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AIBU?

To think being a child is better than being an adult?

28 replies

MontyandMabelthepenguins · 08/10/2017 00:22

I think so. DH doesn't, neither does DS or DD (early 20s)...

What do you think?

OP posts:

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TurquoiseChevrotain · 08/10/2017 00:34

Both have positives/negatives. I think adulthood is probably better overall.

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HappyLollipop · 08/10/2017 00:34

Being a child is way better than being an adult, I had not a care in world back then now all I do is stress over everything. It's a shame that when your young all you want is to become an adult and when your an adult all you want is to be a kid again!

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corythatwas · 08/10/2017 00:40

I think some people are better suited to being children and some are better suited to being adults. I had a very happy childhood, kind parents, on good terms with my siblings, was myself well behaved and studious.

But I didn't enjoy being under other people's authority as much as I enjoy being my own boss as an adult. I did my best not to let it show, but it was a great relief for me to grow up and have my own life. It was not that there was anything wrong with my particular childhood; it was the condition of childhood itself that did not agree with me.

When challenges and difficulties come now, they are my challenges and my difficulties: to me that sense of freedom far outweighs the stress of having to deal with them.

I imagine my youngest is very like me: again, he tries hard to be polite about it, but I imagine adulthood is going to come as a relief to him.

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BriechonCheese · 08/10/2017 00:42

Hmm it is if you have a decent childhood.
Mine was frightening, panic stricken and damaging and by virtue of being a child I had no say and zero chance of escape.

I have many pressures as an adult but I'm not trapped.

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Haggisfish · 08/10/2017 00:43

Personally yanbu! I love other people organising things and me and loved that feeling of safety and comfort.

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GrockleBocs · 08/10/2017 00:48

Being me at 3 was really good. Just me. Happy parents. All the skills, no accountability. 28 was pretty good but I think 3 wins.

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corythatwas · 08/10/2017 00:51

From what my parents tell me, by age 3 I was already firmly of the opinion that everything would be better managed if I was in charge. I have never really wavered from that stance

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WeirdAndPissedOff · 08/10/2017 00:52

I guess it's one of those things that depends on the person you are, the kind of life you live, and the stage if life you're at.
I often feel nostalgic for my childhood - while it was never perfect, I remember great times surrounded by family, supported and with none of the stress I have now. But I'm sure back then I had problems which seemed equally as consuming at the time, as well as the lack of understanding because "you're a child and you don't have any problems compared to us".

I've been debating with 15 year old Dsis a lot recently over whether school or work is "better", and have actually changed my stance. While the debate went over all the usual points, it also reminded me of all the things I hated about school that I've glossed over in my memories - the social anxieties, coming home to several hours homework, and the condescension you perceived from some of the teachers.

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Barabajagal · 08/10/2017 00:54

A child is powerless, so no. It’s better to be an adult.

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steff13 · 08/10/2017 00:54

When you're a kid, you think being an adult means staying up as late as you want, watching R-rated movies, and eating as much ice cream and cookies as you want.

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IrenetheQuaint · 08/10/2017 00:55

I love being an adult! It's so great having control over my own life and making my own decisions all the time. Much preferable to childhood IMO.

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corythatwas · 08/10/2017 00:56

Isn't it, steff13? I'm still awake, there is icecream in the freezer (not a bad idea, now you mention it) and I've just been watching a thriller.

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NikiBabe · 08/10/2017 00:57

When you're a child you can dream about wanting to be an astronaut and actually believe you can do it. You dont know just how shit the world really is.

As adults, we know all the reasons why things cant be done and the world is a disappointing place.

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Cantseethewoods · 08/10/2017 00:57

Being an adult is way better, other than bills and taxes.

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FixItUpChappie · 08/10/2017 00:59

Depends on how safe, stable and loving your parent are and your luck of circumstances. Some childhoods are hell. Unfortunately

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MyLittleDragon · 08/10/2017 01:04

It would depend largely on your actual childhood, I imagine.

I was fearful and overlooked emotionally for much of mine so no, I don't feel being a child was better. For me, things got better as I got older and more independent. I enjoy shaping my own life instead of having adults shape it for me (often stupidly and/or illogically).

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BeALert · 08/10/2017 01:08

For me no, being an adult is much better than being a child was.

When you're a kid, you think being an adult means staying up as late as you want, watching R-rated movies, and eating as much ice cream and cookies as you want.

...which is pretty much how it's turned out.

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NoCryLilSoftSoft · 08/10/2017 01:10

Depends on what sort of childhood you had. I much prefer adulthood. I can shut myself away from all the weirdness If I want. No-one makes me eat yucky stuff either.

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bigbluedustbin · 08/10/2017 06:37

I hated being a child, couldn’t pay me to be one again.

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KityGlitr · 08/10/2017 07:42

How people answer this depends on their childhoods, every time! Mine was lovely up until 12 (then parental divorce but continued cohabitation, brother in prison, severe chronic pain issues and bullying) made it all turn sour. As such I have always much preferred being an adult due to having control over my life. I hate as a child you're powerless to stop going to school even if it's hell, can't really go to doctors alone and nobody believes something is seriously wrong cos you're too young, you can't just move out if your housemates are at war. Whenever people talk about wishing they were kids again I always think how incredibly lucky I am to be an adult with agency over my own life, I'd take freedom and bills and responsibilities over being a powerless minor anyway. I am lucky I lived to grow up.

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Loopytiles · 08/10/2017 07:48

Perhaps your DC will change their minds if they work FT for 20 years and have high housing costs and/or DCs.

In my early 20s I had practical and sometimes financial help from parents, a job that paid enough to rent a room in a nice shared house, buy clothes, socialise and travel lots, and few responsibilities. BEst of both worlds! Was lucky.

My observation of my DCs’ childhood so far is that they get very little autonomy: they are told what to do a LOT.

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allthegoodusernameshavegone · 08/10/2017 07:50

I had a magical childhood, but being an adult is far better, I wouldn't want to do it all again.

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MsPassepartout · 08/10/2017 07:51

On the whole, I prefer being an adult to being a child.

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museumum · 08/10/2017 07:53

I had a happy childhood but it was quite limited - university really opened my eyes to all the possibilities. Being a young independent adult was amazing!
Being a parent is more tiring and worrying but is still choose it over being a child.

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Loopytiles · 08/10/2017 07:54

I liked adulthood more before buying a property and becoming a parent. Feel trapped in FT work / commuting.