I thought about this the other day. When did I realize that? It didn't happen overnight. Time is slipping away, though. It seems like just yesterday, l graduated college, found a job, and lived on my own for about 10 years. The first few years out; I lived at home with my parents and respected their rules. I was a responsible journalist and got praised for my professionalism. I paid my bills and took one big vacation each year usually to visit a friend fron college.
College doesn't prepare you for such this as layoffs, knowing your rights in legal matters, being fired, office politics, racism, s*xism, or the glass ceiling. It surely doesn't prepare you for back stabbers, purchasing a home, overdue bills and being past due on your mortage agreement, gossip monigers, credit card debt and your credit history, having your car repossesed, identity theft, reading the fine print in any business venture you enter, and people or co-workers who steal your ideals or deflate your dreams. Let alone friends who change their so-called support or allegiance to you. Boy, could I go on. When you are an adult, you have to grow up fast.
Now that I was working, my mom guided me with some money matters. My mom is a saver and so am I. If it isn't on sale or the clearance rack: I won't buy it.
I still put pennies and loose change in piggy banks. I have tried to teach my children the same. Most believe that "found" money should be spent...not me.
I put that money in my rainy day account. I have also taught my kids that sometimes you have to do without in life. Believe me, you'll live. It's a temporary situation.
The day, I became a "mom" is when I considered myself a true grown-up. I realized what my mother had to go through to raise me and my sister. I now had to cater to the needs of someone who didn't ask to be born. What I did or didn't do would impact her future. I took care of myself better because she depended on me. I stopped going out for a while. Hitting the club lost its appeal and I even stopped writing for a few years because covering events was a problem.
Even though I don't look or act my age, it's nice looking back at my past. I have learned a lot of lessons. Some of them were painful; some of them helped me grow. They also helped make me the woman that I am today. For that, I am thankful.
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Friday, November 19th 2010 at 4:23PM
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