What is it with people and the idea of being “grown up”?

[ChiChaNaYubi]

Spent another evening with family being told my husband and I are “childish” and “how old are you?” And “when are you going to grow up?”

I just find it all so strange. We are grownups. We own 2 properties, have careers, children, we pay bills, drive sensible cars etc.

Yet because we enjoy gaming, playing Pokémon go on walks, having nerf gun wars, skating etc we are just looked down on and treated like idiots. I see it on here sometimes as well with people looking down on adults who enjoy Disney or wearing dungarees for example.

What is this weird obsession with conforming to a set idea of what a grown up should look like?

Aibu to think it doesn’t matter how people spend their downtime when the daily grind is done? Do you feel like this or have people who make comments like this?

Pastimes of 30+ years ago are not the same. So adult now is not what it was 30 +years ago. You can Let it go.

Some people confuse maturity with being boring.

It’s not about an obsession with conformity - it’s just what you like is unusual for people your age.

It's not usual at all. Of the many adults I know I'd wager many if not most of them enjoy things like Lego, theme parks, colouring books, Pokémon go, paintballing, Disney and gaming. Things that many other more grown up adults sneer at and think are below them. I'd actually be more surprised to meet someone in aged 30-40 who didn't enjoy gaming as it was likely such a huge part of their childhood.

Exactly, @Refrosty The OP is definitely managing life’s essential tasks and what she does in her downtime is her business.

Unusual?

www.statista.com/statistics/300513/gaming-by-demographic-group-uk/

Have a look at the ages , you might be surprised.

Calling it unusual is assigning the same kind of judgement, based on purely subjective opinion.

Hang on to the child in you. I have and I'm 76. Worked, raised a family, gone through various stages of life. But the child that was Me in the mid 1950s is still very much the Me I am now. I still enjoy being creative, making things, using my imagination just as I did then. Life shouldn't become a terrribly, terribly serious matter as you get older in years. Live!

For theme parks.

•	Millennial parents (78%) and non-parents (75%) are more likely than all parents (59%) to say they’re interested in visiting a theme park in the next year.
•	They’re also more likely to rationalize the cost: 62% of millennial parents and 65% of childless millennials say a theme park is a good value for the price, compared to 50% of all parents.

This - as long as nobody is hurt by your hobbies, what does it matter? I have a very serious responsible job and still like a few things others might see as tacky or childish.

I started playing Pokémon Go to encourage DS1 out of the house - now I play more than him! My code is 6761 9684 0512.

People who are bitchy/playground bully types I do think to myself ‘grow up’

You're spot on @Bumble84

Behaviour certainly can be childish.
Pastimes & hobbies are there for everyone to enjoy.

Personally, I would have no interest in being friends with someone whose interests can all be found in a toyshop. That would be boring to me. I have an autistic son and his special interest was pokemon for years, it was an absolute snorefest to me. I wouldn't say that to you though, I would just give you a wide berth because we are very different people. It's the same with Disney adults, we are just very different people but I'd keep my opinions to myself.

I think if you enjoy it and you're having fun then it's completely up to you.

Regard's what others think then yeah they will think it's childish because it's children who usually enjoy that kind of play, most adults actually don't enjoy nerf guns (they'd probably like gaming though if they tried it).

Don't try to redefine what the meaning of "childish" is though, and question why society is like this. That's just pointless.

Carry on, have fun and ignore others.

I think you and your DH sound like a good laugh and more likely to keep old age at bay with your fun hobbies- enjoy!

I've had this too and just don't get it. People have so many weird rules about what you should and shouldn't do at different ages.

No fun. Only certain types of hobbies. Or friends. Or behaviours.

As far as I'm concerned what a grown adult does in there own time (so long as it's legal) should be left alone.

I'm at my parents this weekend and dad and I discussed what computer games we enjoyed playing before and now. I am 50 he is 76.

I then discussed the movie I'd seen last week that my nephew of 11 had also seen (dungeons and dragons)

My interests are my interests. Not sure what grown up hobbies are?

Stay young at heart I say :)

This is such a bizarre attitude. You know you can be friends with people who have very different interests to you don't you or that people can be interested in more than one thing? You won't be magically corrupted by being friends with someone who enjoys Disney or board games.

I added you both @ISaySteadyOn and @SockQueen 😀

I get this a lot (apparently going to the Natural History Museum to look at the dinosaurs is 'childish', I was told not long ago). People are just odd.

My interests are very similar to yours.
I get so bored at "adult" events. I don't want to talk about fucking investments and school catchments. I do though, and I don't ridicule the boring types because I'm not a cunt.
It says so much more about them than you if they tell you you're childish.
I still don't get the Disney thing though 🤣

I'm having the best time reading this thread. It began with me agreeing that being told to "grow up' was irritating. Then, I read that the OP likes to play PoGo. THEN, people are sharing trainer codes. On Mumsnet.

Well, @ChiChaNaYubi @CavalierApproach @SockQueen @SocksAndTheCity @ISaySteadyOn ....here's mine!

7923 3162 0625

My husband and I met at a Zapdos raid 5 years ago. We also own a house, are expecting our first child, and hold down proffesional jobs. OP, please continue to enjoy your life however you want to. 😊

And?

They also hurt no one. If OP enjoys them go for it.

I'm in my 50s and often do knit around the wireless, often taking a break to catch a few pokemon and check the gyms I'm occupying. I Think I'm already "friends" with @ISaySteadyOn , mind.

Pokemon go is a great grown up activity because it's something you can do actively with kids, just like geocaching.

Gosh me too.

Too much adult conversation makes me want to hide in the washing machine.

My dad has a saying "all hobbies are equally ridiculous" and I kind of agree. Ultimately, anything that isn't working/housekeeping/child rearing/life admin is slightly frivolous and someone will probably find it silly. But equally life would be bloody miserable if all we did was finish work and sit on the sofa doing our tax returns or reading improving books about french polishing or something.

Oh god , that as well. I love the Natural History Museum ,the Science museum (especially the wonderlab and the 3D movies ) and all that kind of stuff. The added bonus is that I can do days out with DD that I actually enjoy myself so it's not a chore. Nope that's also childish, or boring or of no interest.

Mum always bitches about stuff like that despite insisting she wants to do the touristy stuff and see things and to be taken places. Crown jewels also boring, and the Tower of London. It was too hot, claustrophobic bla bla fucking bla and kept rolling her eyes at me and DD buzzing with excitement and running around and wanting to see everything. Same with the museums.

It's not childish to actually enjoy something, whatever it is as long as it doesn't harm anyone.

I've sent you a request @CannotBelieveImAskingThis 😀