What age did you consider yourself to be a child?

[Tinyflame]

Not a poll, but when people say 'childhood', where does that begin or end? And when are we 'adults'? And what about the time in between- what do you think, as relates I guess to anything, but especially dependence/ independence, expectation, culpability, etc.

Can anyone weigh-in? Not so much the definitions but personal thoughts or experiences. Like when people say 'childhood', when was that? I only think of myself as a child when say, under 5.

Thank you very much.

 

[Ronin]

Before Godmom / someone who was a mother figure to me and a catch-onto person while the mother was abusive, passed away. So a time I felt sheltered by some sort of a mother, no matter what else went up.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

My last T said that the brain doesn't fully become an adult until the age of 25. I would say that there are different stages of development from 0-25 for sure.

 

[Tinyflame]

I felt sheltered

Did you feel you needed it? Did you feel like a child? I felt I had to protect my parents.

@TexCat wow, I felt 25 was like, 'seniorhood'. :confused:

Thank you both. :hug:

 

[Deleted member 37474]

Did you feel you needed it? Did you feel like a child? I felt I had to protect my parents.

...

If 25 is seniorhood, I must be dead! Lol

 

[Ronin]

Did you feel like a child?

No. But I could keep some sort of a belief in a good world; she was someone I could make an entirely happier & brighter version of my childhood for. A person to build a different memory layer about, because the bits in which she was caring for in reality were my everything.

I must be dead!

That's why we're having this dance-on-the-graves oldies party. :sneaky::D

 

[Tinyflame]

Haha whole new version of the bone dance. Just call me Creaky. Or Cranky? :)

because the bits in which she was caring for in reality were my everything.

Wow @Ronin thank you. You just described the words for what trust is to me, -wow. :notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy: The importance of the 'untangibles'.

And that beautfiful feeling. :inlove: 'Everything will be all-right', to rest easy. I'm so sorry what you went through otherwise, but I'm so glad someone recognized your preciousness amongst it and you can remember that- they all should have. :( :mad::cry:

:hug::hug::hug:

 

[Deleted member 541]

Childhood for me would be from around 5-16. After that young adult till 25

 

[Tinyflame]

If you don't mind me asking @She Cat , in what ways did it seem like you were a 'child' from say, 10-16?

Thank you very much.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I guess I need to change that.... I guess my childhood ended around the time of when my abuse started.... Around age 7...

Really thought provoking question when I stopped and thought about it. Thanks @Junebug for asking me further questions.

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes does it feel like a dual life, 2 parallel universes of what it's 'supposed' to be, vs what it was @She Cat ? :confused:

:hug: to you.

my childhood ended around the time of when my abuse started

Yes , exactly.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

My last T said that I still had the mind and perspective of a child when I was raped at 19. She was probably right to some degree because I grew up sheltered and cared for. Went a little "wild" trying out the world, but also extremely trusting. After it happened my hurt and thoughts are/were "why didn't anyone help me?" "No one noticed". "Why didn't anyone care about me?" My T said that those are the types of statements that children make.