Try marrying. Nothing stresses you into a man like trying to forge a life with someone else.

Try having kids, building a life with someone is easy mode until you throw multiple children into the mix. It's the final milestone of the human metamorphosis and it's a challenge.

Been there, done that. Bought one of the kids an axolotl after lots of pester-power and boatloads of "I promise I'll look after it, feed it and clean its tank every day".

So it's come to pass that now I look after it, and every time there's a new "Dad, can I have a XXX as a pet?" I can say "Well, you haven't looked after the axolotl". And since they can live for 25 years, there is some method to my madness ;)

Don't agree to care for their parrot, it ought to outlive you both.

Or a turtle / tortoise!

That's why RMS has a "I'd love to meet your parrot, but please don't buy me one" rider in his speaking contract.

Contrary to what others have replied there are much more stressful situations than being a father/husband and they're such that you may never want to be one!

> I don't want to find an out if a strong enough stressor turns me into and adult or not.

Stress doesn't necessarily mean you have to grow up in the sense that you stop having fun. It just means you notice subtleties, know better, and are otherwise prepared for whatever life throws your way. In many ways this just makes life more fun.