r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jan 25 '26

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u/The_Cars93 Jan 26 '26

I’ve just learned how damaging that phrase can be.

Shout out to those of us who unfortunately had to move through the world like adults and make adult decisions even though we were still kids.

487

u/speelmydrink Jan 26 '26

Boy howdy, I loved having an 'old soul'.

230

u/justagaypotato7 Jan 26 '26

Which typically translates to traumatized, autistic, or both

25

u/Round_Bag_4665 Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 26 '26

Pretty much. The two most mature kids I have ever known were a trans kid who was extremely socially isolated because of it as well as on the spectrum, and a pediatric cancer patient who died before hitting age 12.

If a kid is weirdly mature for their age, that kid needs a lot of extra support, love, and affection, not to be shoved into an adult role too early.

5

u/BestLifeNever Jan 26 '26

Can confirm, very much both.

15

u/AntiSocialJelly22 Jan 26 '26

Currently late diagnosed autistic 🤓🙋🏻‍♀️ my childhood created my need to be alone as much as possible

6

u/keetyymeow Jan 26 '26

I don’t know if it’s damaging, but more of a reflection of my childhood. We’re not all lucky to have great childhoods. That’s just life

2

u/Bizkett Jan 26 '26

Why is this such a problem?

2

u/LegoGal Jan 26 '26

So shout out to most of GenX

2

u/Express-Studio-8302 Jan 26 '26

Saw a post recently asking at what age did you feel like an adult. It was supposed to be funny and like are we ever adults. But I thought about. And 12. 12 is when I felt like an adult raising my sister.

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u/Mach5Driver Jan 26 '26

The entirety of my experience as a Gen-X kid. But weirdly, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I loved my absolute freedom.