I had a medical checkup earlier this week. My doctor gave me some information about a new medicine. He didn’t say “You’re going to add this medicine,” or “Switch that one for this one.” He gave me the information and asked me to read it and see what I thought.

I caught myself thinking “Wow, how grown-up!”

But that got me thinking later that I haven’t used the term “grown up” (or, for fellow sticklers, the adjective “grown-up”) in months, if not years.

The joy of getting to do something that rightfully belongs to adults, to “grownups,” is much more visible from a younger perspective.

After a few birthdays, and a few more, “being grown-up” begins to turn into a relatively new term, “adulting.” The latter is a term I’m hearing from people I consider barely qualified for it, but I’ve decided I can tell them apart with a few examples. Here they are:

“Being grown up” is getting advice from your doctor that you can consider all by yourself; “adulting” is having to go to the doctor because it’s that time of year again.

“Being grown up” is going shopping for what you want; “adulting” is getting the bill and having to pay it.

“Being grown up” is getting invited out on a Friday night; “adulting” is having to get yourself out of bed on Saturday anyway to get groceries.

“Being grown up” is getting Christmas cards addressed to you; “adulting” is sending out your own, not being included in the family’s.

Aging and maturity? Hmm, that’s another story… watch this space.