How To Be A Grown-Up

[talon]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64I0TY20100519

I don't agree with everything she says in here (not just the article, the book, too - I'm not too enamored of "the quiz", for instance), but since I've long railed and ranted on this very topic, it's good to see others taking notice and writing on the subject. I'm sure Ms. Kaiser would disagree with some of the things I think constitute being a grown-up.

I think part of what gets me is that she opens each chapter with what life is like as a child, compares it to being an adult, and then gives anecdotes and tips on doing adult stuff. I don't know how she manages it, but to me, she makes being an adult sound very onerous and burdensome. Perhaps others won't feel the same as I did on reading this.

Yes, with the freedom of adulthood comes responsibility, often a lot of responsibility, and there are still so many rules one needs to know, and often to obey. But adulthood isn't all rules and responsibilities. One thing she doesn't address adequately is planning.

She talks of time management, but that's the microcosm of planning. I think working in the macrocosm to create an overarching plan makes the smaller time management easier.

There are certain life events that happen to all of us, either directly or indirectly: job interviews, job loss, moving, marriage, birth, friend or family emergencies, illness, death, injuries (minor as well as permanent), disasters, crime. We can plan and make provisions for all of those events so if and when they occur, we are prepared for them. Once we take care of the big things that happen in our lives, taking care of the little things is easier.

Her book is a decent beginning for those who want to learn how to live life as an adult, but consider it the remedial course, or an overview course.