20 Childhood Dreams And Adult Realities Women Face
"Male validation. Men thinking you're hot. It's not the meaning of life, it's a worthless burden."
"Marriage."
"Little short me couldn't wait to be an adult and wear heels all the time. I'm good with foam slip-on sneakers, thank you!"
"Doing my hair. Yikes, what a chore. Also, paying rent and wearing bras. Oof."
"After watching the loving and healthy relationship between my mum and dad and how in love with each other they were, I knew I wanted that someday. Then I grew up and realized my dad was one in a million."
"Everything, the entirety of adulthood...friendships, romantic relationships, motherhood, work, finances. Absolutely nothing is as I thought and hoped it would be."
"The myth that when a guy bullies you or treats you like crap, it's because he likes you."
"As a girl with sexual trauma and just being raised in a conservative state, I thought it was empowering and freeing to have sex whenever, wherever, with whoever; but now that I've experienced it with a man who held a mutual love with me, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Men."
"I didn't overly romanticize it, but all of my life growing up, my parents said that the main objective of my life was to go to school to get an education so I could get a man with a good education who would take care of me and our children. My only value was to get a house, husband, car, 2.5 kids, and a dog, and if you didn't work to do those things and put a career, dreams, or education first, you were failing."
"Dating older men at a young age."
"BOOBS. OMG, I wanted them so bad and now I curse mine. They're constantly growing and shrinking, bras suck, back pain is unreal, and posture is ruined."
"Weddings. I don't want to be watched as I walk down the aisle; I struggle enough not tripping when people are not watching me. I love the dresses and the idea, it's very beautiful...but just not for me."
"I really envisioned an annual girls' trip starting from my 20s to when we start dying off. I managed one trip, which was great, but we could never do it again and I just gave up. Now in my late 40s, I just want to travel with my significant other or solo."
"Being a housewife. I know a lot of women are still happy housewives, but my ex-husband destroyed me and made it so hard to get back on my feet. It's not something I would want again."
"Being hyper-independent."
"Crushes on celebrities or 'boyfriends' in the school environment. Looking back, our identities are somewhat sexualized and tied to men from such a young age."
"Becoming a mom! Love my kids but wow, do they lie to you about how romantic it is to have a kid with a husband!"
"Being an adult."
And finally, "The three Ms: men, marriage, and motherhood. I grew up really desperate and excited for all of those things, but as I've gotten older, I find myself really disillusioned and uninterested in them. I'm queer, I don't care for marriage in the same way, and feel like child-bearing might not be for me or even a viable thing to do now with the world being what it is."
What do you think of these? Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below; and if you have any past romanticizations of your own to share, feel free to do so and add to the conversation!
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Please note: Some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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