans or medical bills or everything else you have to pay for, how to drive on streets that all seem like they're only 1 lane, and where to walk when there are no sidewalks in neighborhoods.

I guess there are plenty of things that I've still got to learn. I am grateful, however, that I no longer have a fear of driving on the freeway or sleeping with my closet door open.

Growing up is an interesting thing, but I'd never go back.