Growing up?    

There is not one specific sign,

Nor moment,

Or definition. 

Everything is gradual. 

As time moves on,

Things change;

People change.   

 

Gradually,

I went from watching Disney movies 

To watching the news. 

From reading bedtime stories 

To reading novels. 

From buying stuffed animals 

To buying my own car.  

From finding shells at the beach

To finding jobs around town. 

From making handprint turkeys 

To making my own decisions.  

From getting a pet dog 

To getting a debit card. 

From losing teeth 

To losing friendships. 

From wearing hair bows

To wearing jewelry.  

From having time outs 

To having restriction. 

From learning the alphabet 

To learning calculus. 

From spending hours outside 

To spending hours doing homework.

From driving with baby sitters 

To driving my sisters.      

From believing in Santa 

To believing in myself.  

From being a kid 

To being a young adult. 

From wanting to grow up

To wanting to stay young.   

 

There is not one specific sign,

Nor moment,

Or definition. 

It was a collection of realizations. 

I now have more responsibilities. 

More consequences. 

More stress. 

More experience. 

More frustration.  

More maturity. 

More trials. 

More tribulations. 

More confidence. 

 

This is growing up.