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Age appropriate/ obsession

Hello kitty 09

Hi! 
my name is Jamie and I live in the US. I’m 31 adult with autism. I am obsessed with collecting and playing with dolls, stuffed animals, etc. I get told to grow up and “ act” my age. My question is what is age appropriate and what do you like to collect or obsessed with? 

Parents
  • Hello kitty 09 said:
    I get told to grow up and “ act” my age.

    Dont listen to them, they dont seem to have a clue about individuals

    im 32 and get told to grow up too, its not a great feeling, as i look at other 30+ year old and i dont feel like a proper man, i guess its the way i have grew up but i am starting to accept that everyone is different and still trying to not compare my self to others and still trying to not listen to other peopls rubbish advice such as "grow up".

Reply
  • Hello kitty 09 said:
    I get told to grow up and “ act” my age.

    Dont listen to them, they dont seem to have a clue about individuals

    im 32 and get told to grow up too, its not a great feeling, as i look at other 30+ year old and i dont feel like a proper man, i guess its the way i have grew up but i am starting to accept that everyone is different and still trying to not compare my self to others and still trying to not listen to other peopls rubbish advice such as "grow up".

Children
  • in reply to Chris

    Hi Jamie. I’d say that unless it’s impeding  in some serious way on the balance of your life (getting other stuff done that needs attention) then please don’t let anyone make you feel less grown up than anyone else for having a hobby that began in childhood and has given you pleasure and comfort since. I can remember being around 12 and playing with some Lego when my well-meaning (though possibly also irritated) father told me I was too old to be doing that and it was time to put away the last of my childhood. I remember feeling very shamed by that. I put the Lego away and it never came out again. Cut to many years later when I realise that many people of my age and older kept collecting/making Lego stuff their entire lives, for therapy and enjoyment, and I could have done the same. They are in all respects fully mature and well rounded adults, and continued space for their hobbies is not an exception to that. The opposite even! I’d have continued to do likewise if it had been externally validated by ‘permission’ (I still struggle with that issue even now). I’m glad that one other sanity-saving unbroken line from my childhood (Doctor Who fandom) remains in my life and always will. I can’t put into words how much it’s meant to me, and I’m glad I never got talked out of that one - even though one or two ‘grow up’ moments undoubtedly occurred. 

    so, yeah - don’t let anyone make you feel  bad about something that gives you joy and reassurance when you need it most, which (for many of us, let’s face it) is most days. 

    best wishes