I like Amos' remark: "Obviously the term "grown-up" is a child's term, reflecting the way children look at the world. It defines those who are responsible for the events in the world, the people running the show."

I remember being eager to grow-up. I often hear children described by their parents as "13 going on 18" or the like.

What I also recall is not really feeling like I was a grown-up well beyond my college graduation & being self supporting. I think I probably hit a sense of it in my mid 20's, about the time I bought a set of dishes for myself instead of using my parents' incomplete old ones. But I'll admit to currently reading a book with the title "How to be an Adult" and getting some very good insight in the very first chapter. Obviously I would not have bought it if I didn't have a sense of not quite being there.

So to change the question a little. When did you become a grownup? Or are you still waiting?