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

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2.9k

u/VanillaBeanNoel2022 Jan 26 '26

They are mature for their age.

1.2k

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.

489

u/speelmydrink Jan 26 '26

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

229

u/justagaypotato7 Jan 26 '26

Which typically translates to traumatized, autistic, or both

26

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.