Welcome to the real world. Adulting isn’t easy.

Today’s teens want school to start later, because 7:45 a.m. is too early. To that I say, “Welcome to the real world. Adulting isn’t easy. Start preparing. Work will also begin too early. If you’re feeling tired, get to bed earlier. You normally have control over bedtime. What you likely will have zero control over is pushing the workday start time back an extra 30 minutes. You can ask your boss, but the request will likely draw criticism. Your continued employment might come into question.”

I was 15 years old when introduced to the wonders of an alarm clock. Up until then, mom woke me up each morning and made sure I got going. She wouldn’t tolerate being late for school. She was a no-frills mom. She didn’t wake you up with breakfast in bed served with a smile.

For those who don’t remember what alarm clocks are, they were nifty little devices that one painstakingly set each night, religiously, and the sound would destroy a sound sleep of anyone in the vicinity. Alarm clocks have been replaced by cellphones for almost everyone.

“OK,” my mom said about my desire to begin using an alarm clock. “The first time you don’t get up and you miss school that will be it.”

Mom didn’t care when I went to sleep, but I was getting up on time and it better be shortly after the first wake-up call. If she had to come back a second time, your feet better be on the floor as she entered the room. She was also a no-nonsense kind of mother. She wasn’t messing. She had things to do and it was best not to test her tolerance level. I don’t believe she had one.

I knew she was serious. One instance of sleeping in on my part and she’d be waking me each morning until I left home. Heck, she might even call me every morning regardless of where I lived. She was unpredictable. I wanted the responsibility, so I had to earn it.

That was the better part of four decades ago. I’ve been setting alarms and getting up without the assistance of anyone since that time. I quickly learned to take responsibility for my bedtime. If I felt tired the next morning and struggled to get up, I knew I needed to get in bed sooner the next night.

That was my introduction to adulting. My son brought that term to my attention. Tapping on the bedroom door he said, “Mom, get up. You have adulting to do.”

“I don’t have to work today, son,” was my reply. “It’s OK if I sleep in, but thank you.”

Teen years are a good place to begin preparing for what is going to be a long journey through adulthood.

Don’t begin hitting the snooze button already.

Standard reporter Lisa Hobbs can be reached at 473-2191.