The Taste of Growing Up

[empress6]

There was a time when I could not wait to leave my parents house. I thought being an adult meant freedom and I would get to live life on my own.

My mother was the type who always wake up early to make breakfast for my siblings and me, my dad was not always around but the few times he was around, he would sit us down and give us some advice. I remember one day I got into an argument with my mum because I wanted to attend a Saturday class and she said no. I told her “I can’t wait to leave this house.” I really thought living alone was perfect.

When I finally got into the university, I was happy. In my hostel, I had my own bed and space and for the first time, there was no one to tell me what to do. It was fun, I stayed up late and watched movies however I wanted and I didn’t wash the dishes when I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t even miss home that much.

There was no water for the whole day so my roommates and I had to go to the other hostel to get water.That was the first time I carried such a heavy bucket.

“If I was at home, mummy would have boiled water for me.”

We had a washing machine at home, but I had to wash with my hands in school. And after washing, my bag felt like I had carried a bag of cement.

Cooking was another thing. I could cook but sometimes I got too lazy and don’t even bother cooking. I started buying food outside and that was how I realized how fast money disappears. Whenever I needed money at home, I just needed to ask. But here, I had to manage every naira carefully.

And my roommates couldn’t be trusted. There was a time I forgot to keep my food in my locker and when I got back from class, my food was almost gone. One of my roommate helped me asked around when she was probably the one who ate it.

There was a time when a rat decided to use someone’s soup as a swimming pool. I hated rats, I doubt anyone likes having a rat living with them.

The day I fell sick, that was the worse. I couldn’t cook or fetch water. I went to the school clinic and they gave me drugs but there was no one to take care of me. Whenever I got sick at home, my mum would make pepper soup and feed me and stay with me till I was asleep. My siblings would do anytime to make me laugh.

Parents makes life look easy. Food just appears when you’re hungry, your things are always clean and medicine shows up whenever you are sick.

My mum cooked all of my favorite food when I went for holidays. “You lost weight. Are you eating well in that school?”

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Growing up means moving forward. Our parents are like superheroes in disguise. They make life look easy but you only understand that when you finally have to do it all yourself. The freedom is there but there are also responsibilities that come with it.

Adulthood is not easy, but its not also bad. There are just lessons that comes with it. And even though it humbles you, that's life. A mix of fun and chaos. Although its confusing, there's something nice in being in charge of your life.

I’m still staying alone in school but I still miss home. I now know how to manage my money and take better care of myself.