Growing up, I always think adulthood is the best form of life and this is because of the way I see the adults around me being free from being coerced or doing things against their will. In fact, I used to be like the best way to stop being coerced or forced to do things in life is by clocking into adulthood, but after reaching adulthood, I realised that all my opinions and expectations about adulthood are false.
I could remember how I used to be treated by my ever disciplined parents in those days, they would not just allow me to move freely with anyone, most especially those that they didn't know. My mum is that kind of a person that would tell you that,
“Janet, bad company corrupt good manners and as a result, I wouldn't want you to move with anyone with bad characters.” My response then used to be like, “Yes ma.”
But deep inside me, I used to be like,
“Why is she restricting us from enjoying the life of my head?”
However, this answer was best known to her as she knows more than I do. But one thing is that, I didn't really like how I was being treated by her and my dad who always made every decision for me on my behalf.
Also, I could remember them deciding for us their children what to eat, wear, who to relate with and who not to relate with. What is the time to spend out of the house or where to go?
All these are many more of their activities that made my childhood and teen age to be boring and I was always looking for a day when I would be free from their hostilities and interference. Although they were very kind and nice to me as they would always make everything available to me, back then, life was more than that.
So, after all I have witnessed in their hand, the special day that I was expecting came and that was when I gained admission to the college. When I gained admission to the college, I was happy most especially when I received and printed my admission letter as I told myself on that particular that,
“The waiting is now over.”
On getting to the college, I started living on my own in my rented one room off campus and there in that one room, I had everything needed as a student, but these things were not bought by me, but by my parents who were still caring for me as their first and only daughter. This personal experience in college made me feel as if I have reached the desired adulthood I was expecting and I thought within myself that I have arrived at the expected adulthood I so desire.
After my graduation from the college, I went for my one year NYSC serving my father's land and in the NYSC program a stipend would be paid to the serving corp members and since my parents knew I'm already collecting a stipend from the federal government of Nigeria they stopped paying me the said monthly allowance, and that was how my own adulthood lifestyle started.
Although, it's not as if they don't have the money to be paying me and this I know when I asked my mum why they stopped paying me my monthly allowance and her response was that,
“Jane, I and your dad have decided to stop paying you your monthly allowance as we believe you have grown to adulthood.”
Although, I would have responded to her statement but because I wouldn't want to relegate myself to being a child to them anymore, I decided to keep quiet knowing fully well what I have once suffered from them.
However, to live an adult life was not something easy for me as the stipend given to us by the government would not even last me for two weeks. There's a day I tried calling my parents to assist me, but I realised calling them would not do me any good as by that, they could still have access back to my life, but the hardship was too much for me as on many occasions throughout the month, I used to eat once or twice a day and whenever I'm being called by my parents, I used to pretend all is well.
But on a particular day, my mum called and as she was asking me,
“How is everything?” I replied, “All is well.”
Immediately I said this, she quickly replied and said to me,
“Jane, I know all is not well and I'm sending you some amount to take good care of yourself now.”
When I heard her saying she would send something to me. I was happy and I thanked her and she warned me not to hide things from her again and that if I'm in need of anything, I should let her know and I said,
“Okay ma.”
However, ever since then, I have not called her for anything as I have made up my mind to double my hustle and get things done on my way as I have already grown to adulthood.
Thanks for reading.
Image is mine
