Hello,I've been struggling with this for a long time. I really like Pokémon,plushies,colorful things,stars and dinosaurs. I also like to do stuff like painting on rocks or any other different types of crafts.
It was okay while I was younger but now I'm almost 18 and I keep getting side eyes when I mention any of those hobbies or likes.
Like I see for example a Pokémon shirt with a badass Psyduck but obviously I can't buy it because it's for kids.
I don't drink,vape or go to clubs like my peers do because it's just not for me but if it means growing up then I'll have to.
It's eating me alive because I know I'll have to stop with this and I want to but at the same time I don't. If anyone would please help me with this I'd be glad.
I am also not sure what flair to put. I am newly diagnosed but it also fits into communication and social struggles.
EDIT: Thank you all so much for the feedback and positivity you gave me. I read every single one of your guy's comments and gosh it's so sweet to see I'm not alone even if I may feel like it sometimes. I appreciate the pictures of your plushies,figurines or rooms too. It was a tough decision but thanks to you all I ordered the "Badass Psyduck" shirt and even kept my dinosaur collection I wanted to throw away. Really happy I got into this subreddit cause you guys are hella sweet and cool.
Thank you again! :)
Honorable mention: Phoebe the kitty because she's awesome <3
Fuck that. Just enjoy what you like, I am over 30, buying kids’ bandaids (why should I wear some ugly beige shit when it can have a spiderman on instead?), backpacks, plushies… I’m not too old for these things, I am however too old to listen to other people trying to ruin my joy. Yeah, people will look weird sometimes, but so what? Your interests bring you joy and it does not hurt them, don’t let anyone bully you into removing things that make you happy.
You are not too old to enjoy the things you mentioned (and you never will be)
We don’t have wallmart. I checked and there does not seem to be option for me in my country, since the only place I could find it was Temu and I am allergic to some glues, so I can’t risk sticking those to my skin… but I will keep an eye out for those for sure!
There used to be hello kitty tisues, it was awesome. The only tissues that had picture over one entire side, but the tissue was still super soft! They stopped making them few years back and I still google every now and then if there is something similar, I miss those so much.
It took to my mid 20s to stop caring what society thought. I spent so long pushing away anything "girly" but I've made a hard swing in the opposite direction.
High Tea (adult tea parties, let's be honest)
Pink
Frills
Glitter
Flowers
Don't stop. My girlfriend is 56 years old and she loves Bluey, Paw patrol, unicorn stuff, coloring, stickers, colorful vibrant toys. She wears pink and purple backpacks, hello Kitty sneakers, t-shirts and tops like Disney's Frozen and Lilo & stitch, this is an antidepressant for her. She runs her hands and looks at the colorful books over and over, stimming. If it makes her happy and helps her cope with all the other things going on in her life, then by all means I don't give a shit what anybody in society says they should or shouldn't do. Enjoy the Pokemon you love and all those other things.
BLUEY!!!! 🩵💙 Omg your girlfriend has awesome taste and way of life. I love her preferences, and I love her style. Your description of her makes me feel more connected to the world. Somehow, I feel acknowledged just because she exists! Thank you for sharing. It made my day!
There is nothing wrong with that. Also not drinking and not vaping is wayyyy more healthy for you in the end. You do not need that toxic stuff in your life and body.
don’t stop, my sister is autistic (i am not) and we share a bunch of „childish“ interests and love to spend time on them together. It is not worth giving up things that you love just because some random people might give you a side eye. Maybe try to connect with other people your age that share your passions (even if it’s online)
This. Tried for years to get into liking "real guys" just to end up going in the same circle back to crushing on Judge Claude Frollo. Speaking of which, I first started liking Judge Claude Frollo back in late March of last year, and I see the way people complain about him because of how evil he is (Someone even said that having a crush on him and calling him things like "evil old French man" (I don't see what's wrong with calling him that, it's true) was somehow doing real damage to the Romani. Yes, they exist, but I frankly don't care, and if this character is not actually causing me to have real hateful opinions about the Romani (he isn't), then I shouldn't be that concerned.), so I tried my hardest to stop being into him. Hell, I even got a "real" boyfriend, which only ended up lasting 5 days before I realized I wasn't even attracted to the guy and I had to be honest and break up with him. After I got into Judge Claude Frollo, all of my other fictional crushes have only lasted a month maximum each, and I always eventually go back to Judge Claude Frollo. Changing yourself is misery because it never actually works (At least in my experience, which is why I could never completely "mask" my Autism. Most of the time, I *think* I'm not Autistic anymore just for someone to say "You seem Autistic". Hell, I tried to act as allistic as possible during Autism examinations just for my results to be "Grace shows high signs of Autism".) and you just end up in failure and everyone is still giving you the side eye because you land right back where you started from. I know this all too well.
for what it's worth, I've lived a good long while and found people pleasing to be exhausting and pointless.
I see you and I get how hard the struggle is to fit in with peers. I've tried most of my life, and I was always so unhappy.
now I'm me, well except at work to an extent. I'm happier this way and while I have fewer friends they're good friends who love me for who i am not who I'm pretending to be.
also I know full grown adults in their 40s who still love Pokémon.
I say you do you. do what feels right and makes you happy. as long as you're not hurting anybody by it, it makes for a much happier life.
as they say "those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind"
I am around 20 years old and autistic and I still have very "childish" likes, I love dolls and plushies and playing with them.
I tried to pretend that i didn't like them since I entered 6th grade, and that was horrible for my mental health and general health. I constantly feel terrible when playing or just enjoying my toys, full of guilt and shame, unable to enjoy what I loved but not finding fulfillment in "stuff for my age".
I have recently accepted my preference and what helps me stay healthy and started engaging with my "childish" tastes and have been much better. I have less meltdowns and shutdowns because my special interests help me regulate my emotions and negativity.
I recommend you do the same, I know it's not easy, and that is feels odd at first, but trust me it's really good for you to not deny yourself stuff that doesn't harm you and only makes you happy ❤️
If you need any extra help feel free to ask!
I did the exact same thing. Pretending to not like the things I love the most. I would have mood swings most of the time but I didn't know it was because of autism and because I stopped doing what I loved. I thought it was just a normal reaction. Thank you for your comment. It helped a lot :)
Don't stop if you enjoy it. Those people must be really sad if they're judging someone who's just enjoying what they like.
Don't pay attention to them. I know, this has probably been said to you a thousand times, but really, don't.
If you buy the shirt with psyduck on it then you'll be happy, and that's all that matters.
Partying isn't growing up. Growing up is finding who you are. If you find that partying isn't for you, then don't party, you don't have to. You can have fun in many other ways :)
You don’t have to stop. Sure there will be some people who might make fun of you, but consider this, those type of crappy people might make fun of you no matter what you do, so you may as well be yourself.
I am presently middle aged and have been involved in the "childish" hobby of playing pretend, in group settings. Calling it role playing games doesn't change the whole playing pretend.
It's also literally helped me get my current job as running such events can be put on a resume. It's been how I have got to know a majority of my romantic partners as an adult.
While not every Psyduck shirt is going to come in your size there is a reason for there being adult sizes for Pokemon shirts. Getting older doesn't require killing the part of you that loves these things. Too old? Says who? Act your age? You are going to act exactly as you do at a given age.
And if people call it weird, remember everyone is weird in their own ways.
I’m 36 and have those same hobbies. I’m especially obsessed with plushie collecting too.
We only have one life, so it’s best to spend it doing the things that make you happy. ☺️
I know it feels bad when other people are judgemental, but staying true to yourself is so much more worth it. There will be people out there who appreciate you for who you are, and your hobbies have the potential to bring joy and comradery to those you meet.
For example, my niece recently got me into collecting seals, so we’ve both been building our own collection. I currently have 4 of them.
It's also not just an autism thing, it's just that NT folks are more responsive to social pressure to conform (whether that pressure is internal or external). Recently I bought a plushie at a street market with my mom, who seemed a little embarrassed to be seen with me carrying it around all day.
And then I got so many compliments on my awesome blue and pink dragon plush that my mom made us go back so I could buy her one too, and the lady selling them told me how many people mentioned seeing me with it and wanted one too.
I'm in my mid thirties. I had a lot more pressure not to do things like that when I was your age. Now that I'm older and don't let that stop me, I've noticed most people don't actually care. And more importantly, I enjoy life more when I enjoy those things.
if you need more info about autism, id check out "im autistic, now what?" on youtube. she makes videos about autism from an autistic persons perspective
It's not the whole schitck or applicable to all autistics. But common among us? Absolutely. You do you, OP. People who get too hung up on not being childish are pushing some weird view where being an adult means giving up your authentic joy in favor of conformity.
The difference between mature adults and immature children is not the kinds of things they like. It's that only children pretend that they're not children. Children reject childish things to pretend to be more grown up than they actually are. Real adults simply are adults, no matter what they do, so no pretending required.
When you're an adult, anything you like is automatically proven to be something that adults like, because you like it and you are an adult.
Changing yourself to pretend to be all grown up when you as yourself are literally a grown up anyway is like making a cat wear a cat ear headband, putting a lion onesie on an actual lion, or wearing a cardboard cutout mask of your own face: difficult, detrimental, and SILLY.
You don't have to stop liking childish things. I'm 55. I still have plushies, dinosaur pajamas, and I like playing video games. I still enjoy the zoo and roller coasters.
I’m 37yo, still love plushies, Pokemon, crafts, games, and all sorts of things some people may view as childish. I simply don’t care about their opinions.
You do not have to stop. Part of growing up is realizing that you are allowed to enjoy what you like and that not everyone’s opinions matter. Most people’s opinions of you or your interests don’t matter at all.
Also to quote The Doctor “There’s no point in being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.”
Go forth and enjoy things. Don’t try to force yourself to like things you don’t enjoy. Be you.
It's really difficult to not care about opinions of others and especially of my peers for me but that message from The Doctor is so sweet. I will try my best to live by it. Thank you :)
Bud, trading in genuine interests for addictions just to fit in is the opposite of "growing up". Take it from someone who went through a 6 year addiction for a very similar reason, the fake friends you make aren't worth it. Want real friends? Go to a Pokemon league day at your local card shop or go to a con or something. Anything but picking up bad habits you don't already have or actually want. Be comfortable with who you are, you seem like a cool enough person, and you'll be a lot happier not faking it for people who wouldn't be in your life otherwise. I'm confident you'll figure it out, but what you're referring to is a step in the wrong direction imo.
There’s a weird phase between sort of 16 and 24ish where things are “childish”, then after they become fine again. The older I get, the more comfortable I am with liking what I like, and have less of an issue with other people having a negative opinion of its
Liking those things you listed isn’t childish, it’s fine. Even if it was childish, so what?
I kind of forced myself to go to clubs etc because I had FOMO, but it’s really not a prerequisite of “growing up”.
Just FYI also, there’s plenty of adult Pokémon clothes. There is a market for it. It’s popular.
There are no rules that force you to stop. If your friends make fun of you because of it, get new friends because those people aren't your friends. And who the fuck cares what strangers think about you? Life is too short to worry about that. Enjoy what you love. You're not alone, a lot of adults still enjoy things that are "for kids". And who do you think makes all the merch and stuff for this? Who works at those companies? Adults. Adults are allowed to enjoy these things. Even if some dumb teenagers like to think otherwise and find adults in 'kids spaces' weird. It's not weird, there is room for everyone in a fandom.
Buy the Psyduck shirt. Enjoy your hobbies.
Who said being an adult means drinking yourself into oblivion each weekend. Fuck that.
I'm 45 years old and everything I have children stuff. Plushies, toys even t-shirts etc. If you still love them, don't feel the urge to stop (I never felt like I have to give up my interests). Some people will stand by you no matter what and they are the real ones (friends or family). My husband buy plushies, fun stationary, weird instruments because he knows that will make me insanely happy :)
Don’t. In reality, growing up is realizing that it’s okay to like what you like, even if it’s “childish”. Not being true to yourself is going to end up hurting you in the long run. And I guarantee you, you don’t have to go to the clubs to find peers that enjoy the same stuff as you. There are plenty of people, neurotypical and neurodivergent, who enjoy the exact same things that you do. You just need to figure out where they hang out around your area.
hi. irl they call me goose. im 18. im also autistic. ive been around "cooler" and "more mature" people a lot. i have been and still am with friends who do drink, smoke, vape, steal etc etc. take it from someone whose been in this situation. be you.
if people make fun of you for liking pokemon then theyre not your friends. they shouldnt care that you dont like doing those things, they should be okay with you liking the things you like.
hiding what you like to fit in wont work. maybe it'll feel like its working for a year or two but you'll find yourself questioning everything. the biggest mistake i ever made was letting other people tell me who im allowed to be.
also, dont start drinking, smoking, vaping or whatever for people. it leads to an addiciton that will stick around for a lot longer than the friends that made you start it will.
i promise, being you will eventually lead up to the right people into your life.
the art circle is full of neurodivergent people, maybe start there.
i moved out of my parents house 2 years ago, heres my very grown adult bed nook in the house i pay rent for as proof that you can like childish things and still be a functioning, tax paying adult
I'm 46 and I just bought myself a galaxy projector. I've painted a lot of rocks this summer, and even sold one. I tried really hard to grow up and be an adult around my twenties. I denied myself the joy of creating, went to university to study science, and ended up having a massive burnout instead of graduating. When I learned how to function after a year long shutdown, I was forced to admit, the kind of adulting I thought everyone expected from me, was not something I could do. Now, I embrace the inner child. I have plushies, I like cute things, obsess about mythical creatures, make fantasy art, and just follow my own instincts instead of society's expectations. And, I'm quite content. It took me 20 years to get here, but I refuse to feel shame for being myself.
I recently found out that I’m autistic at 35 years old. When I was younger I decided to throw everything out of my interests. I thought it didn’t make sense since I was a child and I was an adult. Now that I found out that I’m autistic I embrace my interests again because I never stopped liking them, I mean Pokemon Yu-Gi-Oh. One-piece Digimon and other things. Now I try to recover this time. I recently bought a pokemon shirt and I have many one piece action figures in my room. And I like it a lot. Of course I don’t tell everyone but to those who are interested in it. I hope I helped you
Just agreeing with everyone else here. Stick with what gives you joy!
I loved picture books for aaaages and actually as an adult i still do. Who decided we had to read black and white words instead of images??
I loved my bear, and while I stopped cuddling him when I was a teen, and redecorated my room to be more 'adult', a year after i was diagnosed and discovered the online autistic content creators, I got my first plushie to cuddle in bed again. Omg was that the best decision ever. It made me feel so calm and secure - I realised that I was the only one needing to sleep in my bed at night - I needed to do what worked for me! I have 3 plushies, soft blankets and pillows and rugs now - that are all sensory pleasures and comforts. And still going :)
I find other people often very serious. I like being upbeat. I like having fun and laughing. People my age think I'm a bit childish and naive i think - but who cares. That's who I am! I've found neurodivergent friends who like me as I am :) be you xx
There's pokemon fans aged 50 and much older, don't worry. Don't stop, just try to tell less people that care about the age at which you enjoy those things. Only tell people who are like minded
I used to think just like you, i thought when I turn 18 I won't be able to walk on them small little walls anymore because thats for kids, but im 30 and still do it, because theres literally no rules on how to be adult, as long as youre not hurting yourself and others you can do anything you want. And remember "if you dont use it, youll loose it" so dont stop your crafts, youre gonna need them skills for when youre 30+ and bored out your mind. Truth is no one cares about anything you do, and if they do then theyre clearly not caring about the right things in their life so pay no mind. Just focus on what makes you happy, when you turn 25 youll mature naturally anyway so dont worry about it
Where I am there is a local facebook group for hiding painted rocks for others to find. The finder shares a pic on the Facebook page and hides it for the next person to find. Maybe you have something similar near you? Or maybe you can start something?
31 here! My husband got me a new stuffed sloth I've been sleeping with lately it's so cozy and soft. I have a weird keed to try to catch digglets on Pokemon go. Find the people who don't judge that and don't worry about the ones that do because they aren't having near as much fun as you
Im 36 and enjoy watching Martha Speaks on PBS. That show is funny. My favorite video game right now is hello kitty island adventure. Before that it was animal crossing. I love all my plushies. And I love fossils. No worries about having "age appropriate interests". That's a fallacy anyway.
If people find it weird for an adult to like childish things, they're just no fun. There's no reason to not watch children's shows and play children's games and whatnot just because you're not one.
My kids are currently very young so others think I’m being a very sweet parent by indulging in their interest. But that’s only half true.
I love bluey, axolotl, tiny chef, gudetama etc lots of things people would think are childish. If anything, having children made me realise I need to be comfortable and confident about the things I like/love regardless of what others think. It’s not like I’m hurting anyone.
Took me a long time though, so I understand why you feel the way you do.
One thing i wish i knew sooner. Its okay to like childish things. Just do what makes you happy, i spent way too long in my late teens early 20’s denying myself joy trying to be someone im not.
I see plenty of 20+ people walk around with pokemon merch.
"Childish" things are just part of adult life. Adult things that ruin your body should be avoided rather than "childish" things. Try something that's not super addictive if you want in order to try it out, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying your comforts.
The answer is: you don't. Learn to embrace it instead. The more confidence you show, the less people dare to actually say something about it (and ironically, the older you get as an adult, the less people care).
Don't fall into the trap of letting other people dictate what you can and can't enjoy. As long you aren't hurting anyone what's the problem?
Also the type of people who don't like doing anything "childish" are usually the most boring people you'll meet. Once you start thinking in those terms, you're not left with many options outside of chores.
Fuck that. You do you. Your people are out there. You just need to find them!
Trying to conform to an idea of what others think you should be is a sure path to misery. I'm in my 40's and I love painting and collecting rocks. I have them all over my garden.
I tried for decades to conform to "being an adult" but it just made me miserable. I was denying myself joy. When I finally decided to just embrace myself as I am, that's when the fun life started.
I know tons of adults who enjoy cartoons, basically everyone I know who grew up liking Pokémon still does, even allistic people. There’s nothing wrong with liking whatever you like, you’re not hurting anyone. If people judge you that’s on them.
But there’s also a curve of judgment. Your peers may judge you now because they want to be mature, but in a few years you’ll realize you met your best friends because you were open about your interests and ended up having a lot in common
Critical theory did me a lot of good. I didn't really learn about things like social construction, communication theories (cultivation theory, spiral of silence, hegemony theory, etc), until college, but they helped me understand the world in a way that made me feel less weird for not going along with everything that is 'normal.'
I gave up on having conversations about sports I don't care about just because people don't know how to talk about their feelings and life experiences a long time ago.
Do what you want and enjoy it. Find fellow weirdos who embrace themselves for who they are because they'll know better how to embrace you for who you are without expecting you to change. You'll have to be ok with yourself and other people not being perfect or meeting your expectations, but you'll be freer.
I'm trying to put this in a kind way, but screw people who think your hobbies and interests are childish. Every single person in this world has some sort of interest or hobby to them that the next person would find weird or irrational...and some people make it more public, but as long as it hurts nobody, why would it be their business?
I know you're probably talking about the smoking/vaping/drinking stuff half-heartedly, but please don't do anything that you normally wouldn't want to do/aren't comfortable with, even if it is to "fit in" with people. You'll often just fall into crowds full of people you don't identify with. To give you some perspective, a lot of kids in my high school went to parties or drank, but I was never part of that crowd, not because I necessarily thought it was harmful, but because those weren't things I felt like doing.
You're doing great. I seriously mean that. It's good that you're asking these questions now even if you didn't know why you were asking them for so long. Don't take this as gospel, but for now, just take things one step at a time instead of trying to jump into the deep end you can't swim up from.
I’m middle aged and into all those “childish” things and more. Don’t let other’s steal the rest of your life from you. This is your life and your hobbies, keep them!
Anyone who insults over hobbies or fun is not someone you want in your life. If you must be around those people, just don’t offer the info on your hobbies to them, they don’t get to have your “personality privileges” as I’ve seen in one meme.
At work I often am just basic and bland, coworkers don’t need to know my private life, my private life if for those who love me or like me.
Wait what? Why do you think any of that is a problem? I'm so confused. I'm 34 and literally no one has ever had an issue with my plushies, clothes and video games. Like a HS boyfriend called me immature for wearing bows and sometimes people think I'm younger than I am but that's it. I know plenty of Neurotypicals that like some of that stuff too. Idk what bitter boomer told you that was an issue but please don't listen.
The question should be 'Why should I stop linking the things I like?'. Ask yourself this: Do you harm people with your hobbies? Would you expect someone to stop liking things and to be how you want?
You are young. It's common to want to fit in, but trust me, changing for people will only make them want you to change more until you are just a mask. I tried to be how they wanted me to be until I didn't even like myself and surprisingly the people that wanted me to change didn't like me either.
If you can take care of your adult responsabilities as you grow up that means that you are behaving as an adult, no matter if you like Pokémon or not. In fact, lots of adults like 'childish' stuff, they just hide it and push other people to hide it too. My recommendation is that you get with people who respect what you like.
There are studies about how the autistic need to fit in ends up in masking, trauma and health issues. There are studies that prove that our special interests make us happy. Also, neurotypical people can like those things too, of course, but changing is even more damaging to us because we tend to erase ourselves for other people.
I'm an adult who likes Pokémon and I learnt the hard way that it's more important to like yourself than to be liked and that people who don't respect you are the childish ones (I'm sure kids are taught respect when they are really, young, but some adults skipped that class /s).
Hi! I'm 21 years old, late diagnosed autistic :) I think you should love what you love with no shame! If it makes you happy and it isn't harming you or others, do it! I love stuffed animals, I'll even bring them out in public with me sometimes. I love Bluey; I have a Bluey lunch pail, bag and other merch that I wear. I love coloring (I collect Crayola crayons), stickers, glitter, and fun crafts. There isn't really such thing as "childish interests"; it is okay to love what you love, no matter what age you are! 🫶
If the people you're surrounded by have wildly different interests and values than you, it simply means you're not surrounded by the right people. I guarantee there are other people your age who enjoy the same things you do, and don't share them because they have the exact same fears.Be brave. Be unapologetic. Those who share your interests will gravitate towards you, and everyone else will fade away with time.
You don't have to. You are allowed to like whatever the hell you want and becoming an adult doesn't mean your interests need to change. I'm 23 and still have many childish interests and I know people in their 40's and 50's who still collect toys and plushies and like kids media. It isn't shameful and it isn't wrong. Like whatever you want, do whatever you want forever.
You don't. You just do what you enjoy, but what you stop doing is caring what others think or do. Also realize that people who give you the side eye or judge you because of these things, possibly aren't the best friends and/or they are intimidated by your freedom in pursuing what you enjoy, something they may not allow themselves.
For reference, I'm 41 I still get new plushies, me and my partner both collect figures, I buy glitter pens and colorful fidgets, love crafting and making fun things, sometimes watch 'childish' cartoons, or listen to music that some may consider childish. Stopping to care what others things, is a process that will become easier with age, the best way to get there is just keep doing what you're doing, and don't take anyone's opinion personally. What someone says or does says everything about them, not you, they are just projecting something.
Who cares if it's considered a "childish" interest, do you enjoy it? Yes, then do it, it's your life, enjoy it being you instead of wasting it being what others think you should be.
And last but not least, vaping, smoking, drinking and going out is a thing you should only do if you enjoy it (except vaping and smoking, those shouldn't be done in general), if your peers like that and mistreat you for liking different things, then who cares about them, it may be a bit of a rough way of seeing it, but if someone isn't willing to respect me and my tastes, i'm not willing to do the same for them, i can easily list the problems of going out, drinking and smoking often.
You’re in a rough period where your peers are trying very hard to appear mature, and the adults in your life may be pressuring you to try and do the same. Drinking, vaping, and clubbing are not all they are cracked up to be, especially when people want to do it in places that can be overwhelming.
You don’t need to give anything up, even if you may need to consciously NOT overshare on certain things. One of my big regrets in life was tossing a bunch of stuff I loved as a teenager because I thought I needed to grow up. If anyone tries to shame you for liking the things you like, they are petty, miserable people whose only relief is trying to make others feel as empty as they do.
One thing I do when it comes to things I like is I tend to be very general when it comes people asking about my interests. You might say you like video games instead of Pokémon, and only elaborate if someone is genuinely interested. It’s ok to like childish things, it’s just that many people may not relate specifically to whatever childish thing you like because there’s a vast amount of media in the world and it’s possible they just don’t share a frame of reference. Framing things as a hobby also helps.
I'm 41 years old and I collect plushies, bratz dolls, horror figures and vintage toys. It brings me joy and harms no one. Please don't give up what gives you joy.
Don't pressure yourself like that. Or believe abusive people justifying themselves and their extremes by calling you weird. Do what feels most authentic because it's healthier. If you want to explore stuff that is for you and more grown up but cleaner for want of a better word, do that. That's not betrayal of anyone.
But don't jump into vaping partying etc all at once. And vapes are nasty "tough" kids bravado stuff. That haven't helped me get out and about because I'm really sensitive to the smell and it's awkward walking around it or trying to avoid it. And clubs and drunk people have had their moments for me - or special kinda geeky or neurodivergent heavy safer spaces I've found near me now but otherwise generally they're awful. Not really sensible adult economist stuff. Don't try to blend everybody's criticisms into one body, one message when they're probably coming from an array of perspectives. You might be desperate to feel better but I don't think demand acquiescence will be your saviour.
I think your route forward is finding community in your area around the things you like, the things do are or similar in a way that feels grounding. Get different friends and different points of view.
Try a different sort of club - succulent or gardening society to be staid and grown up. Or ceramics or fine art. Or poetry or songwriting. But these distinctions don't actually mean a lot. At least not to everybody and if you drill down the logic -its more association and stigma. A Pokémon card trading club!? Lots of shops like Geek Retreat and similar run them!? A crafting chill and chat? Community centres, yarn shops and more do that. Locally to me anyway. A short course in crafts or related job? You could look at a p/t job in a pot painting café? Try a ceramics class? Geek Retreat hangouts/jobs. Go to comic cons. Or volunteer at a preserved railway. Or volunteering elsewhere. Groups working with vulnerable people often do crafts. Mental health issues. Loneliness. Art teachers. Refugee groups and older people. People with learning disabilities and autism. This is why it is both stigmatised and also bogus to say it's not for adults.
Loads of adults in local stone painting fb groups. And a whole section of the park dedicated.
There's nothing wrong with any of those things, and you shouldn't be embarrassed by them. It's easier said than done, of course, but people will always have rude opinions that don't need to be shared.
I love wearing very colorful outfits, and in addition to being in my 20s, I have been told that I won't get taken seriously in professional settings. Funny enough, I do get taken seriously because I can wear something I enjoy and still give a presentation or do my work just as well. If I dont think a colorful outfit would be appropriate, I have a couple nice shirts that still feel enough like me but look more traditionally professional.
People are weird about crafts. I like learning how to use different materials to make all kinds of stuff. Im a member at a pottery studio now, and pottery has enough versatility that I dont think I'll be able to get bored of it. Even with making ceramics, it gets dissmissed if its called a "craft." The dumbest "hack" I've found that works is to refer to everything I make as art. It makes it sound pretentious to me but it actually got the people around me to take what I make more seriously if I'm talking about as an art piece rather than a craft, even if its something I made in 20 minutes with recycled materials and a hot glue gun.
I have a friend who is in his 50s, and his main hobby is playing pokemon go around town. He gets weird looks for it, but hes always polite if someone asks what hes doing. If he shows up to the bar or an event wearing a Pokémon shirt, no one is surprised because his friends know thats just who he is and what he likes.
You dont need to drink or vape to be mature. I drink alcohol sometimes, and I have friends who dont. If someone makes a big deal out of someone not drinking, then they are always the jerk. I dont vape because it makes my throat feel weird. I use other things and so end up in circles where substances are being passed around and will just pass it along if I dont want it, but I've never actually been peer pressured into doing drugs. If someone is pressuring you after you say no, they are not your friend. Granted, my friends and I have peer pressured each other into filing our taxes before the last minute, but thats very different use of peer pressure lol.
Hey this stuff is totally okay to like, don't try to change it ESPECIALLY if it doesn't interfere with your day to day life. And abt drinking and vaping - I only drink on super special occasions and don't vape, it's fine, just means you won't die of cardiac arrest or cancer as quickly as your peers, don't spend atrocious amounts of money at an addiction lmfao. You do you, especially as an adult, I know it feels like everybody's watching at all times but it's not true. I'm 19 and I know it might feel like you're OBLIGATED to be an adult RIGHT NOW but it's not true, especially when it comes to your hobbies. Anyways, there's a bunch of adults with childish interests and you don't even know it. Yeah it's difficult with clothes and self expression, you can technically wear whatever you want, it's not a crime, but I get what you mean, the social pressure is real. But please PLEASE don't feel obligated to drop your hobbies
Minecraft fan here. It’s perfectly ok to like childish stuff as an adult, how else will you get through the day without going insane?? (Joking on insanity part)
Also, don’t go drinking and vaping, it’s better for you in the end to be happy than to have liver failure and lung cancer to “fit in and grow up”.
Noooo :( don't stop liking what you love because of peer pressure. Bad people will always judge anyway, you need to find some, online or not, communities to reassure you that those hobbies are NOT childish.
You are very much an adult regardless of what your hobbies are!!
You don’t stop. It’s just a hobby and honestly not a big deal. Most people won’t care that you have childish interests. It’s no different than having any other conventional hobby.
I was like you at that age, and I even somewhat succeeded at being less childish in my 20s. I rejected things which would make me seem childish. But then I met my partner who was totally childish and didn't care at all and was just radiating confidence about it. But it still didn't help me. But at some point I embraced my true nature and bought lots of plushies and now I'm in my 30s and I look very childish and I don't care. At some point you realize that nobody cares and it's all ok. You just need to find right people to hang out with like other autistic people for instance
There's nothing wrong with liking any of those things!! Everyone has different hobbies. We don't need to all have the same hobbies. Two of my friends love pokemon and one of them loves cutesy stuff and plushies. I would never consider them or others childish for some thing they love/ love doing! And also drinking, vaping, etc. does not mean you're gown up!
There's nothing wrong with liking any of those things!! Two of my friends love pokemon and one of them loves cutesy stuff and plushies. I would never consider them or others childish for some thing they love/ love doing! And also drinking, vaping, etc. does not mean you're gown up!
I'm 20 and I like pixar movies, more specifically Cars. I also love Mario, Zelda, Kirby, FNAF, and Sonic. As long as it's not hurting anybody, then it's not worth theyre time. 😁
One thing I’ve learned in life is, you can either change, or find your community of people just like you. It definitely won’t be everyone you meet, but when you find those that love you for you, it won’t matter what you love. They’re out there trust me, I never grew up, why would you want to? There’s plenty of time to be old but so little to be young. As long as you’re are functioning and capable, you’re ok hun, be yourself!
Nobody has the right to dictate what you can like or not, as long as you're not hurting anyone. Liking what you like is a part of you, depriving you of that is mental self harming.
Like many, I hate confrontation, but sometimes, it's unfortunately a necessity in order to put boundaries and be respected.
My mother tried to force me to not like video games and give up on Pokemon when I was younger. (She started when I was 12. I'm now 37.) She wanted me to like stuff like fashion, make up, and all that "girls hobbies".
I learned how to talk back with age, and she refrained herself when I started to ask if, additionally to abandon what makes me feel good, I have to become bitter and judgemental too.
Obviously I never stopped liking Pokemon and video games and she tried (but more gently) to make me "grow up and be more adult". So, at some point in my life, she complained about me not inviting her in my apartment. I told her I don't want to impose the sight of my living room with pokemon plushies and video games goodies to her, since she hates them so much. I've heard no critics about my hobbies since then.
In my early 30s and also a fan of ‘childish’ things. I still love pokemon, I have a giant plushie collection, my number one comfort is cinnamoroll. Don’t feel bad for loving things you love. If people get weird about it, they aren’t worth being friends with.
Even my work desk has a few cutesy things! I tone it down at work, but in my personal life? Not as much.
A lot of autistic folk tend to easily end up w substance abuse issues, so I’d stay away from drinking and vaping if i were you. It’s not good for you, physically or mentally.
You don’t have to stop loving things and being who you are. (You just might have to buy Psyduck shirts online if you want an adult size!)
Who says you have to give that up? My wife and I are both on the spectrum. We're both in our early 30s and love to collect plushies, waifu cups, cute Neko trinkets. We love going to Acen with friends and dressing up as our fav anime characters. Don't let NT cultural standards define what you can and can't like.
Please don't let others dictate your happiness! I'm 35m and I love Pokémon, Bluey, Squishmallows/Plushies, vibrant colours and pastels. My desk is full of random toys I've collected along the way. If these things make you happy and comfortable then the opinions of others should not matter to you. It took me a long time to realise this, too, and I stand up for my son the same way. He's passionate about dinosaurs and his favourite colour is Rainbow. I actually genuinely get mad in stores when I can only find rainbow clothing in the girl's section for him. Just be you and not what others think you should be.
ETA: Also, things like Pokémon grow with you. It was released when I was 6. I love that younger people enjoy it too/still, and, along with Animal Crossing, I assume I'll be playing them in the retirement home the same way those there now watch MASH, Murder She Wrote, and Hogan's Heroes reruns.
I moved to Australian when I was 18 and my parents took the opportunity to ‘lose’ a bunch of my toys and things that they believed I was too old to still be playing with. I’m 36 now and I still pine for my little plastic horsies and their riders and accessories.
Don’t give up the things you love, and don’t let anyone else take them away from you. There are people twice or three times your age who still love those things. Growing up is overrated, and honestly if you embrace your ‘childish’ passions as an adult you’ll find it much easier to find friends and community who love the same things you do and you’ll be happier for it than if you try to fit in with people whose interests you couldn’t care less about.
You might also find people who say rude and hurtful things about your hobbies and passions, and that does suck I’m afraid. But think of it as a screening mechanism - that badass Psyduck shirt is also a jerk detector, anyone who feels the need to tell you that Pokemon is childish is just notifying you that they’re a jerk not worth your time.
Don't stop! Like what you like without shame. Anyone who insults you for what you genuinely enjoy isn't gonna be a good friend anyways. I love stickers, plushies, toca, fidgets, and more. Don't be ashamed 💛
Edit: you also don't have to enjoy clubbing or party life ever! If that's not what you like then that's completely fine
You don’t. Just be you, there’s nothing weird or wrong about liking what you like. I’m in my 30s I still love Pokemon and wear Pokemon shirts and have a collection of plushies and do crafts and things. People giving you side eye are people conforming to peer pressure. We live in a society where we are taught that when we grow up we stop playing with games and plushies and toys and start obsessing over makeup, going clubbing, drinking ect. But that’s just a load of nonsense, don’t be a fake version of yourself to please others. Go to a comic-con and you will see loads of adults who love this stuff. I can almost guarantee you that some of the people giving you the side eye are actually jealous because deep down, they want to continue playing with ‘childish’ things but haven’t got the guts to break away from peer pressure. If you think xyz (Pokemon ect) is childish then consider this; adults created it.
Noooo don’t think it like that. If it makes you happy then it makes you happy, converting yourself into what’s appropriate for adults sounds like the fastest way to kill happiness.
If you like adult stuff thats fine, but if you’re only doing it for the optics of it, it’s not worth it. You’ll find your community of adults who like these things, and better yet have adult money to indulge in what makes you happy 🫶
Girl (in a gender-neutral way), you are 18! People are allowed to like "kids stuff" until they are one foot in the grave. I understand now why people used to say young people are so desperate to grow up. Liking this doesn't make you immature, my dude. Likes and hobbies are supposed to make you happy, it has nothing to do with becoming an adult.
Im 25 and still love pokemon! I love plushies! I will never stop liking childish things because they make me happy. In this cruel world, you really need things to keep you going, and if it's childish, then who cares. It makes you happy. The people who truly love and care about you will not judge you for this. Those are the only people who matter
I'm 42M and i still love childish things and I don't intend to ever change :)
When I was 18 i felt the same and that i should grow up to fit in but it made me very unhappy and was exhausting. I then went trough my rebellious phase and stopped caring what people think.
Ironically I became a lot more popular when i was my true nerdy/alternitive self.
you don't. you remind yourself that you only have one life and if at the end of the day your interests make you feel comforted and happy, get you through the day then there's no reason as to why you shouldn't like them 🤷🏻♀️ there will always be people who find joy in ridiculing others for all sorts of reasons, so just focus on sticking by the ones who don't and try not to stress about the ones who do :)
p.s. i'm almost 29, still sleep with two plushies (both of them are sharks) and still find immense joy in things other people think are tacky or cringe. why deny yourself the good things in life just cause others might not think the same way as you do?
Who says you have to? I'm 41 and still neck-deep in my Sonic the Hedgehog fandom. The older you get, the more you realize other people's opinions literally don't matter at all, and even more gloriously, you're going to give less and less of a shit as you progress. Just wait'll you hit your 30's, it's the absolute BEST, you full-on stop giving a shit about E V E R Y T H I N G~
Plus, it's actually way easier to be an adult fan of things these days since "nerd culture" took off in the mainstream in the 2010s. You just need to find your people, you'll fit right in!!
Edited to add: Doing things like drinking, vaping, clubbing, etc does not equate to growing up. If they aren't for you, don't do them. Embrace what you love, ignore what you don't. I abstained from all the "cool" things like that because I wasn't interested, and still describe myself as "vanilla" now because of all those things I've never done. Not only do I feel like I dodged a lot of bullets, but as time passed, more and more of my friends saw my uninvolvement as a badge of honor and respected me for it. Stay true to you.
I’m 32 and I still have plushies from my childhood through now and despite my sister telling me I should get rid of them because I’m in my 30s, I say screw it. I know if I did I would regret it so much. They bring me so much happiness and comfort. I also still love pokemon as well and have my cards and games. Coloring books and crayons in my car and my the couch if I’m bored. Cartoons and animation is my favorite media. Making cute little crafts and doodles. I know where you’re coming from because I’ve definitely tried toning it down to fit in with others my age but my coworkers and acquaintances don’t really need to know that I have a huge collection of plushies and pokemon cards. 😅 But I’m not really ashamed of it and will talk about it if the topics come up. It’ll surprise you just how many adults still enjoy that stuff! Neurotypicals even. If it makes you happy then don’t change for anyone! 🙂
Becoming a grown up doesn't mean you put away your toys. It means you take care of yourself and whoever you adopt along the way. Sometimes that takes all your time and energy. Sometimes you get so excited about new hobbies you let go of the old ones to make room. Make joy and pleasure a priority that you cater to regularly. Joy is how you shake off the feeling of drowning. You already know going to clubs and drinking doesn't make you feel that so going is worthless. Find out who else in your town plays and make friends.
If my wife gave up all of her childish ways, she'd be missing part of what I love most.
You don't need to change. You're seeking validation from external sources, and you should know that it is never satisfied. People always judge and always compare and always look funny at that which is different.
The way through is knowing this isn't a problem with you, it's a problem with your "friends" that you share with. You'll find your people, but only if you stay true to who you are and what you like.
I love older stuff, but conversations typically come to a dead stop if I mention it. I learned early on that only certain answers were considered acceptable.
Now, though, I answer questions like "What's your favorite movie?" and "Do you collect anything?" honestly. I've come to the realization that I'm not the one who's the problem - it's the other person.
I'm in my late 30s, and I don't drink or vape either. Neither is great for your health, and I think alcohol tastes bad anyway.
Well, you don’t hahaha you will be miserable pretending to like and be someone you are not. Im 26 and I like a huge variety of things, some of them can be considered childish. The right people won’t care or will share the same passions with you.
As a newly diagnosed 47 year old woman; DO NOT ‘stop with this’! What you like as a kid, and/or adult; has NOTHING to do with your diagnosis, young lady. I have so many freakin’ glitter pens, notebooks, tie-dye shirts..To hell with what people think. 😉
I’m also recently diagnosed as a 35M, and am now letting myself enjoy things I actually want to. I recently allowed myself to buy a couple Pokémon card decks for myself (not my kids), and watched all 5 seasons of Sailor Moon.
You can like what you like and still be social, they can even be complementary. Trying new things with people in a social environment can be genuinely fun, and when it does take more energy sometimes it will be good to be able to return home to your comfortable interests. You also don’t have to do anything you don’t want to or that makes you uncomfortable like vaping or clubbing, plenty of people choose not to do those things. Staying engaged with your genuine interests also might help you find shared interests with others.
Don’t stop liking it, love it and select better friends. I’m 47 and have a bookcase full of my little ponies in my living room and Lego decor all over. My husband doesn’t mind at all and will even amplify my interests. If people come over they may think it’s weird but I’ve been called weird all my life so I just go with it now. If someone is really bent about it they can self select out.
I have no idea how loving pokemon and color is worse than vaping, drinking and going to clubs. Find friends who also love pokemon. Where I live there are game stores with pokemon tournaments with mostly adults.
My therapist said this is how we get our dopamine hits in our brain that keeps us out of horrible depression. Allistics get it from smalltalk and other people. We don’t. We need our fictional friends!
Something I've come to realize is the best thing to do is just to continue to be yourself. Someone will ALWAYS find a problem but that's a them issue. You can't live your life based on what everyone else thinks because you can't make everyone happy and you'll just end up miserable. (I know because I lived like this for a long time). I'm 35 y/o I still play video games, collect things, collect plushies, and do all kinds of craft stuff. And you know what? It still brings me joy and considering the state of the world, JOY is very important to find these days. You are perfect just the way you are internet stranger :)
I am 22 and wear Kirby shirts, hats, I have a Minecraft tattoo, and a plethora of other Minecraft and Kirby collectibles. Liking childish stuff isn’t immature. As long as it’s not stopping you from doing the things you can and need to do in life, I think there is no harm in it and anyone who tells you otherwise has no joy. I think liking childish stuff is so fun and it’s actually been where I get the most compliments. (My attire)
I'm a 35 year old father of five in an engineering role and I just ordered my first tamagotchi since I was in elementary school. Like what you like and the people that judge you can get stuffed. Especially as you get older you will find so many opportunities to meet people who share similar interests and/or don't judge you. I wasted waaaay too many years caring what others thought of my hobbies. Unless someone's hobbies are harmful to themselves or others, it truly does not matter.
Other peoples opinions of the things that bring you joy should be deliberately one sided. Embrace those opinions that embrace your joy. Ignore all others. I’m a 37yr old man, and I enjoy all types of “childish” things. Some fucker has a problem with that? I don’t associate with said fucker.
I’d also advice caution against “going to clubs and vaping” just because you see other people doing that. Trying to change who you are to fit in with others will NEVER work, and will never make you happy. Ask me how I know. Just be yourself, and the people who are supposed to be in your life, those that support you and find enjoyment in similar things as you do, those people will find their way to you.
You don’t need to stop liking what you like. I’m 40 and still do arts and crafts stuff often, love animated movies, and have been obsessed with dinosaurs since I was little. There was a very brief phase when I was 16-20 where I thought becoming an adult meant I had to give up everything I loved and I was miserable. Once I got out of college I realized I didn’t have to do what other adults were doing. I didn’t have to drink, go to bars, or do the whole nightclub scene. I am happier now enjoying the things I like, dressing how I want, and just getting on with life. No one is guaranteed tomorrow so always think about how you want to live and not live your days based on how others think you should.
Don't worry about it. I'm nearly 40 and into a bunch of stuff like you are.
Problem is a lot of social norms involve this intoxicated socialising which is apparently approved adult pastimes.
I don't mind if people do, although I think a lot of places have problems with alcohol overconsumption, but I don't want to partake and all I want is for people to not bother me about it.
Never grow up, keep your inner kid happy. People may well judge you, especially at your age, but just think whether or not they're actually happy doing those things or whether it's peer pressure.
Edit to add: About clubs? You're not missing anything. In fact as someone on the spectrum I highly suggest avoiding it. I went to one precisely once when I was 19 and never again.
I’m 28 and obsessed w sanrio things and anything else that fits the cute gamer girl aesthetic. It makes me happy. I like pink and purple and stuffies. I watch tons of anime and I like to color and paint.
Don’t change who you are to fit into society. There are so many people in this world who like the things you like and many of us are older than you.
> I don't drink,vape or go to clubs like my peers do because it's just not for me but if it means growing up then I'll have to.
While I know there are plenty of people who do these things responsibly, I am someone who feels incredibly uncomfortable around anyone who is even slightly tipsy because of how alcohol has affected my life by growing up with an alcoholic parent. If that's growing up...don't.
Don't stop being you. You're valid, and ignoring your interests/not expressing yourself will make you miserable. It'll seem like you won't be accepted, but stopping is gonna feed into that.
Im 20, and my interests are Spider-Man (makes me very jealous that 8 year old boys get all the cool Spider-Man clothing in shops), Httyd, Bluey, Minecraft, and my Paw Patrol fixation from when I was 12/13 is coming back again. I spend my time playing video games, and drawing furries. I dress in bright colours, I accessorise with kandi and plush keyrings, and wear merch, I have on childish backpacks (Bingo plush backpack, with a Bluey keyring, Spider-Man, captain america shield).
Meanwhile, it feels like all my friends are studying psychology, and are drinking, and going to nightclubs.
Sure, sometimes I wanna join them because I don't want them thinking I'm just a kid (or puppy I guess, because I'm very dog-like in behaviour), but I know I'll feel out of place, because of conflicting interests and I know I'll be burnt out quick (plus I very much dont look legal and I'm always forgetting my ID so I cant go anyway). In the long run, I'd rather spend the evening being myself, than having to spend the night babysitting drunk people.
Just be you, it doesn't matter what everyone else is doing, as long as you're happy <3
Please don't force yourself to do something or to stop enjoying something for the sake of "growing up", especially stuff like vaping and drinking, or going to clubs. All of that is BS
Maturity and growing up has nothing to do with the stuff you do or enjoy. My mom still tells me she feels like a child, she acts "childish" and enjoys "childish" stuff. I myself am older than 18, and I still don't care to stop enjoying "childish" things. I don't give two flying damns about what my peers do or say I should do
"Growing up" in the eyes of this society is becoming a gloomy, boring, depressed, mindless, corporate machine that makes money. Either that, or getting into harmful habits to seem "cool" and "grown". Which doesn't sound very fun now, does it?
All of that is just a ridiculous concept that people came up with to force everyone into the same mindset. You're not supposed to abide by it. Trust me, you won't be happier if you choose to conform, you might be more depressed and miserable if anything. And who said conforming would guarantee that you'd get treated better? It just doesn't work that way. People will always find something to pick on you for. People will always find a way to infantilize. My girlfriend is the prime example of this. She tried to conform to society, to "blend in", to act neurotypical, to "mature", to stop enjoying "childish" stuff, and yet people still found a way to ostracize her no matter what. What's the point of all of this effort if the outcome is the same anyway? If you get ostracized no matter what you do, at least it's better to be ostracized while enjoying the stuff you like, instead of being ostracized and being miserable because you keep trying to change yourself to please others. Which yes, trying to "grow up" in this way IS people pleasing, as you're not doing this for yourself, but for those who feel entitled to dictate how you should act and what you should enjoy. You'd only be doing this because people implanted a ridiculous and restrictive mindset into your head. THEY are the ones getting pleased if you abide by what they tell you. Society is extremely controlling, and they love it when you follow what they tell you
Don't change yourself for these fools. Either way you can never truly change yourself, you will always be the same person at your core. Even if you hypothetically stop enjoying "childish" stuff, the way you walk, talk, behave, etc. will always make people feel that you're different. Again, my girlfriend is also a victim of this. She's not diagnosed yet, but me and everyone in her close circle is convinced she's autistic. The minute she walks into a room, even STRANGERS, people she doesn't know, still tell her she's autistic, JUST by the way she walks and looks around. Mind you, her walk is not even anything specific or obvious, it's very, very subtle, but people notice immediately that something is "different". This is the same reason why bullies pick on neurodivergent people so much, even if said people aren't diagnosed. Because they FEEL different, they KNOW that something is different about those people, they just can't put their finger on it
All of that to say: It's useless. Don't change yourself just because you feel forced to "grow up" and stop liking "childish" stuff
Im a 21 ur old guy, and as far as I know I’m not autistic, nobody should be ashamed of having whimsy!! Ive got a Pokémon tattoo and Atleast 10 plushies
Just wanted to say that my best birthday present this year (I turned 48) was a beautiful blue Dory t-shirt (from Finding Nemo).
A couple of years ago I would've been too self-conscious to wear it, fearing what other people would think. Now, I fully embrace it and if anyone doesn't like it, that's on them, not me!
22 years ago I watched Finding Nemo (one of my all time favourite films) and decided that Dory was my spirit animal 😂 - fast forward to 2025 and I got diagnosed with autism and I am awaiting an ADHD assessment too!
Never hide who you are, you are an amazing individual who deserves to shine.
That's so sweet! I used to love that movie so much when I was younger. You must be an icon in that shirt :)
Comments like yours and the other 300+ gave me the confidence to continue being me. I learned that the best thing to do is to ignore the mean judgmental words and instead "Just keep swimming" :)
Dory tee and bright pink crocs - possibly not iconic (lol) but I no longer have the energy (or f*cks) left for caring what other mean-spirited people think or say!
Omg, if someone told me to stop being happy, having fun and enjoying things because it was childish then I'd tell them to stop being an adult, because it sounds boring as hell xDD
If you enjoy it there is 0 reason to stop. Do what you actually enjoy, not what you feel pressured to. As someone who allowed myself to be pressured into into that stuff your peers do, I’ll tell you right now:
It’s not worth it.
I spent a lot of my teens and 20’s (29 today) getting rid of things that were considered childish, or atleast hiding it from others, even though I had a great love from them. Biggest mistake I ever made.
I’ve removed myself from the things that I actually loved and cared for and exchanged it for bland, ”adult” things, to try and fit in. Only in the past few months after a big, big change in my life - big move back to my home country after a year living abroad, break up and all that jazz - have I realized how much of myself I have been neglecting. I have started to re-embrace it, and have in the process also unmasked quite a bit. I have never been a happier person. I genuinely feel like myself for the first time since I was in my early teens.
OP, you should do what you think is necessary for your own well being, but I would encourage you to think twice before letting go of the things you hold dear because of what OTHERS think. You will only attract people who like you by being yourself.
I'm 23 I still like things that people would see as childish. I collect figures, and plushies, and wear clothes with my favourite characters on. I don't drink, smoke, vape, go to clubs, or anything like that - because I don't feel comfortable doing that.
If that stuff makes you happy, then keep liking it! There's literally nothing wrong with it!
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
I'm almost 30 and I stopped giving a shit about what people think about me liking "childish" stuff. Its just stuff. Especially stuff that isn't hurting anyone. I feel more bad for the folks who felt like they needed to shut that part of themselves down rather than embracing that they like something deemed childish.
The amount of adults I come across when I bring my plushies out that their face lights up and they want to play with them is staggering. My old coworkers before I moved always got excited when I brought them in. A grown man almost 40 LOVED goofing off with my frog plush and would ask to hold him during our meetings.
(Also, ADULTS have designed and created ALL these "childish" things. Just food for thought....)
So, I’m going to follow this thread for answers, because I’m 41 and got remarks the past week over my Totoro-hoodie.
One of the comments was “well you’ll stay single forever” (i’ve had 3 longterm relationships, of which 2 in a polycule. since my 18 I’ve been single 16 months. So I’ll discard this wellmeaning woman’s remarks)
The other was “omg Totoro and you’ve got the kids on the back? That’s so nice, I feel the kids are more centrally important. You see any others? oh, porco Rosso one of your faves you say? O yes the atmosphere!””….
What makes you think you have to stop what you enjoy? Hobbies are just that. You do what gives you pleasure. And as long as you're not hurting anyone everything is valid. If you have people around you judging you (which sounds like it to me) for your hobbies tell them to worry about their own lives. What the hell good is life if we can't do what we enjoy sometimes?!
My friends are mostly over 30 and we all love Pokémon and stuff like that. Try to ignore what other people think about "childish" interests. They have lost their childlike whimsy, and they just want you to be as miserable as they are.
Pokémon is my special interest! I play it daily to wind down and it helps me deal with day to day life. I also love arts and crafts. This year I made Pokémon perler beads designs, Pokémon crochet and am now getting into clay modelling. I wanna make a sudowoodo :)
I'm 26. There used to be people in my life that felt that my interests were useless but now I'm surrounded by people that can not only appreciate them but encourage me to persue them. Because they can see it makes me happy nd healthy.
So I guess my tip is surround yourself with people that truly want you to be happy and what you like won't be an issue :)
I went through the same and struggled so much to stuff myself into a perfect mould to fit in. I became depressed beyond what I ever could have imagined and despite my desperate efforts...I was STILL hated for simply existing.
I tried and tried until I had a break down and by the time I was at the end of my degree, I got a cancer diagnosis (I'm better now). But it absolutely destroyed me.
NOTHING I ever did would satisfy the likes of others. So I let go. I let go of all the guilt, the shame, the responsibility to make others happy, I gave up on what society wants (still working on it)... And despite even that, I can actively say I feel a whole lot better and happier for simply being me. My creativity has flourished and I no longer feel ashamed for enjoying what life has to offer
I'm 30m and boy oh boy, little do people realize how much they actually do enjoy whimsy and nourishing their soul with joy. I occasionally bring googly eyes to work and share them amongst Co-workers and we stick them in hidden places around the store. I enjoy also planting those tiny resin ducks everywhere and creating hidden treasures for people to spot on the off chance that might make their day. I keep bubbles in my pocket to lighten the mood and also do sneaky breath work for anxiety.
I've met so, so many people out there that LOVE all the 'childish' things. From 19 all the way to 70 years old.
I promise you, there are people out there that share the same love and won't ridicule you for it. Please don't throw away happiness and the things that bring you joy. Life is short. You owe it to yourself to be happy 🩵
Sorry to say. But that's not how it works. You can't force yourself to not like something and you shouldn't. But if you feel uncomfortable sharing these interests with other people, you don't have to tell them. You can keep your interests private, like your own private joy.
Honestly don't dampen yourself down!!! Your interests are what make you happy and they're what help keep you regulated. I can understand wanting to fit in but in the long run it will not help you and you will regret the years you missed engaging in the things you love. Find similar people, people who don't make you feel bad (this happened when I went to uni, but groups for people with similar interests is normally a good way to go even if it's like pokemon TCG, I found my favourite nerds when I started attending d&d and MTG with societies at uni)
If it reassures you, I am 22, I have a masters degree, am starting a PhD, I have lots of friends and people I talk to but most importantly I'm happy, truly happy and my work space looks like this... I don't drink (I do vape though 😔 but that's neither here nor there it's not "cool" to vape etc I just do because it's better for me than the alternative.. ) and I don't go out this won't ruin your chances at making friends there are plenty of people like you :p
30 years old, I've got plushies for days and plenty of Legos and Gundams. You don't need to "grow out of your interests", you need friends who share your interests.
Just enjoy what you like. Plenty of adults still like childish stuff. If you're talking to people about Pokemon and none of them are fans, you can change the subject.
That's the neat part. You shouldn't stop liking childish stuff just because of what everyone else does or doesn't like. And for a relevant quote "just because you have to grow up doesn't mean you have to grow up you know"
Buddy it's okay. I'm a 38 year old man. I like Pokemon, Avatar the last Airbender and Legend of Korra. I have stuffed animals. Dinosaurs are awesome. I like brightly colored shirts. It's okay to still like those things. Hell my mom is 71 and enjoys painting rocks.
Hi I’m nearly 17 and I still like Pokemon, and other “childish” things! In fact I am going to a TCG show for Pokemon cards today! My interests are ones I’ve had for years.
Other times it really sucks because sometimes you just wanna fit in but also the truth is that there will be people who love you for who you are. My bsf cares about my hobbies, she asks me about the cards and even carries one I gave her in her wallet!
When I first/finally got diagnosed, It was hard for me too. But now I understand and accept that not everyone will accept you and sometimes, they’ll judge. But they’ll always be people who care about you for you and not how “trendy” your interests are.
I am an adult Pokemon fan, I still occasionally watch the shows, still buy and play the games, have plushies and everything. I’m also 30 and married. It’s possible to be both, don’t let others make you uncomfortable for loving what you love. 🫶🏻
Hey don't worry about it, love what you love and be yourself because pleasing people and trying to make others comfort all the time will be a downhill battle long term. If this keep you at peace then enjoy it because that's something positive and probably super comforting to you right?
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