Coming+of+Age

Washing Clothes

It seemed easy enough to be an adult. I knew it took responsibility, independence, and patience; all the major things we have been told we need to know before we can consider ourselves adults. My mom's job seemed simple: love me when I'm good, scold me when I'm bad, and hold down the house. While this is true, I was too quick to think I knew it all. I made good choices, stopped talking back, and respected the rules she gave me. I was responsible, independent, and patient. Even though these traits are important in being an adult, it's the little everyday tasks that are overlooked which take a real adult to get done. Unfortunately for me, one of these "simple tasks" wasn't so simple. I learned the hard way. As I brought in all the clothes from the house to the laundry room I figured I might as well get started on washing. It looked easy. Sort by color, throw in the washing machine, put in soap and press go! Unfortunately it wasn't that easy. Walking away I heard a steady groan building like a small thunder storm, a sound that I hadn't heard before. Everything looked normal, so I kept walking, thinking about how happy Mom would be that I helped. I had finally done something productive around the house without even being told. A happy mom makes a happy household. With a smile on my face I strutted over to dad to inform him of my good deed and give him a little reminder of how mature I was. With a smirk I stated "see, Dad. I do a lot around the house." He wasn’t amused. In his monotone voice he simply replied with a “good job” and straight face. It wasn't long before his deep voice went echoing down the hall way as he shouted my name. Confused I jumped out of my chair to see what all the commotion was about. Running through the house was my dog, covered in bubbles. Only then did I realize what I had just done. In my attempt to help, I had done just the opposite and my heart sank. All my boasting just made me look stupid and even worse, I had to figure out how to stop the washing machine from turning our house into a bath tub. Soap bubbled from it like a volcano, making our whole laundry room look like a car wash. I jumped in like I was diving into the unknown. Bubbles popped in my eye, blinding me from everything. I felt frantically to find this switch and then, off. Finally, the first problem was solved, but in no way was the second problem going to just be switched off. The look in my dad’s eyes as he stood in the doorway scared me, but the agony of waiting till my mom found out left me paralyzed with fear. Knowing I would have to face her wrath only made my heart sink even more until I felt like it was going to hit the floor. I had no idea what to say as he looked at me. As smoke blew out from his ears the only words that came to him were, “Clean it up!” I nodded and stepped back into the bubbles to hide my shamed face. How was I supposed to even begin cleaning up? The only thing I knew is that I had to get it done before my mom came home. However, just as I prayed to God to keep her distracted she walked in the door with a look on her face that could have killed someone. Her big brown eyes stared at me like she had just seen a ghost. Her face turned pale and simultaneously so did mine. About a minute after taking a long and deep breath, which felt like an eternity, she walked through the bubbles and calmly asked "What happened?" In shock of her patience, I simply responded with my head down, "Mom, I was only trying to help." She just shook her head and laughed calmly replying "It's okay, Megan. Let's clean it up." It was easy for me to think I was grown up and mature because I could think for myself. However, I was too quick to overlook the every day things my mom does for me. Simple things like doing laundry, cooking dinner, and most of all, putting up with me are just a few examples of what I didn’t realize took so much effort. Day in and day out she constantly takes of me without expecting anything but a little appreciation. While cleaning everything up and laughing with my mom I realized that I was still a young girl. I couldn’t even do a simple task like doing laundry correctly. Being an adult isn’t just about making adult like decisions, it takes the patience and responsibility of doing the small things over and over again without any recognition. I am still a girl learning to take care of myself. My mom was kind hearted enough to see that I had good intentions of helping her; something only a mother could see. Despite my thinking that I was an adult she always knew that I wasn’t quite ready. Call it a mother’s instinct or just a smart woman, but she could tell that I wasn’t an adult yet despite my strong opinion. I know now that I am on my way to being a responsible adult in the years to come. However, I am taking my time to learn correctly all that it takes to be one, so that when I finally get there, I can reach my full potential as an adult and woman.