Childhood What Did You Miss Out On Growing Up?

[Booknerd]

The feeling of safety. Not having to make up lies. Knowing that I could count on food being provided

 

[Stickler]

(threadbump)

• The idea that I had any potential at all
• The idea that I was allowed to be proud of myself
• The idea that I was a good person
• A sense of my own value
• Being singular inside
• Not living in terror
• the idea that it was ok when I messed up, that I didn't have to pay dearly for tiny mistakes.

 

[Gadgie]

I missed out on my childhood while growing up?

 

[illusionist]

So so much.....far too much.

 

[joeylittle]

I'm starting to learn, but only because I'm at an age where my peers all have kids. I didn't know birthday parties were a thing. 'Bedtime' is a concept that was not in play for me (it was for my younger siblings, but they didn't come along for awhile). And there are other things, too.

I think they all add up to, knowing that someone was taking care of me and that they cared about my happiness and health. I did not grow up with that.

 

[tear]

I think the most important thing for me was knowing that I mattered, that I was a good person. Also, that I wasn't wrong for not having any coping mechanisms to deal with adult emotions as a child.

 

[KwanYingirl]

I missed out of the spontaneity of childhood. I could not take risks or have confidence. I was never without fear and spent my time hiding instead of playing. I missed out on toys and baking cookies. I missed out on Girl Scouts and summer camp. I completely lost out on pride because I was constantly belittled. I always thought I was too stupid to matter. I missed out on learning to have and express emotions. I missed out on looking forward to the future. I dreaded the future.

 

[Kailani]

Missed out on being a child; had to be a little adult to deal with the dysfunctional parents.

 

[void]

I never knew what it was like to not be afraid.
I was 13 before I ever saw a parent love a child(my friends parents loved him).
They would hug and kiss him....I had never seen anything like it.
I was stunned to see love.

 

[notsurewheretoturn]

I spent years thinking thst maybe i was adopted because no one would treat their own child like this.

Then I met someone who was adopted and saw how wanted they were.

Spent a lot of years in the wilderness after tgat one.

 

[Socha]

I missed out on feeling protected, having a safe environment, encouragement and feeling valued and respected. I missed out on a father figure, on someone I could trust and on guidance. I missed out on forgiveness for my shortcomings and on being able to identify myself as no different than anybody else but a flawed bad person who does not deserve to be loved. I missed out on education as an adolescent because I lived on the streets for a while and only went to school because it was warm and safe.

 

[Aggie]

I missed out on feeling afraid when I should have been afraid...if that makes sense. Other things...trust, relaxing, feeling safe, not being hyper alert.