child or adult

[motherhubbard]

My girls had their standardized testing last week. One of Bailey’s writing prompts asked her if she would rather be a child or an adult and why. We talked about this during dinner that night and I was the only person at the table who chose adult. They chose child because children have more free time and less responsibility. I chose adult because I enjoy being the one who is in control of my life. I just wondered what the rest of you would say and why.

Would you rather be a child or an adult, and why?

[Chava]

What about the 'betweenagers'? I think it is an ironic tragedy that many children spend time dreaming of being grownups, and grownups spend time thinking about being kids.
I have moments when I would love to go back to the blissful ignorance of childhood. The infallible time of my life, where the challenge of the day was thinking of new games to play.
No, I'm not Peter Pan, and I enjoy the limitless freedom of my early adulthood. I do think that there is a missing 'age' here. Adult, with family and responsibilites, is very different from the adult life that I lead; with my self as the only constant obligation. I'm a child who can selfishly indulge only in my own needs with no responsibility for anyone, and I'm an adult, who pays my bills, goes to work, and finishes her degree.
I think it seems an unnatural distinction, I've known 5 year olds more mature then men at 40. I think I'm in pretty good touch with my inner child, and I think she has pretty good control of my adult I.

[AimusSage]

I'd rather be both. Why should it be mutually exclusive? You can be an adult and still satiate the inner child. You just have to know there is a time and place for everything. So if I really had to choose, I'd rather be an adult who still keeps the child in him alive whenever he can. Don't be serious all the time.

And now I am going to be a child again by playing games.

[motherhubbard]

She was given the writing prompt on a test and it didn't allow for a mixture. It had to be one or the other.



Adult, with family and responsibilites, is very different from the adult life that I lead; with my self as the only constant obligation. I'm a child who can selfishly indulge only in my own needs with no responsibility for anyone, and I'm an adult, who pays my bills, goes to work, and finishes her degree.


I missed out on this part of life. I had children young and that really puts the kibosh on freedom. You make me miss what I did not have even though I'm really happy with what I've got.

[Virgil]

There are pluses and positves to both. I picked I'm just happy to be alive but if I had to lean on one I would have picked adult. Sure, more responsibility but more freedom to explore life.

[Niamh]

I would have said child, but right now... i'm not too sure.

[andave_ya]

Right now I'm a few days away from 18 so I'm seeing the best of both worlds! To stand on the edge of childhood and to see what I was, what I am, and where I am going and how my life so far has prepared me for that can only be described as shiversome. Life is good however old I am :).

[skib]

Seeing as I don't remember much of my childhood beyond my extended periods of tramping about in the mountains, I don't really care. Being an 'adult' is nice, because I no longer answer to anyone. I am free to do as I please (as long as the law permits) and nobody can tell me I am wrong. As a child, I remember my mother's love and care seemed more shackles from what and who I wanted to be. I turned out all for the best, yet in my freedom, I also have learned that responsibility comes with that freedom. So, its a toss up. I miss the endless fantasy and imagination sparked by the world around me, but now that I am old enough to explore it, I love that too. So, to sum it all up, I'm just happy to be here.

[librarius_qui]

(I'd like to be a child, but NOT because it's the best time in a person's life ...
[so, I didn't vote for any of the choices.])

[*Classic*Charm*]

I've wanted to be an adult since I was about 12...that seems a bit daunting now, but I wouldn't want to go back to being a child either. I suppose I'm in limbo right now...and as much as I still look forward to the stability of adulthood, being young and relatively free has its perks. So basically, anything but a child.

If I had to write the paper though- I'd go with adult.

[Shatov]

I think it is an ironic tragedy that many children spend time dreaming of being grownups, and grownups spend time thinking about being kids.
I have moments when I would love to go back to the blissful ignorance of childhood. The infallible time of my life, where the challenge of the day was thinking of new games to play.

"True paradises are the paradises that we have lost."


We don't just live our lives forward into the future, we also live them backwards, making sense of our past and of what we once were. Adulthood gives us a full appreciation of our childhoods.

[Lokasenna]

I think I'd quite liked to have remained 16 for a while - on the cusp, as it where, between the two. I suppose, though, I'm just thankful to be alive!:lol:

[Delta40]

I'm looking forward to growing toward my second childhood...meantime, I'm loving the journey - the scenery is great!

[predict18_white]

I choose both adult and childhood.I thought that a people must have adult responsibility,
child's innocence and curious.yea?

[sprinks]

I hate being 16! Not an adult or a child. I can drive (with a parent present) but I can't vote. I can do what I like in general, but I can't move out. Freedom, but so many restrictions. I'd rather be an adult, but I was never much of a child. I was always a drifter and a loner as a child (still am to some degree).
One of my friends turns 17 in about 40 minutes, and even 17 seems like a better age than 16. I know a few 18 year olds in my classes at school, which is interesting because although they have less legal restrictions, I'm just as mature as them, if not more mature than some of them.

I just can't wait to LEGALLY be able to do what I want, and be who I want. (Some things are more difficult to do in regards to who I want to be, because of parental authority.)

But still, age scares me sometimes, and as such, I'd rather childhood, because of the potential it holds.

[dramasnot6]

I consider childhood to be a social construct. In many places you have to start working as soon as you are physically able to. Kids as young as 6 or 7 have great economic responsibilities and must help feed their families. I was priveleged enough to have a childhood at all. I'm 16 now and yet my parents still handle the majority of my financial needs...this seems ridiculous compared to most the of population.

I agree with Sprinks in that, legally, I would prefer to be an adult in America so that I may vote. However, socially, it's impossible to say because "child" versus "adult" are defined by very different standards across time and place.

[Stargazer86]

This is a toughy. I would say both, if that's an option. It would be great to be a child (or a teenager, rather) with the knowledge, life experience, and sense of responsibility that I have now.

[kratsayra]

I am all about the independence gained with adulthood. I don't consider that I became an adult at 18 but instead when I was fully financially independent from my parents (technically, when I graduated college). While of course I care about my parents, I am so happy to have my own life and to be able to separate myself from the problems that they have.

I had a very happy young childhood, and I don't remember ever being upset about not being able to do things until I was probably around 11 or 12 years old.

But I'm still going with adulthood. If only because my parents are so terrible with money. I'm much better off being in charge of my own finances. ;)

[Chava]

I consider childhood to be a social construct. In many places you have to start working as soon as you are physically able to. Kids as young as 6 or 7 have great economic responsibilities and must help feed their families. I was priveleged enough to have a childhood at all. I'm 16 now and yet my parents still handle the majority of my financial needs...this seems ridiculous compared to most the of population.

I agree with Sprinks in that, legally, I would prefer to be an adult in America so that I may vote. However, socially, it's impossible to say because "child" versus "adult" are defined by very different standards across time and place.

:) right you are