Childhood misconceptions about adulthood?

[UrsTx]

"Grease" was on TV today and, watching "it way back when" as a 10 year old (I had no idea what most of it even meant - it just had fun music), it reminded me of the things I thought would automatically happen in the future. Like high schoolers looked like 25 yr old people, everyone automatically knew the same dance steps, you were supposed to be with your high school sweetheart forever so you better pick right, and you have to change who you are to get the boy.

What did you imagine adulthood would be like based on childhood toys, TV, or movies?

Another: I would be shaped like Barbie when I grew up. Just because my mom didn't look like her meant nothing because my mom is Asian and Barbie is an American. Suffice it to say, I do NOT have Barbie's figure, nor her hair, nor her clothes...

 

[distracts]

ahahahhaha YES to the "high schoolers looking like 25 year olds." My husband and I often marvel over that on tv, that people who are my age or sometimes older are playing 16-year-olds.

I thought being an adult meant I could eat all the candy I want. Joke's on me - I feel really ill if I eat too much candy now! Just like my mom always said would happen if I ate too much!

Also, I didn't think I'd turn into my mom. But I have. Oh my god. Everything my mother ever said has turned out to be true. It would be appalling, except my mother is genuinely a great person.

And based on tv shows like Friends, I thought all my friends and I would live in apartments right by each other and hang out 24/7. But no! They keep moving to different cities and being busy with work. It's so uncool.

 

[mochiko42]

As a kid, I thought that grown ups knew everything, but now I realize that everyone's just winging it..

 

[mochiko42]

ahahahhaha YES to the "high schoolers looking like 25 year olds." My husband and I often marvel over that on tv, that people who are my age or sometimes older are playing 16-year-olds.

I thought being an adult meant I could eat all the candy I want. Joke's on me - I feel really ill if I eat too much candy now! Just like my mom always said would happen if I ate too much!

Also, I didn't think I'd turn into my mom. But I have. Oh my god. Everything my mother ever said has turned out to be true. It would be appalling, except my mother is genuinely a great person.

And based on tv shows like Friends, I thought all my friends and I would live in apartments right by each other and hang out 24/7. But no! They keep moving to different cities and being busy with work. It's so uncool.

True, I'm more like my mom than I ever expected I would be..... Both the good and the bad..

 

[missy]

I thought being an adult would be the best thing ever. Free from parental rules and school restrictions and studying and free from tests and stress. HA. How wrong was I. I thought once I was an "adult" (whatever that really means because I sort of don't feel like an adult yet) I would be able to do exactly what I wanted without any restrictions and that my life would be stress free. Nope. We just changed one set of rules and restrictions for another. And now ALL the responsibilities are on us.

Still, I don't long for those "carefree" days of childhood because honestly they lasted only a short while and the freedom that *does* come with being an adult is good and I gladly take the responsibility that comes with that freedom. So I do prefer being at this stage than 40 years ago even though life is not and I can see will never be stress free and peaceful. Not until we are gone from this world I guess and I am in no rush for that!

 

[diamondringlover]

I thought being an adult would be the best thing ever. Free from parental rules and school restrictions and studying and free from tests and stress. HA. How wrong was I. I thought once I was an "adult" (whatever that really means because I sort of don't feel like an adult yet) I would be able to do exactly what I wanted without any restrictions and that my life would be stress free. Nope. We just changed one set of rules and restrictions for another. And now ALL the responsibilities are on us.

Still, I don't long for those "carefree" days of childhood because honestly they lasted only a short while and the freedom that *does* come with being an adult is good and I gladly take the responsibility that comes with that freedom. So I do prefer being at this stage than 40 years ago even though life is not and I can see will never be stress free and peaceful. Not until we are gone from this world I guess and I am in no rush for that!

this is exactly how i felt...and i am trying to tell that to my 18 year old son who just graduated high school and refuses to go to college..ugh...adult life is exhausting....

 

[kenny]

I assumed I'd get married (to a woman) and have kids.

 

[tyty333]

That adults got to do all the fun stuff because they didn't have anyone telling them what to do. Boy was I wrong!

 

[jordyonbass]

I thought I would grow up. I am 27 and still waiting for it to happen...

 

[iLander]

I SWORE I wouldn't get married until I was "at LEAST 30" and I was going to go to NYC and direct commercials.

I married DH when I wasn't even 22, and I can't stand NYC for more than a month at a time.

But I have a career I enjoy and husband that I love for 30+ years.

So it worked out for the best.

 

[arkieb1]

That everything will be so much better and more fun when you are older....

 

[missy]

I thought I would grow up. I am 27 and still waiting for it to happen...

Haha you might have a long wait. I'm 49 (will be 50 this August) and I am still waiting.

 

[Zizzy]

That getting mail would be the most exciting thing ever. I couldn't believe why my dad wasn't more enthusiastic about all the brown envelopes at the breakfast table.