All posts tagged: growing up

If You Felt Like You Had To Hide Who You Were Growing Up, You Likely Have These 11 Odd Habits Now

If You Felt Like You Had To Hide Who You Were Growing Up, You Likely Have These 11 Odd Habits Now

Published by Jenni Sidey

In life, we are often encouraged to wear masks or personas that are not who we truly are in order to live up to the expectations others have for us. At work, we’re expected to have a professional, prim persona and be passionate about work. At church, we’re expected to have a deeply spiritual and holy vibe. And at home? Well, it depends on how you were brought up. Many of us grew up in families that constantly encouraged us to hide who we were. If we were to say something that didn’t go with the desired narrative, it would cause a torrent of problems. So, we masked. Of course, this leads to a bunch of habits that can be hard to break as you get older. The habits below prove that masking never really conceals everything. If you felt like you had to hide who you were growing up, you likely have these 11 odd habits now 1. Saying, “I’m fine. Let’s talk about you. What’s going on with you?” Charday Penn from Getty …

Kids Who Were Allowed To Be Their Authentic Selves Have These 11 Major Advantages As Adults

Kids Who Were Allowed To Be Their Authentic Selves Have These 11 Major Advantages As Adults

Published by Jenni Sidey

Growing up in an environment where you didn’t have to constantly adjust who you were leaves a different kind of imprint. Of course, not everything you did was perfect, but you were given enough space to explore your identity without feeling like you had to earn acceptance by forcing yourself to be something you’re not. Kids whose parents allowed them to be their authentic selves when they were growing up develop a kind of foundation that offers them major advantages in their adult lives. It influences how someone makes decisions and how comfortable they are in their own skin. Over time, those differences become easier to recognize because they shape how someone moves through everyday life. Kids who were allowed to be their authentic selves have these 11 major advantages as adults 1. They make decisions without second-guessing their core identity Krakenimages.com / Shutterstock Choices don’t feel like a negotiation with who they are. When they decide something, it usually reflects what fits rather than what might be approved of. This creates a sense of …

11 Defining Habits Of People Who Actually Know How To Be An Adult

11 Defining Habits Of People Who Actually Know How To Be An Adult

Published by Jenni Sidey

They say that age is nothing but a number, but acting your age is an important part of growing up. While there’s not necessarily one exact moment when you cross the threshold of adulthood, facing important tasks head-on and taking care of yourself are all defining habits of people who actually know how to be an adult. A poll commissioned by Southern Sheeting, asked 1,500 participants across England about the indications that a person is officially in their adult era. While the specific tasks of adulthood differed, being responsible for yourself and taking care of what needs to be done are common themes. But that’s not all, because certain habits really do indicate a higher level of maturity. Here are 11 defining habits of people who actually know how to be an adult 1. Paying bills on time Ground Picture | Shutterstock As the Southern Sheeting survey revealed, 48% of participants believe that paying bills on time is a sign of a real adult. For people who are actually grown, they make sure their bills …

People Who Were Young In The 80s And 90s Had 11 Experiences That Made Their Brains Think Differently Than Everyone Else

People Who Were Young In The 80s And 90s Had 11 Experiences That Made Their Brains Think Differently Than Everyone Else

Published by Jenni Sidey

The 80s and 90s were some of the last generations that had unsupervised play without the kind of structure, expectations, and constant stimulation that modern kids face. They had a balance between the innocence of childhood and the independence that came from filling their own time. They embraced fun and boredom without screens to distract their attention. People who were young in the 80s and 90s had experiences that made their brains think differently from everyone else, whether that meant waiting for the things they wanted instead of getting everything immediately, or simply playing outside without parents hovering over their shoulders. The lessons and skills of the 80s and 90s are slowly disappearing today, and modern kids are facing the consequences. People who were young in the 80s and 90s had 11 experiences that made their brains think differently than everyone else 1. They can entertain themselves without screens Bricolage | Shutterstock Kids in the 80s and 90s were expected to entertain themselves when their parents weren’t around. They played outside in their neighborhoods until …

Parents Whose Grown Kids Pretty Much Hate Them Usually Share These 11 Problematic Traits

Parents Whose Grown Kids Pretty Much Hate Them Usually Share These 11 Problematic Traits

Published by Jenni Sidey

When children grow into adults, they sometimes don’t have a close relationship with their parents. It’s unfortunately, but according to data from a Pillemer survey, nearly 27% of adults report that they’d gone “no contact” with a family member, with 10% admitting it was a parent, which is a nearly 7% increase from research conducted a decade prior.  As this complex discussion of estrangement and childhood trauma continues to grow more mainstream, this trend will likely continue, as adult children set healthy boundaries and acknowledge the traumas they’ve endured. There’s no sole reason for an estrangement, but it usually has to do with a parent’s behavior. As such, parents whose grown kids pretty much hate them usually share certain problematic traits that, once their kids grow up, influence the decision-making of this impactful relationship shift. Parents whose grown kids pretty much hate them usually share these 11 problematic traits 1. They’re closed-minded In The Light Photography | Shutterstock Unable to accept changing societal norms, specifically the ones that prompt difficult conversations in toxic family dynamics, many …

5 Struggles Of Adults Raised By Parents Who Didn’t Show Affection

5 Struggles Of Adults Raised By Parents Who Didn’t Show Affection

Published by Jenni Sidey

A lack of affection in your childhood can deeply impact your future relationships, whether romantic or platonic. It can make it difficult to understand affectionate cues, show affection, and even accept affection from those who care about you. You may not feel like you can move past the ways that have been instilled in you by your unaffectionate family, but there is always room for growth. The first step is to acknowledge the trauma instead of ignoring it. Seek help if you need to, and always prioritize your health and wellness. Here are 5 things you might struggle with now if you grew up in an unaffectionate home: 1. Letting go of your boundaries Perfect Wave | Shutterstock Individuals who grew up in an emotionally absent home tend to have a thick wall of boundaries surrounding them. This helps to provide a shield against potential hurt and upset. These individuals become very aware of their needs and wants in relationships. Building strong boundaries at a young age is an act of self-protection and a strong …

11 Things Teens Used To Do On Weekends That Feel Unreal Now

11 Things Teens Used To Do On Weekends That Feel Unreal Now

Published by Jenni Sidey

Weekends used to unfold differently. There were fewer pings, fewer group chats coordinating every move, and far fewer digital breadcrumbs documenting what happened. Plans weren’t optimized. They were improvised. And once you left the house, you were mostly unreachable. Unstructured social time plays a huge role in identity formation and confidence, and teen life before smartphones and constant connectivity created a kind of freedom that feels almost fictional now. Those weekends weren’t curated for photos. They were lived in real time. Looking back, some of what teens casually did then feels almost impossible to recreate today. These are 11 things teens used to do on weekends that feel unreal now 1. Show up at someone’s house unannounced Dejan Dundjerski / Shutterstock There was no text warning. You rode your bike, drove over, or walked up and knocked. If they were home, you hung out. If they weren’t, you left. It was simple and surprisingly normal. Social spontaneity was expected, not intrusive. Repeated in-person social risk builds confidence. You learned to handle awkward moments naturally. Now, …

Gen X Kids Were Almost Always Told These 11 Lies By Their Boomer Parents

Gen X Kids Were Almost Always Told These 11 Lies By Their Boomer Parents

Published by Jenni Sidey

Gen X kids often grew up hearing a whirlwind of advice from their boomer parents. All of these sayings and rules were presented as truths, but looking back, a lot of them didn’t quite match reality. Boomer parents meant well, but sometimes it was as if they were giving life lessons and advice that were so far removed from the life their Gen X kids were living. Whether it was old wives’ tales about digesting gum or not needing to worry about the future, Gen X kids were almost always told these lies by their boomer parents. As psychotherapist Mike Brooks pointed out, parents are always trying to teach and guide their children. They want their kids to be successful and turn into well-adjusted adults. Boomer parents were trying their best with the tools they had and weren’t trying to put their Gen X kids on the wrong path. These lies weren’t malicious, they were coming rom a place of wanting to protect, even when they were imperfect. Gen X kids were almost always told …

People Who Grew Up As Loners Often Have These 11 Habits As Adults

People Who Grew Up As Loners Often Have These 11 Habits As Adults

Published by Jenni Sidey

Not everyone is the kind of person who can walk into a room, meet new people, and make instant friends. And not everyone has the desire to surround themselves with a large group of individuals. But being a loner doesn’t mean someone is lonely, it just means they prefer to spend time alone instead of in the company of others. As kids, they may have acted a certain way, but people who grew up as loners often have specific habits as adults. Their friends might tease them, but loners live by their own set of rules. From refusing to conform to the “norm” to avoiding social interaction at all costs, loners don’t have the same mentality as the average person. So, it goes wihtout saying that they likely develop certain behaviors as young people that follow them into adulthood. People who grew up as loners often have these 11 habits as adults 1. Preferring solitude to recharge PeopleImages | Shutterstock As much as a loner loves their friends and family, they don’t want to be …

People Who Grew Up Financially Comfortable Often Struggle With These 11 Habits

People Who Grew Up Financially Comfortable Often Struggle With These 11 Habits

Published by Jenni Sidey

Growing up financially comfortable brings obvious advantages, such as stability, opportunity, and reduced day-to-day stress. When basic needs are consistently met, children can focus on development without constant survival pressure. That security shapes more than lifestyle. It quietly shapes assumptions about risk, work, money, and even relationships. Behavioral research shows that early financial environments influence long-term attitudes toward spending, saving, and effort. Just as scarcity can create hyper-vigilance, comfort can create blind spots. Neither experience guarantees dysfunction, but both leave imprints. If you grew up in a financially stable home, some of these habits may feel familiar. The patterns are worth understanding. People who grew up financially comfortable often struggle with these 11 habits 1. They underestimate how stressful money can be Kinga / Shutterstock When bills were paid reliably and emergencies were handled smoothly, financial anxiety may feel abstract. You may understand it intellectually but not emotionally. Watching others stress about money can feel puzzling. You might assume that budgeting or planning can solve most problems. This perspective isn’t malicious; it’s experiential. Chronic financial …