NT KURIOCITY
As a child I saw the adults around me travelling, having the financial freedom to spend as much and however they wanted, staying out late with friends and having outings. I too longed for it then. Now, as an adult though I need to be cautious of the way I spend my money although I’m financially independent.
Alphius David Fernandes, Pernem
I always imagined adult life to be more engaging and looked forward to it most of the time. To me reality isn’t that much different now, because I knew about the responsibilities and expectations that came with being an adult. The things I looked forward to were staying up late, spending money, and basically the freedom to do whatever I want. I would not say it’s overrated but it is fun. I like the idea of having responsibilities on my shoulder.”
-Kirti Kumar, Ribandar
As a schoolgirl, I used to look up to my mom going to the office, thinking she had no homework or exams to worry about at home. I often counted the days until I could be a working woman myself. She wore beautifully draped sarees every day, while I was stuck in the same boring school uniform. Life seemed bright and carefree on her side. Now, as a mom, I see things differently. While I had Sundays off, my mom never did. House chores were her daily responsibility and she could never skip them. Today, I can wear a new dress every day but I rarely have the time to pause and appreciate myself. Both sides are equally vibrant. Our priorities change, but we should never lose the child within us.”
-Anju Bhale, Porvorim
I always assumed adult life would be easy. I saw my parents handling everything so effortlessly that I thought growing up would feel the same. I figured earning my own money would let me buy anything I wanted. But in reality, adult responsibilities arrive quickly and money disappears faster than expected. It really makes you realise how much our parents quietly managed behind the scenes.”
-Deborah Furtado, Chinchinim
I’m really glad I got to live my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. Looking back, it feels good to know I made a difference in many lives. Our childhood was very different from what kids experience today. We had no mobile phones or internet but life felt simple and happy. We walked to school, played outside in the evenings and found joy in the little things. We didn’t have fancy clothes or toys but we were content. Today, there are more comforts and conveniences but I still value the simplicity and hard work of those days. They made us who we are today.”
-Maria Murena Miranda, Morpirla
Growing up isn’t quite what I expected. Those same “freedoms” now come with responsibility and stress. Staying up late usually means losing sleep over work or chores. Having your own money means dealing with bills and budgets. You leave school behind, but life still keeps you on your toes with emails, errands, and never-ending lists. However, adulthood isn’t all bad. I enjoy being able to decorate my own space, make my own choices and have quiet moments to myself, things I never appreciated as a kid.”
-Sabina Da Cunha, Parra
I thought adult life would be fun. But now, I realise childhood was actually better. At that time, we only had to focus on our studies. There were no materialistic wants like we have today and life was much simpler and carefree.”
-Nilesh Gaonkar, Taleigao
Being an adult feels overrated now because I cannot be as carefree as I could when I was a child. Back then you never thought of the consequences and just went with whatever shenanigans you could get away with along with your friends, and laughed your heart out along with them. It’s not the case now, as we have to be very careful of everything around us. Back then, we also thought having a job and earning our own money was as easy as buying candy at a local grocery shop. We dreamt of so many wondrous things and how we were going to spend our money. But ever since I started working, I don’t feel like spending it because there are so many situations to think about. You cannot just handover money, even to your own friends, without thinking of your own financial situation, which means we cannot freely help others as much as we thought we could.”
-Sagar Shirodkar, Bogmalo
Honestly, I don’t think adulting is overrated. It has its stressful parts but there’s also this nice sense of freedom in return. I actually like being an adult more than being a kid because I really didn’t enjoy school. Back then, I was pretty bad at most things and it always felt like everyone else had it figured out except me. Plus, my school had a lot of bullies. I just never had one of those so-called ‘best school days of my life’ that people talk about.
Life feels more in my control now, as I can choose who I want around me, and what I want to do. People are a bit more understanding too compared to when we were kids. Bills and responsibilities are hard sometimes but honestly the independence makes up for it. Having your own money really hits you differently and it just feels nice not having to ask or explain every little thing you buy.”
-Seeja Prabhu, Mangoor Hills
