My dad is turning 36 in April, and quite a few of my friends (I’m 18, for reference) say that he doesn’t “act his age.” By that, they mean he posts a lot on Instagram (especially daily Stories where he vlogs his life, lol), he’s trendy and very open-minded, works out and takes great care of himself so he looks hot, and he’s really into nightlife and partying. He’s also very adventurous and just a fun guy in general. They don’t think it’s a bad thing at all - in fact, they think it’s cool. But it got me wondering: how is a 36-year-old supposed to act? lol
Not at all. I’m 64. Moved from my country to another one about 30 years ago. I was 33 when I came here. It feels like I was over there for 10 years and here for another another 10 years.
In my mind I’m 40.
Life is short, but moreso in the way you feel than in the actual numbers. Numbers are only that, a number. Your life is not measured by days, but by events. Start doing awesome stuff.
I have one single criteria for defining an adult.
That is:
“To be an adult you need to understand when it is appropriate to be childish”
If he does that, then there is no problem.
and he’s really into nightlife and partying.
Everything else I wouldn’t blink at, but I would wonder what kind of places Dad likes to party at.
Old for what? shuffle board?
Your dad had you waaaay too young
18 is super young to be having a kid, but man it can be much, much worse than that.
Old? 36? When I was 36 I could still stand up without my joints making a noise like glass shattering.
My dad was 45 when he had me, yours was 18. I had the opposite experience because my parents were so much older than my friends’ parents. I think that’s the biggest part of what you’re seeing: your dad is just younger than your friends’ dads.
But to your broader question, there is no way a person is “supposed to act” at a given age, but there are some norms. For instance, a lot of folks who party a lot in their teens and twenties get bored with that at some point. Also, working to earn a living to feed the family often leaves people more with out and preferring something quiet at home to going out with a bunch of people.
I hope 36 isn’t old. I’m about to turn 40.
It’s young for an adult, old for a child, while 60+ is just old, period.
There is no “acting your age”, there are only stereotypes, expectations and some people who are afraid acting out of those.
I can’t say as I’m in my late 50 and still watch cartoons. Do what makes you happy and fuck acting your age.
Watching cartoons, if not done excessively, is just whimsical and largely innocuous. Going out and partying hard regularly when you’re raising children is not.
What’s considered excessive?
Cuz there’s a lot of really amazing animated stuff out there these days that’s definitely not for kids, and some people, myself included, prefer it over live action.
For me it’s largely because a “meh” voice talent is far better than a “meh” live-action talent, since you can’t see them. Animation is also lovely for people with prosopagnosia (face blindness) because animated characters usually look wildly different in easy to notice ways.
I don’t disagree, I’m a big fan of ATLA, for instance, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Berserk, NGE, and many others. And movies like Memories, Redline, Vampire Hunter D, Akira… But it’s important not to get lost in media consumption and lose track of things that are (and should be perceived as) more important in life, that’s all I meant. I’m not even that good at not getting lost, I’m just saying it’s important to keep it in mind.
According to Pokemon he is decrepit.
That’s not Pokemon is it? Looks more like a Mega Man Battle Network or Star Force game.
As an avid Pokémon and Mega Man Battle Network player, it is for sure Mega Man.
I would imagine your friends are used to their parents acting older and/or more mature because they are older. He’s probably just a completely different generation from your friends parents.
It’s also common for people who have a child at such a young age to have their maturity stunted. He didn’t get to finish out his youth like his peers so he’s still grasping for it. When his friends were out partying at the age of 21 he was trying to support a toddler.
Other than taking care of himself, and meeting his familial and financial obligations and responsibilities, there’s no way a 36 year old is “supposed” to behave. Though it’s hard to tell as you may have painted a portrait through rose colored glasses.
Your dad is a millennial (and it appears he had you when he was just 18 as well), so he’s more in touch with technology and social media. As an older millennial as well, I feel like my generation definitely acts younger than gen x and boomers when they were my age. Your friends’ parents are probably in those generations, and your dad is just young in relation to your age.
That’s bullshit people in their ~30’s tell other people in their ~30’s. I’ve always been the same and done the same things. For example, in my late 20’s, 30’s, if someone saw me skateboarding, they’d tell me to act my age. In my 40’s it was a cool curiosity, and in my 50’s it’s inspirational.
When people put others down and tell them to act their age, its a “them” problem. It’s their hangups, insecurities, and jealousy showing, not the person living their life.
Yep. I’m almost 40 and still ride shopping carts through the parking lot. I climb on stuff, I jump around, I sit on the bare floor. People look at me funny and I smile and wave. I get visibly excited for things like riding the subway (not from an area with good public transit), or figuring out how novel things I see work. It’s fun. Life -should- be fun. Being a “mature adult” is boring and I don’t want to do it just because some crusty old shit says I should.
Social norms and stigmas for inconsequential behavior are silly. Are you happy? Are you hurting anyone? If yes and no respectively, you win life!
