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21+ GAF: Do you still feel like a kid?

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Featheredkitten said:
Truth, it especially hits home for me when my son looks me the same way I looked at my parents...like they just knew how the world works, their place in it, *sigh*. It's a sad day when you realize your parents are human, and they know no more about the world than you.
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Yep, my son does the same with me - like I am this all-knowing, all-seeing demigod. I guess it gives them the sense of comfort they need/crave at that age. On one hand it feels pretty damn good to be seen by someone as the center of their universe, on the other it makes you worried that you are going to screw up in some way, and the facade will fall, Wizard of Oz style.

The way my perception of my parents evolved was that I see them more as peers now (while still being my parents) that went through a lot of what I was/am experiencing, and made it work. It gave me a new level of appreciation for them raising me and my brother - the choices they made, and the things they endured. As a result, I would say my relationship with them is stronger than it ever has been.
 
Featheredkitten said:
Here's the secret:

No one ever feels like an adult. We're all just faking it. We look at others and figure that they have it all planned out, they have a handle on their lives, but it's not true. No one really knows what they're doing.
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I used to think this was true, but then I started feeling like an adult and had to change my opinion! One day I just woke up and I was married, we were supporting ourselves, thinking about having kids, and I had projects I was proud of working on, and I didn't feel the same way I felt in my twenties, like I had no plan, no idea how to handle problems, and no idea how my future would even be a thing. I think Maslow's hierarchy is involved. But maybe people mean something else when they say they still feel like a kid.
 
ghostmind said:
Yep, my son does the same with me - like I am this all-knowing, all-seeing demigod. I guess it gives them the sense of comfort they need/crave at that age. On one hand it feels pretty damn good to be seen by someone as the center of their universe, on the other it makes you worried that you are going to screw up in some way, and the facade will fall, Wizard of Oz style.

The way my perception of my parents evolved was that I see them more as peers now (while still being my parents) that went through a lot of what I was/am experiencing, and made it work. It gave me a new level of appreciation for raising me and my brother - the choices they made, the things they endured. As a result, I would say my relationship with them is stronger than it ever has been.
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I agree, kids change your whole perception..especially when they start to get personalities and communicate with you.

My parents got divorced when I was 14, and it really changed how I saw them, as a result my mum and I are more friends than anything else, and my father is no longer in my life. They certainly stopped being all knowing demigods though.

pigeon said:
I used to think this was true, but then I started feeling like an adult and had to change my opinion! One day I just woke up and I was married, we were supporting ourselves, thinking about having kids, and I had projects I was proud of working on, and I didn't feel the same way I felt in my twenties, like I had no plan, no idea how to handle problems, and no idea how my future would even be a thing. I think Maslow's hierarchy is involved. But maybe people mean something else when they say they still feel like a kid.
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Maybe, I don't know...If that's true it's certainly comforting.
 
28 with a mortgage and yup, All the time. Then sometimes I realise I enjoy wine tastings and talking about storage solutions for my house, and it dawns on me that I'm an adult.

Featheredkitten said:
Here's the secret:

No one ever feels like an adult. We're all just faking it. We look at others and figure that they have it all planned out, they have a handle on their lives, but it's not true. No one really knows what they're doing.
Click to expand...

You hush with your wisdom!
 
Not really. I haven't for years now. I mean, I don't think I'm like 40 or anything (I'm 22) but I don't feel like a kid at all. What does that even mean? I've got my boundless enthusiasm still I guess, but I certainly don't think or act at all like I did when I was younger, and I have no desire to.

I definitly don't feel like I'm 18. Way too many more things going on in my life now. My life is so much more self directed right now then at any time in the past.
 
23 now, I still feel like an apathetic jackass like I was when I was 18. Nothing's really changed aside from having a 6 figure salary and meeting a few of my goals.
 
DrSlek said:
28 with a mortgage and yup, All the time. Then sometimes I realise I enjoy wine tastings and talking about storage solutions for my house, and it dawns on me that I'm an adult.



You hush with your wisdom!
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Never!!

Ikea is pretty boss for storage solutions, did you see the pull out drawers they have for kitchens?
 
I'm 22, feels like I'm still 12.
 
28, feel like 18. Never want to lose that.

I've become more mellow and understanding though, but my face is suddenly aging instead of getting "better".

Started CS two years ago so I'm surrounded by 20 yr old brats - then I feel like 45.
 
I started going to college at the age of 22. I'm in the second semester now at the age of 25. The other students think I'm their age, lol. I worked for maybe 10 days in total so far

someone beat that
 
Graduating university in 2 weeks, feels like I'm in the middle of high school. Almost 23, feeling the same as a kid. Maybe less energy, but mostly the same.
 
abunai said:
Graduating university in 2 weeks, feels like I'm in the middle of high school. Almost 23, feeling the same as a kid. Maybe less energy, but mostly the same.
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Can people describe what they mean by this? Like, did they expect to stop having fun or something? My parents always had pretty fun lives, so I never thought that was going to be an issue
 
I'm 24 and feel like a kid that moonlights as an adult when people are looking. I am halfway towards being done with my PhD, own outright my home and car, have been saving for retirement, am engaged to be wed fall 2014, and have had considerable success in my social life.

At the end of the day though, when it's just me and my fiancee, we fucking use baby talk all the time, fart on each other, love lounging around in bed, still watch cartoons, play some video games, and generally still feel energetic and not at all old. Partially, this might be because I work out more now; as a kid I never exercised once I quit youth sports when I was around 10, so from 10-19 I basically go out of shape and lethargic. Ever since I went to college around the time I turned 19, I worked out consistently, and I think that helps keep me feeling younger.
 
Featheredkitten said:
Never!!

Ikea is pretty boss for storage solutions, did you see the pull out drawers they have for kitchens?
Click to expand...

We're probably going to get an Ikea kitchen when we renovate in a couple of years. Currently we're looking there for shelves to put in one of our wardrobes. Also greasy, greasy meatballs.
 
Turning 35 on the 21st.

Moved out when I was 24. Married w/house at 26. Still married to the same crazy ass chick today. Love her to pieces because the two of us combine forces and become super dumb.

I act dumb as hell, myself. Probably around the 15 year mark. My brain hasn't grown since and I'm good with it.

Of course I'm serious at times... Usually when I need to step my game up online ;P
 
The Technomancer said:
Can people describe what they mean by this? Like, did they expect to stop having fun or something? My parents always had pretty fun lives, so I never thought that was going to be an issue
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i've always seen my father as extremely serious, ever since I was a child. He always brought his work home and didn't spend much time playing with us(children). So yeah, atleast for me I've always imagined becoming an adult is to stop having fun :D
 
I'm 30, trying to pretend I'm still a kid.

Every time I do kid-like stuff I hurt myself though, and more and more often it lasts for months rather than the weeks it took to heal. I may not feel like an adult, but I sure do feel like I'm getting old.
 
Turning 25 in a couple of days, still feels like I'm 18.

Get balloons and and old friend in the room, and we're both 8. LOL.
 
The Technomancer said:
Can people describe what they mean by this? Like, did they expect to stop having fun or something? My parents always had pretty fun lives, so I never thought that was going to be an issue
Click to expand...

For me feeling like a kid hasn't happened since I was, well, a kid. I stopped really doing more crazy things (used to blow stuff up, go on "adventures", etc) when I was like 15. My parents never did anything that I'd consider fun and it seemed that everything they did that was exciting was back in the 70s. It kind of dragged me down a bit when I would hear about other kids going on vacations and actually looking forward to spending time with their parents and telling tales of what they did and I was thinking "what the hell are your parents like 20?"
 
23.

I don't feel like an adult, I don't exactly feel younger either though.

I've gotten a lot worse since I was a teenager. I've essentially regressed to the point where I don't communicate with anyone unless I absolutely have to (job). I've been stagnating for years. Just looking up old posts from other forums and messages I've sent from about a decade ago is really depressing. Like a completely different person that died at some point and was replaced with something lesser.

Given my track record it's unlikely that I'll ever "feel" like an adult.
 
I'm 22, but I certainly don't feel older by any means. The funny thing is I've noticed that older person tendencies sort of snuck up on me. For example, out of my roommates I manage the bills, I keep things in order with house repair, I'm the old man telling people to turn the lights off when they leave the room, etc.
 
DrSlek said:
We're probably going to get an Ikea kitchen when we renovate in a couple of years. Currently we're looking there for shelves to put in one of our wardrobes. Also greasy, greasy meatballs.
Click to expand...

I've seen some really nice hybrid Ikea/Vintage kitchens...My closet is too small for shelves, but damn, i love their setups.
 
Yep...I'm 26, have a good job and a great girlfriend....but I still play games, enjoy traveling to fighting game tournaments, and super heroes etc...but I do find myself having older tendencies such as avoiding clubs and being out really late.

My girlfriend told me yesterday I am like a big child because I was excited that we are going to the zoo this weekend...haha
 
The Technomancer said:
Can people describe what they mean by this? Like, did they expect to stop having fun or something? My parents always had pretty fun lives, so I never thought that was going to be an issue
Click to expand...

For me, when I was a kid "growing up" was when everything made sense, everyone who was older had control over their life. But really, adults have no idea what they're doing most of the time. Like kids, who got old.
 
Kurdel said:
People who "still feel like a kid" must go back and read either your old Facebook posts or your internet posting history.

I am 25 and own my own house, and I cannot be more removed from the 18 year old idiot that I once was.
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I'm so very glad that facebook and twitter weren't invented until I was a relatively mature college student
 
I'm 24.

Someone on the bus told me today I look and 'feel' like 19-20. I have basically never worked. I still struggle with social anxiety at times. I have a hard time living on my own and still lean on my mother from time to time.

And I recently had a crush on an 18-year old, and he intimidates me with his maturity and outlook on life. Yep, I kind of do feel like a kid.
 
I just bought a car for the first time and got a full-time job.

I feel like those younger years are dreams of another life now, and i'm only just about 24.
 
Yes, very much so.
Featheredkitten said:
Here's the secret:

No one ever feels like an adult. We're all just faking it. We look at others and figure that they have it all planned out, they have a handle on their lives, but it's not true. No one really knows what they're doing.
Click to expand...
This is comforting, sort of.
 
At 25, I'm not always necessarily mature (especially when I'm joking around with the guys), but I definitely feel like an adult. I think that may be a recent change though, because at 23 I'm pretty sure I still felt like a kid.
 
Featheredkitten said:
Truth, it especially hits home for me when my son looks me the same way I looked at my parents...like they just knew how the world works, their place in it, *sigh*. It's a sad day when you realize your parents are human, and they know no more about the world than you.
Click to expand...

I must be weird because I always thought my parents were kinda dumb growing up. I never felt like they had all the answers or anything like that, because they didn't.
When I realized that they weren't dumb, just human, that made things a whole lot more balanced and better in our relationship.
 
You most certainly feel older once you start your thirties. Physically, injuries take longer to heal, you tire more easily.

I'm still mentally like a kid in regards to stuff like toys, movies and video games, but definitely more mature in some regards.
 
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