Last time I heard that was about 60 years ago.
A bit outmoded, maybe.
You can probably still find it in some of the Old Cartoons from the 50ās-60ās.
I didnāt feel like I was an adult until I was about 55. That is when I had my first kid. But when I was about 16 I accidently went through a strangers camp when I was fishing, and a little kid asked his parents, āWhoās that man.ā I thought it sounded really weird because I still considered myself just a kid.
Canāt vote, only 60ās so not adult yet. Donāt believe me? Ask my grandkids!
Love it. Iām sure mine will say the same. Thatās being a great grandpa.
When we have family get togethers Iām basically the only adult that with rough house & play video games with my nephews, and tease/joke around with the nieces. I like spending time with all the adults too, but I remember when I was a kid how much it meant to me when basically any adult at family gatherings treated me like a person they actually enjoyed having around, so I try to spend at least some time treating them the way I liked adults too treat me when I was their age.
I just went paddleboarding with some in-laws at a lake today and my nephew had nobody else there to be a typical boy with (his aunties were all ārestingā and my younger daughters and niece were not interested in but shenanigans (mostly stayed on shore), so I decided to join him acting crazy on our paddle boards and falling in the water, racing, etc. He said it was his favorite thing in the world. I definitely did not enjoy the cold (water/wind on the lake was coldā¦I usually keep my swimming pool between 88-90 degrees because I like it warm), but I was happy to act like a crazy kid for his sake.
We even have a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch at our house and nobody at my house ever touches them until one of my nephews visit and want to play with me. We basically have them just for their sake.
The rough thing is I have over 30 nieces and nephews so far (plus my own 3 kids), so it can be hard to have enough time while still having sufficient adult time with mine or my wifeās family. I guess I just keep in mind that as a kid I never expected or wanted the adults to spend lots of time with me, and it was just nice to even have short or random intervals that clearly showed them treating me like a human if value. Even a few short comments once in a while could make a big difference with some of my uncles or family friends growing up. I never really knew my grandpas though.
Grandpa slipped me a candy bar through the schoolyard fence at recess. I canāt remember the brand.
He also klonked me on the head with some dull manual clippers because I kept squirming in the chair.
Not on the same day, as I recall.
Thatās why you grew up like this?
Canāt rule it out.
Iām late to the party.
Legally Iām an adult, but I donāt claim it. So I cannot, in good faith, answer the poll.
Also, of note: I donāt know how to act my age. Iāve never been this age before.
When I was 24, I worked with a guy that was 14 years older than me. He was single and did not look or act his age. He drove a sports car and was always bar hopping.
It stuck with me that you donāt have to look, feel or act your true age.
Is that supposed to be a compliment, or an insult?
I suppose it could be both. If you look, feel and act younger than your true age, probably a compliment.
Haha, I love this.
Within reason. I agree that you donāt have to āact your age,ā but I think thereās a key distinction to be made. Thereās a wonderful, healthy āchildlikeā quality of playfulness, curiosity, and excitement that adults should be able to enjoy. Itās what allows us to connect with our kids on their level and find joy in the little things. Itās kind of sad when adults wonāt play with or connect with their children at all because they think they have to āact their ageā or whatever excuse they give.
On the other hand, thereās āchildishā behavior, which is when adults act like toddlers, have tantrums, overly entitled, ignore their responsibilities, or cross serious boundaries. So while Iām all for adults having fun and not being stoic all the time, itās important to remember that being a grown-up also comes with certain responsibilities and the need for mature judgment. So, childlike is okay, childish is not okay.