I am the baby of the group. Eric is 3.5 years older almost to the day, Jake the roommate and his girlfriend/my best friend Emily aren’t far behind him. And then there’s me. Still in school. Still living with my parents. At a lovely 21 years of age I look at my friends, who are older than me and want to just have it together. What did they figure out that I haven’t? I saw this book floating around and figured WHAT THE HECK LETS DO IT! What could it hurt? So I put it in my library order along with 24 other books. I received my first installment today.
It really is a sickness-the whole book thing. Since Adulting happened to be on top of the pile- that’s what I started with.
I will begin with my problem with this book, according to the author- I am an adult. Like a 40 year old mom apparently. Though the knowledge in this book is really REALLY good, I was thankfully brought up with awesome parents who taught me how to cook chicken, take care of my car, clean and communicate professionally. So at 21 I’m old. I’m completely ok with this. With that being said, not EVERYONE is that fortunate, OR their parents tried and they just need a refresher course.
The book contains 468 tips, tricks and steps to help you make the leap from kid/young adult to an actual adult. These are then broken down into categories like “Cooking” “Get A Job” “Family” “Domesticity,” you get the idea. It was a super easy and quick read which was nice as well.
I can’t remember any very specific steps that I did not agree with or outright oppose. What I liked was that with each step she gives a brief explanation, story and justifies why wearing holey jeans and a sweatshirt is not appropriate. It is here in the explanations that the real advice is given. Instead of reacting like this, try doing this instead. It’s simple stuff that makes you go “Oh yeah, that sounds good.”
Not everyone knows to check the water pressure when look at an apartment/house. Not everyone realizes that it’s not appropriate to NOT RSVP, regardless of whether it is an acceptance or declining of an invitation. Throughout the book she has these great little drawings to help break up the lists. Mostly flow charts. But the shark was a personal favorite.
I am partial to the “Is this outfit office appropriate” flow chart. I was in observations at a high school and was appalled at what some of the teachers were wearing. You are supposed to be an example and are working with both young women AND young men. Those partially see-through leggings with a shirt that just barely covers you butt is NOT APPROPRIATE. You are not crawling around on the floor with pre-schoolers, even then it’s not ok. I’ll hop off that soap box now….Bottom line- every woman should have this next to her mirror as a check list every morning.
As a commuter for school I really liked her list of things to keep handy in your car as well as how to take care of it. I can not tell you how many times an extra deodorant, car charger, box of granola bars and extra sweatshirts and shoes have saved me in my years of commuting. The emphasis on oil changes is so important and people so often put it off. My father graciously taught me how to change the oil in a car in case need ever arose for me to have to do so, but I have reached the point of paying really nice guys to just do it for me.
Things I would have added:
469- WASH YOUR FACE! No matter how tired you are, or how much makeup you do or don’t wear; give your face a good scrub.
470- Moisturize. Everywhere. Your scalp to your feet should be shown love. All year round. Coconut oil your whole body once a month. Your body will THANK YOU.
471- Shave at least once a week all year round. You never know who you might run into at the gym, if you’ll have nothing but a dress clean, or heaven forbid you find yourself in a position where someone is touching or touches a furry leg. :O
472-480 Teacher stuff. All of her job advice is focused on business or office jobs. Which, the majority of the population fulfill. But I’m a teacher. It’s a whole different world and ball game.
This book would be FANTASTIC for high school seniors and college students who aren’t freaks like me. It would be great for people like me who just need a refresher or encouragement to hold steady on the path to actual adulthood. It’s nice to know not everyone has it together no matter HOW together they look or portray themselves to be. It’s nice to know that being an adult is not the easiest thing in the world, but in 468 Easy(ish) steps you can certainly get yourself pointed in the right direction.
brunette with brains 