I recently went on the Nostalgia subs on Reddit, and it was a stark reminder that a substantial portion of my life has passed me by. I yearn for the days of my youth where I had no care in the world.
I’m 49 and no I don’t miss them at all. Don’t get me wrong, I have very fond memories of my childhood but I like my life as much if not more the way it is today.
Only that I never packed up left and never looked back. I should have taken up a boyfriend’s suggestion to just leave. The only great times were at friend’s houses.
Everyone knew what the “adults” at my address were like.
No. I had a horribly abusive narc mother who made my existence hell for decades. My life only became tolerable once I went low/no contact with her. As an adult I have the autonomy to let who I want in my life and shame free take part in the things I personally find most meaningful.
yes and no. do i miss being a kid? not really. do i miss being a teenager? more so. not that it was the question but i guess i miss my 20s more than either. i’m 40 btw.
i think most people do tbh it’s a very common feeling, but ofc only for those who had a good childhood, not for the people who escaped abusive families etc. no responsibilites, discovering the word, family alive, didn’t notice all the sadness around us
Fucking no. I’m 31 and at this stage I have a career and a family. I grew up in an emotionally abusive home and I finally feel like im a grounded person with goals and direction. As a teen, I just existed.
Life was easier, but it was also nothing. I have clear purpose now and people in my life who matter. I would never wish to be a teenager ever again
Yes – being like 7 years old, having energy to play multiple sports, school was easy, biggest concern was can I go to the sleepover or not. Not understanding big worries or adult concerns, especially the way the country is right now. Putting those vinyl cling Halloween stickers on the window, buying Valentine’s Day candy for the whole class, having a summer break just playing outside most of the day.
Take me back
Edit: I was fortunate to have a calm, stable childhood (mostly) and realize it might not be the same for others. I’m grateful and hope those that had a tough childhood are now enjoying a better life as an adult
Yeah, I low-key have been having an exestinal crisis. I miss being a kid and its simplicity. I’d do anything to go back to like 2010. Even 2017 or 2018 would be cool.
I did, until I started living for myself and by nobody else’s rules.
Lots of people and things left my life for a time, and then as I settled into my newfound happiness new people started showing up- and they are much healthier people than those who I had in my life before.
I think the only thing I miss is all the outdoorsy games of tag/40-40 in/ hide and seek/ running around without getting tired and climbing trees. There are other things about childhood that I definitely wouldn’t want to live through twice. I would absolutely not be a teenager again.
No, I had a bit of a shit childhood and was very sick. The 90s were a much better time, but I didn’t really get to enjoy them. Things definitely suck now, though.
I don’t miss when I was a teenager, but I honestly really miss spring of 2020 (I was 19 though but in college). I got to live at home again with my family, went to work almost full time at a job that never scheduled me that much because they were only allowing a few workers to be scheduled during covid, and going back to college in the fall allowed me to make a ton of new friends in my major because I was always too anxious to talk to people because there were too many around.
Covid was the only time I felt “safe” if that makes sense, as a very anxious person. I also had the most amount of money I had ever saved up in my life and was able to afford a Nintendo Switch without feeling guilty, plus I had motivation to do the chores that I never liked that I no longer do as much as I should.
So much weight was lifted off my shoulders during covid, and as soon as everything opened back up again, the weight was put back on my shoulders but even heavier. I know most people had the opposite experience as me, but people with severe anxiety really loved covid.
Every day. I remember the days wishing I was older so I could do whatever I wanted. I distinctly remember relatives warning me that my childhood would be over before I knew it. They were right.
Hindsight is most definitely 20/20 and knowing what I know now there’s definitely things I wish I could go back and change. But time marches forward and if you spend all that time looking backwards you’re just wasting what time you got left.
Hard to say. I’m 24 in college rn and my life isn’t really all that different from when I was a teen. I do miss the days when I didn’t have bills though 😂
Not really. I’m 32 and my life was significantly better once I got into my 20s. I didn’t have a terrible childhood or anything, but I hated so much having to answer to my parents and everyone else, not having money or a car or any real freedom. Once I got into my early 20s I got a decent job, got my own house, and being free and independent is the best thing ever for me.
Daily, but I wouldn’t want to go back and make the same dumb choices I did back then. I had a great childhood compared to so many of my friends and relatives, and my parents are still around to reminisce on the days of my youth. I’m grateful for that until my dad brings up my dumbest choices. And he always does. 🙃
No, I do think back with nostalgia though. But I wouldn’t want to go back, I love my kids and my wife too much, I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made in life.
I don’t know you or your childhood, but in case this is relevant; I think it’s common for (some) people who had a sucky high school experience to have an incredible adult life.
I think this is simply down to having to re-invent yourself many times over from a young age.
Speaking from personal experience, as a kid I found it really hard to make friends, I was largely an outsider. I knew everything had to change, so I changed everything:
– After high school I had a soft launch of “me 2.0” and it didn’t work at all
– I re-invented myself again in art college. Changed my clothes/personality everything, didn’t work great but was a little better.
– I got a third shot at university which is where something landed and I got to experience (marginal) popularity.
– Fourth time was leaving University to join my first REAL job where I crushed the re-brand and finally felt like a culture maker (albeit corporate)
– The next job, did it again, the next job again, next job again, until I finally realized that adapting my personality/hobbies and choices to have the best possible life in any given situation required no thought and was better not just for me, but everyone around me.
I have an incredibly happy life now and can’t see anything really changing that.
The reason i’m telling you this is to let you know that if you’re unhappy, you can just COMPLETELY change yourself/situation/outlook etc and it WILL change your trajectory.
It takes a LOT of time and active effort at the beginning.
But the more you do it, the easier it will become.
Don’t waste your time missing childhood.
If you do it right, adulthood fucking rocks.
No. I didn’t really enjoy my childhood.
Now I’m 35. Married, own a little home. Life is not perfect now, but it’s better than I had ever hoped. It didn’t really fall into place until I turned 30, when I met the woman I’d marry and bought my house within a few months of each other.
I miss the simplicity and experiences associated with being a kid or teenager, sure. But I’m 23 now, and life’s pretty great. I can drive wherever I want, with whomever I want, whenever I want (as long as it’s not during work hours).
Also, admittedly, I’m not super pleased with my job right now, but I know kid-and-teen me would be so proud that I have it. Right out of college, I found work as a journalist for a local news station. That would’ve made my young creative head spin.
In other words, the past may be gone, but I look at it fondly—especially because I know I’ll be doing the same with the present someday.
All I miss were the good parts, which were usually small, fleeting moments. Overall, I do not miss it. I do miss not having to work and pay for things.
Being a kid was awesome. Going to a friend’s house on a friday afternoon and playing gta 4: episodes from liberty city on the 360 with pizza. Great times. I miss those guys, at least they’re doing well
Only on a summer evening when you get that cold grass / earth/ evening kinda smell, reminds of being a teenager and being out on my bike as dusk falls.
Yes, I’m only 17 but at 13 I was sneaking out to frat parties and still made it to school like everything as fine, now I have to sleep atleast 9 hours and it’s till tired.
Not in the slightest. Actually i hardly go a day without being thankful that childhood is over. I mean i did have a pretty bad childhood but even in concept i dont really understand how people enjoy it. Like, the lack of control, understanding, independance, everything? You’re not even left to your own devices, you’re stuck with whatever your family is and does and you have no choice im the matter. Sounds terrifying. What do people miss about this? If its just the fun hobbies, you can still do that and if its the free time, you miss one small benefit of childhood which honestly adulthood should still have but doesn’t due to capitalism making us all have to work 8+ hours a day and pushing us to be hyper independant. But evidently thats just me
Yes. I am a 90s kid. Things are so different now. I really appreciate the childhood I had on the playground, the tv shows, the birthday parties, the summers especially summer vacation! Recess! The teenager part was interesting and I was a bit rebellious. Highschool wasn’t always fun for me, I think it was because I wasn’t like everyone else and was free spirited. Those 4 years of highschool are kind of a blur. I remember some things.
As an adult now. I’m so grateful to have those experiences and they made me what I am now. Yes I had some challenges and a lot of self growth but I am grateful. I am 33 and things are good in my 30s, the 20’s was about finding myself and working on myself. At 21, I got the call to work on myself for the rest of my life after a horrible break up with my second boyfriend. My self work went in depth in my 30’s but yes I sometimes think back to those days and miss them. I do miss having the vacations off from school, those are now replaced with PTO! 😂😂😂😂
I miss my friendships of my youth more than my youth. They were so important to me and we’ve all moved, grown apart, or broken beyond repair. I really miss them/the feelings and fun we had together.
No I hated it. I f** hated it was miserable my 20s weren’t much better honestly I didn’t really come on to knowing myself and knowing how to navigate life until I don’t know within the last 10 years I feel better now than I did when I was in my twenties I’m in better shape I’m more intelligent and I am more capable than I’ve ever been do I miss being that young no I hated the people I interacted with I don’t like much the people I interact with now but at least I’m smart enough to you know separate myself from them and as we’re when I was younger I felt I had to put on a show for everyone as to who I am or why they should you know think I’m important I don’t feel that need any longer and that’s freeing in itself especially considering half of that was to protect myself and now instead of having to protect myself with a attitude I’m more than capable of protecting myself physically.
No. I was a happy kid and I am trying to always be as happy as possible with what I am doing and wherever I am being. I am happy where I am because I worked to end here. I don’t want to backslide or go back.
I miss the early 2000s. I was in elementary school and all I had to worry about was getting good grades. I remember when my grandma used to take me and my siblings to buffets and malls back then when everything was cheap. Good times.
Yes, daily, even though at the time I couldn’t wait for them to be over.
Life hasn’t turned out even remotely how I had hoped it would, and even the bad days as a kid/teen are better than the present. If I could just go back 10 years I would change so much.
Yes. I wish I was a little older in the 90’s to remember more of it. But man, I sure miss being a kid and not having to worry about life. I’d rather worry about stepping on caterpillars and snails on the way to school than listen to politics.
I’m mentally stuck at like 9-11 years old in the same small town. It seemed like everything happened there and there was one of everything.
The town used to be functional with a supermarket a dr office a gas station a bar a gym community programs a bridge a skatepark a forest a river a pond an alley and one of everything like I said and one of every like person.
Comments
I do.
I recently went on the Nostalgia subs on Reddit, and it was a stark reminder that a substantial portion of my life has passed me by. I yearn for the days of my youth where I had no care in the world.
Not really. 40’s were the best years of my life.
Only because I miss the 90s.
I’m 49 and no I don’t miss them at all. Don’t get me wrong, I have very fond memories of my childhood but I like my life as much if not more the way it is today.
Yes, I miss not being born the most. Hahaha
Only that I never packed up left and never looked back. I should have taken up a boyfriend’s suggestion to just leave. The only great times were at friend’s houses.
Everyone knew what the “adults” at my address were like.
No. I had a horribly abusive narc mother who made my existence hell for decades. My life only became tolerable once I went low/no contact with her. As an adult I have the autonomy to let who I want in my life and shame free take part in the things I personally find most meaningful.
yes and no. do i miss being a kid? not really. do i miss being a teenager? more so. not that it was the question but i guess i miss my 20s more than either. i’m 40 btw.
i think most people do tbh it’s a very common feeling, but ofc only for those who had a good childhood, not for the people who escaped abusive families etc. no responsibilites, discovering the word, family alive, didn’t notice all the sadness around us
Fucking no. I’m 31 and at this stage I have a career and a family. I grew up in an emotionally abusive home and I finally feel like im a grounded person with goals and direction. As a teen, I just existed.
Life was easier, but it was also nothing. I have clear purpose now and people in my life who matter. I would never wish to be a teenager ever again
Yes – being like 7 years old, having energy to play multiple sports, school was easy, biggest concern was can I go to the sleepover or not. Not understanding big worries or adult concerns, especially the way the country is right now. Putting those vinyl cling Halloween stickers on the window, buying Valentine’s Day candy for the whole class, having a summer break just playing outside most of the day.
Take me back
Edit: I was fortunate to have a calm, stable childhood (mostly) and realize it might not be the same for others. I’m grateful and hope those that had a tough childhood are now enjoying a better life as an adult
Not a bit, not at all, no, Oh, Hell no!
Yeah, I low-key have been having an exestinal crisis. I miss being a kid and its simplicity. I’d do anything to go back to like 2010. Even 2017 or 2018 would be cool.
I kind of do, I distinctly remember how fun 9th,10th and 11th grade used to be
I did, until I started living for myself and by nobody else’s rules.
Lots of people and things left my life for a time, and then as I settled into my newfound happiness new people started showing up- and they are much healthier people than those who I had in my life before.
I think the only thing I miss is all the outdoorsy games of tag/40-40 in/ hide and seek/ running around without getting tired and climbing trees. There are other things about childhood that I definitely wouldn’t want to live through twice. I would absolutely not be a teenager again.
No, I had a bit of a shit childhood and was very sick. The 90s were a much better time, but I didn’t really get to enjoy them. Things definitely suck now, though.
I spent most of my younger years pretty depressed, so sometimes I wish I could enjoy that part of my life without the mental illness. Otherwise no.
Every.single.day. although, I wouldn’t trade some things i currently have. I would like to relive a couple of the days in my childhood again
yes even though they were terrible days but at least I didn’t have the responsibilities I do now
I don’t miss when I was a teenager, but I honestly really miss spring of 2020 (I was 19 though but in college). I got to live at home again with my family, went to work almost full time at a job that never scheduled me that much because they were only allowing a few workers to be scheduled during covid, and going back to college in the fall allowed me to make a ton of new friends in my major because I was always too anxious to talk to people because there were too many around.
Covid was the only time I felt “safe” if that makes sense, as a very anxious person. I also had the most amount of money I had ever saved up in my life and was able to afford a Nintendo Switch without feeling guilty, plus I had motivation to do the chores that I never liked that I no longer do as much as I should.
So much weight was lifted off my shoulders during covid, and as soon as everything opened back up again, the weight was put back on my shoulders but even heavier. I know most people had the opposite experience as me, but people with severe anxiety really loved covid.
Every day. I remember the days wishing I was older so I could do whatever I wanted. I distinctly remember relatives warning me that my childhood would be over before I knew it. They were right.
Hindsight is most definitely 20/20 and knowing what I know now there’s definitely things I wish I could go back and change. But time marches forward and if you spend all that time looking backwards you’re just wasting what time you got left.
Eh. I don’t miss being young and poor.
But sometimes I do miss being young.
The optimism of the 90s. When the future seemed like something cool and futuristic to look forward to, not something to dread.
Monoculture.
Politics just sort of humming along quietly in the background of our lives.
Hard to say. I’m 24 in college rn and my life isn’t really all that different from when I was a teen. I do miss the days when I didn’t have bills though 😂
I had a really bad childhood and my teenage years consisted of being bullied at school and beaten and bullied at home. So in a simple answer “no”.
Not really. I’m 32 and my life was significantly better once I got into my 20s. I didn’t have a terrible childhood or anything, but I hated so much having to answer to my parents and everyone else, not having money or a car or any real freedom. Once I got into my early 20s I got a decent job, got my own house, and being free and independent is the best thing ever for me.
Sure. Not all the time, but back when I was 20, I was having the time of my life. I miss having time to hang with friends and be stupid.
No
Daily, but I wouldn’t want to go back and make the same dumb choices I did back then. I had a great childhood compared to so many of my friends and relatives, and my parents are still around to reminisce on the days of my youth. I’m grateful for that until my dad brings up my dumbest choices. And he always does. 🙃
No, I do think back with nostalgia though. But I wouldn’t want to go back, I love my kids and my wife too much, I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made in life.
God I miss walking into Claire’s with my allowance money feeling like I was about to buy the most luxurious jewelry in the world.
I don’t know you or your childhood, but in case this is relevant; I think it’s common for (some) people who had a sucky high school experience to have an incredible adult life.
I think this is simply down to having to re-invent yourself many times over from a young age.
Speaking from personal experience, as a kid I found it really hard to make friends, I was largely an outsider. I knew everything had to change, so I changed everything:
– After high school I had a soft launch of “me 2.0” and it didn’t work at all
– I re-invented myself again in art college. Changed my clothes/personality everything, didn’t work great but was a little better.
– I got a third shot at university which is where something landed and I got to experience (marginal) popularity.
– Fourth time was leaving University to join my first REAL job where I crushed the re-brand and finally felt like a culture maker (albeit corporate)
– The next job, did it again, the next job again, next job again, until I finally realized that adapting my personality/hobbies and choices to have the best possible life in any given situation required no thought and was better not just for me, but everyone around me.
I have an incredibly happy life now and can’t see anything really changing that.
The reason i’m telling you this is to let you know that if you’re unhappy, you can just COMPLETELY change yourself/situation/outlook etc and it WILL change your trajectory.
It takes a LOT of time and active effort at the beginning.
But the more you do it, the easier it will become.
Don’t waste your time missing childhood.
If you do it right, adulthood fucking rocks.
Sometimes? My childhood and teen times were not great so it’s a blur to me
No
Often.
I miss when my dad was alive even though the family had been going through really rough long season of turbulence when he passed suddenly.
No. I didn’t really enjoy my childhood.
Now I’m 35. Married, own a little home. Life is not perfect now, but it’s better than I had ever hoped. It didn’t really fall into place until I turned 30, when I met the woman I’d marry and bought my house within a few months of each other.
Sometimes things work out.
The days waiting for Santa.
Yes, I have a great life, but nothing compared to the carefree freedom and health of youth.
No. I had a shit childhood. Much prefer being an adult
Some of it
Sometimes. I miss being carefree and Mom’s home cooking. But there was always good and bad throughout every stage of life.
No
I’m 18 and I already miss everyday
I miss the simplicity and experiences associated with being a kid or teenager, sure. But I’m 23 now, and life’s pretty great. I can drive wherever I want, with whomever I want, whenever I want (as long as it’s not during work hours).
Also, admittedly, I’m not super pleased with my job right now, but I know kid-and-teen me would be so proud that I have it. Right out of college, I found work as a journalist for a local news station. That would’ve made my young creative head spin.
In other words, the past may be gone, but I look at it fondly—especially because I know I’ll be doing the same with the present someday.
All I miss were the good parts, which were usually small, fleeting moments. Overall, I do not miss it. I do miss not having to work and pay for things.
Yes in a way nostalgia is painful
Teenage life was shit
Being a kid was awesome. Going to a friend’s house on a friday afternoon and playing gta 4: episodes from liberty city on the 360 with pizza. Great times. I miss those guys, at least they’re doing well
Definitely. We were poor, but as kids we didn’t care, life was carefree and fun, we didn’t worry about the state of the world.
Only on a summer evening when you get that cold grass / earth/ evening kinda smell, reminds of being a teenager and being out on my bike as dusk falls.
Yes, I’m only 17 but at 13 I was sneaking out to frat parties and still made it to school like everything as fine, now I have to sleep atleast 9 hours and it’s till tired.
Not in the slightest. Actually i hardly go a day without being thankful that childhood is over. I mean i did have a pretty bad childhood but even in concept i dont really understand how people enjoy it. Like, the lack of control, understanding, independance, everything? You’re not even left to your own devices, you’re stuck with whatever your family is and does and you have no choice im the matter. Sounds terrifying. What do people miss about this? If its just the fun hobbies, you can still do that and if its the free time, you miss one small benefit of childhood which honestly adulthood should still have but doesn’t due to capitalism making us all have to work 8+ hours a day and pushing us to be hyper independant. But evidently thats just me
Yes. I am a 90s kid. Things are so different now. I really appreciate the childhood I had on the playground, the tv shows, the birthday parties, the summers especially summer vacation! Recess! The teenager part was interesting and I was a bit rebellious. Highschool wasn’t always fun for me, I think it was because I wasn’t like everyone else and was free spirited. Those 4 years of highschool are kind of a blur. I remember some things.
As an adult now. I’m so grateful to have those experiences and they made me what I am now. Yes I had some challenges and a lot of self growth but I am grateful. I am 33 and things are good in my 30s, the 20’s was about finding myself and working on myself. At 21, I got the call to work on myself for the rest of my life after a horrible break up with my second boyfriend. My self work went in depth in my 30’s but yes I sometimes think back to those days and miss them. I do miss having the vacations off from school, those are now replaced with PTO! 😂😂😂😂
EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
When I was 12:
WHEN will you EVER be that carefree EVER again?
It makes me weep sometimes, that I shall never again feel that carefree, blissful, and unburdened.
No. I was a goth lesbian in a shitkicker town.
Yes, but late teens 17-19
I miss my friendships of my youth more than my youth. They were so important to me and we’ve all moved, grown apart, or broken beyond repair. I really miss them/the feelings and fun we had together.
No I hated it. I f** hated it was miserable my 20s weren’t much better honestly I didn’t really come on to knowing myself and knowing how to navigate life until I don’t know within the last 10 years I feel better now than I did when I was in my twenties I’m in better shape I’m more intelligent and I am more capable than I’ve ever been do I miss being that young no I hated the people I interacted with I don’t like much the people I interact with now but at least I’m smart enough to you know separate myself from them and as we’re when I was younger I felt I had to put on a show for everyone as to who I am or why they should you know think I’m important I don’t feel that need any longer and that’s freeing in itself especially considering half of that was to protect myself and now instead of having to protect myself with a attitude I’m more than capable of protecting myself physically.
I mean yeah of course. Having absolutely zero responsibilities or fucks to give is the greatest way to live.
no – i was being abused and kept it all hidden because i was loyal to a fault and didn’t know or understand myself the way that i do now
i just try to focus on positive things like the toys that made me happy and a few other things and keep it moving
I do
Not really but that’s probably cause of the dysfunctional family I was in at the time.
Yes and no, I am much happier the person I am now. If I could take what I know now and go back though I would certainly make some changes.
Only every second of every day.
Sure. In some ways life was lighter and the lack of experience made things intense. We get heavier with experience (and wiser too).
Not really since I was poor, stupid and without freedom. Everything felt like on autopilot which I could not control
No. I was a happy kid and I am trying to always be as happy as possible with what I am doing and wherever I am being. I am happy where I am because I worked to end here. I don’t want to backslide or go back.
I love remembering but we all have our time. Enjoy the memories but accept the passage of time. Enjoy the here and now cuz it’s what we have.
Never
I miss the early 2000s. I was in elementary school and all I had to worry about was getting good grades. I remember when my grandma used to take me and my siblings to buffets and malls back then when everything was cheap. Good times.
Yeah… I miss when life was all about cartoons and sleepovers. Everything felt easier back then.
Just the boy who had a big crush on me!!!!! Now a great man. Wish I liked him back lol
Yes. Time moved slower.
I miss playing in the creek and biking around with friends
Nope!
Yes, daily, even though at the time I couldn’t wait for them to be over.
Life hasn’t turned out even remotely how I had hoped it would, and even the bad days as a kid/teen are better than the present. If I could just go back 10 years I would change so much.
No. God no. I’m GenX. Nothing was in my control. I was bored all the time. I don’t miss it.
Yes. I wish I was a little older in the 90’s to remember more of it. But man, I sure miss being a kid and not having to worry about life. I’d rather worry about stepping on caterpillars and snails on the way to school than listen to politics.
Yes.
Especially during baseball season. That was my favorite part of high school.
Not even a little.
I’m mentally stuck at like 9-11 years old in the same small town. It seemed like everything happened there and there was one of everything.
The town used to be functional with a supermarket a dr office a gas station a bar a gym community programs a bridge a skatepark a forest a river a pond an alley and one of everything like I said and one of every like person.
It was like a show or something