There's Always Something To Worry About
When you're an adult, you wish you could be a kid again, but when you're a kid, you wanted nothing more than to be grown up. It just seems like we're never satisfied! That's because we always like to think the grass is greener on the other side, not understanding that we have struggles no matter what age we are. Don't believe us? Here's proof! Here are 10 things you likely worried about as a kid and 10 things that you probably worry about now.
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1. Being Popular
You remember those days where you purposely acted or dressed a specific way just to impress the right crowd, hoping it would gain you some popularity points? Don’t worry, we’ve all done it before. Because as a kid, nothing was more important than being popular in school - it meant having friends and a good social life.
2. Getting Good Grades
Doing well at school was incredibly stressful! Not only did it determine what schools you could go to after high school, it felt at the time as if your entire future depended on getting straight As. And with parents pressuring their kids to attain academic success, it felt like a huge weight on your shoulders.
3. Fitting In
No matter what elementary or high school you went to, there would always be cliques. As a young child, you always wanted to be a part of the cool groups all while trying to avoid the “out” groups out of fear of judgment. Being unique and different is sadly shunned upon at a young age, making kids feel like they have no choice but to fit in.
4. Making Friends
It doesn’t matter how young you are, making friends and having a social life is always a struggle. And when you’re a kid and your whole life feels like it’s centered around school and your friends, it makes this all the more important.
5. Meeting Parental Expectations
In a time when you’re still trying to figure out who you are, it can feel like a lot trying to juggle personal growth with parental expectations. And sometimes, parents don’t know how overbearing they are. From trying to control your career path to getting good grades, kids just want to make their parents happy.
6. Getting Along With Siblings
We all know getting along with siblings when you’re young is a lot harder said than done. It often leads to some fighting, or at the very least, back-and-forth bantering because you’re yet to see eye-to-eye on things.
7. Being Bullied
Sadly, kids can be at risk of bullying during this vulnerable time in their lives. And with the prevalence of social media these days, bullying has grown tenfold. Kids can often be careless with their actions and words, not understanding just how deeply they can cut others.
8. Thinking About The Future
What college do you want to go to? What do you want to study? What kind of person do you want to be? Kids are often bombarded with plenty of questions about their future when in reality, they’re just trying to figure things out. It can be pretty stressful answering something you don’t know.
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9. Strict Parents
Kids often don’t understand that strictness is a parent’s way of showing they care and love. They’re trying to help shape their kids to be model adults and kind human beings. It’s usually something kids don’t realize until they get older.
10. Understanding Your Identity
The biggest question on every kid’s mind as they grow older? Who do I want to be. When the world is still your oyster, there are so many different paths you can walk down, which can actually create more stress when you don't know what you want yet.
1. Financial Stability
No, money can’t buy you happiness, but it can sure get you comfort, less stress, and a house over your head. All adults know that having a steady stream of income is an absolute necessity; without it, how do you pay your bills?
2. Getting Married
As you get older, it feels as if more and more people keep asking you, “When are you getting married?” The more you hear it, the more pressure builds up inside you. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a relationship or single, it’s an uncomfortable question either way.
3. Having Kids
As if asking if you’re going to get married soon wasn’t bad enough, people often follow it up with “When are you having kids?” These two are questions that go hand-in-hand, making the anxiety double every time it’s asked.
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4. Being In The Right Career
Do you enjoy your work? If not, you’re probably thinking over and over about what you should do. Do you risk financial instability for your own happiness? At an age where doing what you want isn’t always the best choice, it can become a serious stressor that affects your mental health.
5. Getting Promoted At Work
Whether you’re craving change at work or desperately need a raise, working hard to get a promotion at work can lead to disappointment and anxiety if you’re not rewarded. It’s something that’s not guaranteed, even if you do your best.
6. Being Good Parents
If you have kids, realizing that it’s your responsibility to look after them, care for them, and help them to grow to be the best people they can be, might feel like an overwhelming blow out of nowhere. It takes time to learn that all parents are all just trying to figure it out as they go and you can only do the best that you can. Doesn't mean it isn't stressful though!
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7. Caring For Your Aging Parents
Something we don't often think about is that as we get older, so are our parents. Watching them grow more and more dependent on others can be a hard thing to stomach, slowly becoming a daily stressor as you figure out how to best provide care and meet their needs.
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8. Not Having Enough Time For Yourself
From dealing with kids to being too busy at work, there simply isn't enough time in the day where you can relax and enjoy your own company. That's why "me time" is so precious when you're an adult! Many people struggle to balance work, responsibilities, and personal time, leading to stress build-up.
9. Health Concerns
It's the sad truth that our health deteriorates as we age. Our bones become weaker, we lose muscle, and we become more susceptible to certain health concerns. As the days goes on, your personal well-being, whether it be mental, emotional, or physical, start to stay on your mind more and more.
10. Relationship Problems
It doesn't matter if you're married or not yet, any form of relationship problem can be a constant struggle. It never gets easier, and unless you both work on your conflict resolution skills, these arguments can be very stressful. So much so that they can impede on your day-to-day life and make it hard to focus on anything else.
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