Growing up is hard to do...

...it really is. College is that time when you're an adult with training wheels (the wheels being the financial/emotional support of parents). I like the idea of a tricycle better than the analogy about leaving the nest because with a nest there's no middle ground, you've either left or haven't, and I don't know about you but I'm not totally independent yet. I pay for some things but I definitely have help with a majority of things.

I think it's hard for parents too, seeing their children become independent and make their own choices. We are basically conditioned from birth to look up to/trust in the judgement of our parents, but there definitely comes a time when opinions will differ. I had this happen when I was making the decision to go to grad school instead of entering the workforce. I think my parents would maybe have preferred that I get a job instead (if my mom grabbing my computer saying 'here I'll find you a job" is any indication). But I knew that 1. getting a job is not that easy and 2. I needed a master's degree in order to get the type of job I wanted. So I had to make this adult choice on my own, and while my parents may not have been completely involved in the process, I'm lucky that I have their support and their vote of confidence in me.

Oh to be young again.

When do you hit that point of complete independence? When will I officially leave the nest? Maybe once I get a real job and can start paying off my loans on my own. Once that happens I'll be sure to find some way to repay my parents for all the gifts they've given to me.