I like to think I'm a mature individual most of the time. But at the same time, I still don't consider myself a "grown up." When people call me "mam" I seriously get a little confused. Nevermind the fact that I'm married to an old man. Being married doesn't make you a grown up... I mean, yes, I'm going to be a mother of two (oh my gosh I just had a small nervous breakdown) but 12 year olds are having kids these days. Haven't you heard that teen-mommy clubs are all the rage? I had a baby so I could be cool...not so I'd be seen as an adult! And maybe I take care of all the bills and maybe I have a full time actual job RIGHT NOW...but still I am not a grown up.

BUT today I think I took one BIG step closer.

For as long as I can remember one of my mom's biggest pet peeves at work is when the neighborhood boys come and skate in the office parking lot. If I was ever there when it happened, I knew my mother was about to go out and kick the kids off the property, and probably in a way that made sure they'd never come back...or that they'd be back late at night with a can of spray paint. Anyways...I never saw the harm, as long as they weren't damaging any property or getting close to the cars or anything. You know? So always tried to get her to leave them alone.

This afternoon, in the middle of our busiest time of year, a couple of boys were skating in the parking lot...right in front of the door which is right in front of my desk. Since my mom was at the bank, I figured they'd probably leave before she got back and there'd be no harm done. So I'm doing my work but kind of watching them do their silly little tricks. If they got close to my car I thought a little bit about kicking them out, BUT I just kept talking myself out if it...thinking I am not that kind of grown up! Anyways about two seconds later one of the little punks decides he wants to jump over the planter. The problem being that there is sign in the way that says "Employee parking only." So he gets the brilliant idea to just bend it in half so that it isn't in his way.

So I run outside and yelled at the boys and kicked them off the property. I think I even used the words "Boys, Private property, and if I ever see them again I'll call the police who will make them pay for that sign."

I thought I was going to feel bad about it. But it was strangely liberating.

Now that I'm officially an adult, I think I'm going to start yelling at punk kids more often :)