Hi! I’m Shannon, and this is We Can Adult.
We Can Adult is primarily a passion project. I have a full-time job I really enjoy, but I also have what people are calling a ‘side hustle’ to help me pay unexpected bills, get ahead, save for retirement, and have some freedom my 9 to 5 just couldn’t give. I’ve been wanting to start a coaching/education website for years. My inspiration was having to learn how to ‘adult’ the hard way like so many of us do – by ourselves with little to no guidance. I like to use a metaphor a former therapist gave me – waking up suddenly and finding yourself at the wheel of a car careening down a treacherous road, with no idea how you got there, where you’re going, or even how to drive. TERRIFIED, with no guidebook in hand, and few resources at our disposal, we’re expected to make major life decisions that will affect the rest of our lives (do you want a career now or to go to college? Community college or University? What do you want to major in? Should you get married or develop a career first?) And the list goes on.
Hundreds of critical practical life skills aren’t taught in schools
So if you don’t somehow get the information at home, you’re left to figure things out on your own. Many of us are already married and have our first child by our mid-twenties, so that’s just 5-6 years to figure out how to be organized, mature, and responsible enough to bring a child into the world. Welcome to ADULTING!
And this is NOT meant to reflect poorly on parents either – they’re busy scrambling themselves, doing their best to survive this flagging economy, put food on the table, and desperately trying to enjoy their lives a little too. Who has time to teach kids how to regulate emotions and personal finance, or when and how to start investing? People in their 40s and 50s usually have kids in school and their own aging parents. It’s called the sandwich age – saving for their kids’ college and taking care of their parents, as well as juggling a career all at the same time. So yeah – I totally applaud them for any extra education they manage to squeeze in during dinner, bath time, or carpooling to piano and soccer practice.
I wanted to start We Can Adult to help fill the gap between school and home
I’d like this site to be a trustworthy resource for Adulting information that’s pre-vetted so you don’t have to worry about if it’s just a random opinion someone put down on social media. I plan to present information on this site as I understand it, and if there’s significant disagreement on topics, multiple opinions will be presented and references provided so you can read more if you want and form your own opinion. You can also always check out my Resources page for more info on the topics I cover as well for even more food for thought.
Thinking for ourselves is one of the most unique and beautiful human attributes we have.
It is a key characteristic of being an adult. The ability to speak to others respectfully about those thoughts and opinions is also another admirable ‘adulting’ skill. Regardless of what the media portrays, I’ve seen humanity come together and achieve some pretty amazing things in my lifetime, and I’m encouraged by our younger generations’ curiosity, kindness, and capacity for empathy. It’s been great to meet you, talk to you soon!
-Shannon