Nuggets for a Young Adult

My nephew stepped into the adult category! Well he turns 18 this Saturday,but with exams facing him he decided to celebrate with his friends this past Saturday. Oh how he’s been waiting for this moment. It is so a huge milestone for him and me too.

Is it not funny how we all at some point wanted to be 18, then 21, 35, 40 etc and now that we have reached our targets we wish of going back to being 18….atleast sometimes I do. I looked at him and thought to myself with a healthy dosage of skepticism, “Really, an adult?” It just didn’t make sense at all. Only yesterday, I held him in my arms, cooed to him softly and changed his diapers and today he is on a pathway to adulthood. Time really flies.

Anyway he is excited about this phase and has already called me in for a non negotiable meeting stripping me off of the duties I held on to so tightly in the name of him being a minor. I lost control just like that. That moment that we hid behind of “you will do anything you want when you are 18” has landed. He is taking responsibility for his life.

The first came when he got his ID and just last week he was summoning me to the bank to get a proper account as the kiddies account was deemed not suitable. I obliged.

For the birthday pre celebrations we took it out to Zwartkops Raceway to blow some steam. It was magical and I atleast still maintained my tittle of favourite cool auntie. I was just intimidated by how competitive this boys are. I however learned a lot from them though I was the only one that didn’t finish the laps because 'ou lady' ended up stuck in between the shielding tyres after using brakes at a curve and mismanaging the acceleration.

The 18 crew

Now that he is 18, I’m taking him to his first Comrades start line next year (August 2022). Collins and Tebogo my dear passionate green numbers get ready to see him through the finish line tog… nna I will be right behind you.

I am happy and truly honoured that he is comfortable sharing with me what he cannot with his parents and choosing me to be his Confirmation Sponsor when he lost track of his Godparents.

I am his confidant and keeper of his most deepest secrets. His friends also think I’m cool and he is a good tutor and mentor to my boy.

The new Adult with his Cool Auntie

So after the adrenaline rush and lunch with his friends, I sat down with him and shared some nuggets. Here are some from our conversation;

• Plan your days. Complete your tasks and mostly finish what you start. That includes your food, homework, that vision board, tubes of toothpaste, and commitments you have made to others and yourself.

• Be kind always and treat girls and everyone around with care and dignity

• As Sannah Mandy would always say “Cleanliness is godly”. Keep clean my boy. Clean is sexy. Thoughtfulnes is sexier. Add a good scent to it and you’ll always be memorable.

• You are enough. You are you. Just b. Don’t let anybody (not even me or your parents) tell you otherwise.

• Eating well and dressing smart may add a bit of charm but don’t hide behind them. Having good friends is a blessing. Being a good friend is obligatory.

• We make mistakes, we learn and move on. Should you mis-take, acknowledge it, own up and put a mend on it. Covering up your tracks only reveals a faulty character and cowardice.

• Being truthful is a great virtue. Say the truth always, with great consideration and care. 'I ned more time' hardly ever turns into 'I love you'. If it's over, say so with grace and walk away. Once you've walked, refrain from the adhoc 'Hello Stranger', 'Hi' and 'I miss you' that are driven by boredom. Also sstay far far away from the nonsensical 'it's not you but me'.
  

To all the “kids” who turned 18 or are turning 18 this year, enjoy the new freedoms, but do understand that those so called freedoms are not really free. They come with new responsibilities and consequences. I’m sure you’ve had most adults say “adulting is a trap” yhoo it is…is nie pap en vleis shem, there you go, its taxing and I’m giving it to you for free. Remember that.

And to our dear hardworking trying parents out there, yes they may be making their own decisions (the good and the not so good), let’s allow them, let’s support them, let’s encourage them. We learn through action. Remember it’s a life long journey, whether 18 or 81…Parenting never real ends and yes it still comes without a manual. We’ll always be on a “figuring out” path with it.

Oops, he also wanted to vote but we are only officially 18 only on Saturday the 6th November. 5 days after the recent local elections. What a loss of a fresh quality vote.

Happy Birthday Lebza 😍

Its a Wondrous Wednesday

Here is to Adulting...

Likha~Biso