OP here. I read all of the replies. Some of them made me chuckle . It was hard for me to answer that question because I am a person who worries a lot which makes my life not as enjoyable. I am not sure I enjoy being an adult. With my anxiety it is hard to say things like the world is a wonderful place and you will grow and have such fun time. With a global warming and the news that I read daily, I think it sucks and most adults are unhappy, overworked, tired....but I know I can't say that.

It involves the ecstasy of freedom and the grinding, slow disappointment of watching your dreams slip away.

It is the pain of giving in over and over again to protect your loved ones or the pain of choosing to live as you are to their detriment.

It is making new dreams all the time in order to keep yourself motivated to live out the natural term of your life.

To young men...."hair starts growing out of your ears, in your 30s. Your ears."

Anonymous wrote:Some times are really great and you get to do such exciting things all by yourself.....and other times are really tough because there are big challenges no one can solve for you. If you have people you love and work hard, be kind, and contribute you'll probably have a lot more really great times than really tough times.

My first thought when I read the subject like was "tired" but the above is more along the lines of what I would actually tell my kids.

Freedom comes with responsibility.

Anonymous wrote:This is what I was asked today and I did not really have a good answer. It made me think and I ma curious about what would you say

I have more freedom of choice than you do. That feels good, because I can choose to do things that I want to do, and I can choose to do things that are healthier for me. I can vote for the people that I think will represent my interests the best in our city, state and country.

The flip side is that I have more responsibilities. If I don't do my job, I wouldn't talk to a principal or counselor, I would get fired and we would lose our house if I couldn't find and keep another job. If I won't take care of my kids, feed them and take them to the doctor when they need to go, the government can have my kids live with another family who will take care of them. If I don't follow the laws, instead of talking to my parents and figuring out how to make it right, I'd be talking to the police, lawyers, a judge and maybe going to jail.

There are great things about being an adult. But there are tradeoffs that come along with them. With privilege comes responsibility. Just like I won't give you responsibilities without giving you privileges, you won't have privileges without responsibilities.

I would say it is a combination of great responsibility and great freedom. You have the power to make your own choices as you move through the world, and you have a responsibility to understand what the right choices are and to find the strength of character to make them. Being an adult means taking ownership over your actions and the effects thereof (whether intended or unintended) and trying to be a force for good in the world in ways big and small. And I would say that every age is amazing and has both good and not so good things about it, and they should enjoy every year for itself.