This is too relatable! I'm an adult but I still feel like a child in many ways. I know I should grow up but I don't want to leave my childlike sense of awe and wonder at the simplest things behind. The world is just so confusing and honestly scary sometimes, so I love going back to the things that bring me comfort. Btw, I brought not one, but three stuffed animals to college, so you can too!
Let me tell you, I'm 23 and I still would have a hard time parting or giving away my stuffed animals! They're those sentimental inanimate objects that taught you how to give love to something. They sit unashamedly in the attic, in fact, each of my siblings and I have our own bin, to pass onto our kids some day, or, just keep for ourselves. ;)
So don't guilt trip yourself, just saying! :P
Grow up, yes, there are joys abundant in it, but don't rush the sentimentality of childhood. You have the rest of your life to be an adult. And it will come, on its own, each year and six months bringing change, perspective, wisdom, and maturity.
And, if you rock it with confidence, you could totally bring Curious George to college. ;) Confidence goes a long way.
This is such a real depiction of growing up 🥹🥲 Have you ever heard the song “Don’t Throw Out My Legos”? I relate to a lot of this and it made me think of that song.
I totally feel this, especially because my friend group has always been a few years older than me, and thus I thought I had to grow up quickly to match them.
Now, I look back and wish I hadn't made myself grow so quickly. I could have enjoyed being a kid for a little longer.
and now I've kinda done a full circle back, so that I can feel like a tall child again :P being old isn't all it's cracked up to be.
and, just saying, I still have all my childhood stuffed animals - tucked away on my shelf 🙃
yup :') and then once you realize it, and you want to go back, it's too late *sigh* but we've got long roads ahead of us, and lots of changing on those roads. can't spend all my time mourning the lost me, I've gotta try to find the new me. the me made stronger by my childhood
That inner young person never leaves you. As your body ages and others see you as an "elderly" person, inside you will still be that crazy kid! Take it from one who knows!
I feel that so much. I'm right at that part of my life too, going through all my books and realizing I'm too old for American Girl and Boxcar Children and so many other children's books...but I can't give them up. Not yet. You're not alone!
(And yet again, your writing is incredibly beautiful. I don't know how you do it. 😍)
Listen, if anyone is laughing at you for having a stuffed animal literally drop them. My dad brought his stuffed monkey to college. He told my siblings and me this many times and we have never batted an eyelash because we grew up knowing it's totally okay to keep things from childhood and let them become a part of your adult life rather than a relic.
My sister and I just bought my dad another stuffed bear this past Christmas because he was just the type my dad loves. now he sits with his other stuffed animals above my parent's bed watching everyone. My sisters and I have always kept our old dolls and animals and set them on our beds each night. We range from 18-24. It's not weird or childish. It's just friends you have, and why get rid of them?
I understand your dilemma of growing up and navigating feeling young while growing older. I dealt with it a lot at 15-16 (still do. Just wrote a whole essay on it) and came up with a philosophy then about how some of what is childish is just things we first learned as children that we need to carry with us always and are just parts of life. Some things like climbing trees, swinging, buying a bear, aren't for children. They are for people.
Sorry, that was a lot. This is something I am passionate about, if you couldn't tell. lol.
I totally agree, Mandalynn. Maybe growing up was never about stopping doing things, but about never stopping doing them and learning to see them from a different perspective. He told us to be like children, after all. And never apologize for talking about what you are passionate about. At the end of the day, that is all that's worth talking about. 😊
Hey, I mean, the brain only finishes developing at twenty-five... so I think as a teen you're allowed comforts, even if they seem childish. I don't have any stuffies, but I do still have a favourite blanket that I wear every moment I can. It makes me feel safe, it's part of who I am, I don't think it makes me a child :D
just saying u can totally take George to college
XD maybe i will
This is too relatable! I'm an adult but I still feel like a child in many ways. I know I should grow up but I don't want to leave my childlike sense of awe and wonder at the simplest things behind. The world is just so confusing and honestly scary sometimes, so I love going back to the things that bring me comfort. Btw, I brought not one, but three stuffed animals to college, so you can too!
Let me tell you, I'm 23 and I still would have a hard time parting or giving away my stuffed animals! They're those sentimental inanimate objects that taught you how to give love to something. They sit unashamedly in the attic, in fact, each of my siblings and I have our own bin, to pass onto our kids some day, or, just keep for ourselves. ;)
So don't guilt trip yourself, just saying! :P
Grow up, yes, there are joys abundant in it, but don't rush the sentimentality of childhood. You have the rest of your life to be an adult. And it will come, on its own, each year and six months bringing change, perspective, wisdom, and maturity.
And, if you rock it with confidence, you could totally bring Curious George to college. ;) Confidence goes a long way.
ughhhh I love this so muchhhh also like just redid my room too haha
This is such a real depiction of growing up 🥹🥲 Have you ever heard the song “Don’t Throw Out My Legos”? I relate to a lot of this and it made me think of that song.
yess i love that song (and ajr :D) definitely a reflection of how i felt writing this post
I totally feel this, especially because my friend group has always been a few years older than me, and thus I thought I had to grow up quickly to match them.
Now, I look back and wish I hadn't made myself grow so quickly. I could have enjoyed being a kid for a little longer.
and now I've kinda done a full circle back, so that I can feel like a tall child again :P being old isn't all it's cracked up to be.
and, just saying, I still have all my childhood stuffed animals - tucked away on my shelf 🙃
its so weird bc we have the desire to be old and grow up but dont realize it comes at the cost of sacrificing our childhood :/
yup :') and then once you realize it, and you want to go back, it's too late *sigh* but we've got long roads ahead of us, and lots of changing on those roads. can't spend all my time mourning the lost me, I've gotta try to find the new me. the me made stronger by my childhood
That inner young person never leaves you. As your body ages and others see you as an "elderly" person, inside you will still be that crazy kid! Take it from one who knows!
I feel that so much. I'm right at that part of my life too, going through all my books and realizing I'm too old for American Girl and Boxcar Children and so many other children's books...but I can't give them up. Not yet. You're not alone!
(And yet again, your writing is incredibly beautiful. I don't know how you do it. 😍)
omg boxcar children will live in my heart for eternity (tyyy <3)
Listen, if anyone is laughing at you for having a stuffed animal literally drop them. My dad brought his stuffed monkey to college. He told my siblings and me this many times and we have never batted an eyelash because we grew up knowing it's totally okay to keep things from childhood and let them become a part of your adult life rather than a relic.
My sister and I just bought my dad another stuffed bear this past Christmas because he was just the type my dad loves. now he sits with his other stuffed animals above my parent's bed watching everyone. My sisters and I have always kept our old dolls and animals and set them on our beds each night. We range from 18-24. It's not weird or childish. It's just friends you have, and why get rid of them?
I understand your dilemma of growing up and navigating feeling young while growing older. I dealt with it a lot at 15-16 (still do. Just wrote a whole essay on it) and came up with a philosophy then about how some of what is childish is just things we first learned as children that we need to carry with us always and are just parts of life. Some things like climbing trees, swinging, buying a bear, aren't for children. They are for people.
Sorry, that was a lot. This is something I am passionate about, if you couldn't tell. lol.
I totally agree, Mandalynn. Maybe growing up was never about stopping doing things, but about never stopping doing them and learning to see them from a different perspective. He told us to be like children, after all. And never apologize for talking about what you are passionate about. At the end of the day, that is all that's worth talking about. 😊
Hey, I mean, the brain only finishes developing at twenty-five... so I think as a teen you're allowed comforts, even if they seem childish. I don't have any stuffies, but I do still have a favourite blanket that I wear every moment I can. It makes me feel safe, it's part of who I am, I don't think it makes me a child :D
but also... YOU LISTEN TO MITSKI???