Probably gotta do it in very small doses at first in an environment you feel quite safe in, and set up precautions so that if you feel extreme shame and danger, you can regulate those emotions. For me that would mean I need to be completely alone in my room with nobody perceiving me, and one of my people from my support system alerted that I might need emotional support later on.
I had a secret drawer for all my kiddie stuff at first, now I’m more open about it.
I still second guess some of my stuff being ‘out’ when people come over, but it gets easier the more you do it. My coffee squishmallow has gotten many compliments. People may surprise you!
Baby steps.
Depending on your age, try something slightly younger people stereotypically do. And when you get nearly comfortable with that, go an age bracket lower.
Just bit by bit.
There are some things that work for many ages (I found bubbles, board or card games, and ball games work), that you wouldn't look weird doing.
And you don't have to display them out in the open either.
I have a semi big box of my childhood stuffies, and a few other things I associate with it, but I don't take them out.
I have a few figurines of childhood favourites. Stitch from Lilo&Stitch, an ankylosaurus, a slinky, a ceramic flower, a small colourfull glittery windmill.
You can get things one after another or at the same time. Or just as a screenshot or pinterest board on your phone.
Just let it be something that child-you would have liked or thought funny.
I know I shouldn't feel guilty about it... but... my secret guilty pleasure is strawberry milk. Too embarrassed of it to mention it to my wife, so I only get it on my way into work.
Ohh! That stuff is delicious! ...imagine telling her and she picks some up for you on your birthday! What a sweet treat! 🤔 maybe get her some for Valentine's Day with some other theme appropriate gift and then "accidentally" have it in the house more often!
"Hey honey! I'm home! Happy Valentine's Day!"
*slaps a case of strawberry milk on the table
that's not embarrassing at all!! Strawberry milk is delicious:)
i would be so thrilled if my partner had such a easy to get secret pleasure. you can get strawberry milk in gas stations, convenience stores, sometimes even in coolers at fast food stops! it would be such a fun and easy way to bring joy to my partner's life, i would be so excited to begin keeping some in the fridge, bringing it home from the store as a treat, grabbing some after a hard day, hunting down fancy brands of it to try with them.... maybe your wife will have that perspective too. strawberry milk is definitely one of those guilty pleasures that can become a vehicle for your partner to show you love and acceptance
Absolutely this. I'd get my SO whirly-curly crazy straws, and then also clean them for them. Such a cute, wholesome gift. Do they like frozen yogurt? Because they'd also get frozen strawberry yogurt tubes too.
I did it - told her today while we were getting groceries - and she got me both a strawberry and a blueberry from a local dairy farm in town. Small victories!
I'm so happy for you!!! congrats, it's really hard to give people little openings into our lives like that!
Bruh strawberry milk is the bomb.
I am middle aged and own squishmallows, rainbow shoelaces and a heap of colouring books and stickers.
It’s the best. I am fortunate enough to have a decent job and the income to do this.
Squishmallows and stickers are great, I like to let my inner child choose which one at the store :3
Yes! I used to love stickers as a kid and started collecting them again last year.
Most of my trauma was in adulthood and this is still great advice!
Oh shit. I do this a lot and I didn't realize it was because of it.
A few months ago I was watching the SpongeBob movie and my boyfriend tried to change the channel, I didn't let him lol.
I have bought a slime and I have been doing a lot of childish things since I moved from home.
I don't care what my friends think about me, I'm the one making the biggest income and I have my shit together. They think I'm some kind of crazy eccentric semi genius lol.
Yay for feeling no shame!! I love silly string and glitter! It’s so awesome to be a kid now that I’m not in poverty and can afford nice art supplies and crafts.
Agree. Although my family wasn't living in poverty, I was discouraged by my parents from doing anything childish. They wouldn't play with me often, and I actually couldn't enjoy movies or anything because of the bad environment. See, all my favorite things as a kid were "stupid".
Why did this make me cry?!?! Thank you.
I’m fighting back tears in a waiting room now!
Trying not to sob at the gym rn
Same!
I KEEP BUBBLES IN MY PURSE NEXT TO MY ANXIETY MEDS! I sometimes go to the bathroom and blow bubbles for myself when im at work. The bubbles help calm me before the meds kick-in. And sometimes I give them away to parents if I see their kid is having a meltdown or something.
Play is vital for survival. It's how we explore ourselves. Art is a great way to do that.
Oh that's a wonderful idea!
I refuse to acknowledge the concept of having to stop enjoying things because of my age. I'm 31 and most of my friends my age watch cartoons and collect plushies and play videogames. I know a lot of people don't because they don't want to be childish but I can't figure out what those people do with their free time besides drinking.
Thank you. I was gonna get myself an adult coloring book as a treat. But I just realized that I would enjoy a girly coloring book meant for kids with cute stickers and little gems way more and now I can actually get myself one :(
It's the little things :)
I am the queen of sillies! But only when noone is looking 😁
Childrens songs were my favorite long into my adulthood and I still sing them at home. I still love cartoons and childrens movies. I jump into puddles and go sliding down in snow. And I stop to look at the worms on a rainy day. In store, I often end up in the plushie section or I buy myself something small and pretty that made me smile.
The most fun part about adulthood is that I get to spoil the little me and we have so much fun together! Be good to your inner child, be the parent they so dearly needed. 😊
We literally have a PLAY circuit in our brains that Jaak Panksepp mapped out. Play is really good for us.
Omg this.
The other day I picked up some sausages on a whim but a couple of days later I was planning out my morning and my brain got absolutely giddy at the idea of "hotdog party", flashing up almost-forgotten positive memories of special Sunday pigs-in-a-blanket. It meant an extra morning supermarket run for supplies, but all-in-all it was great.
Wound up making one with just mayo & ketchup and one with fried onions; one for nostalgia and one to my actual modern tastes. A treat for both of us.
Sounds like you had a great time :) It was wonderful reading your comment
THIS. I wasn't allowed to play a lot with art supplies as a kid because it was too messy. I never had new markers. So for a long time I bought myself new markers whenever I wanted. I felt like trying painting, so I did - watercolor, gouache, acrylic. I tried charcoal sketching. None of it "took" long term, but I absolutely loved playing with color and making things just for me.
Love it!
I used to play the game Club Penguin when I was younger, (before Disney even bought it), and I used to play as a way to escape my reality. Now present day, I play (a fan-made version) to actually just enjoy the game, and not escape. It’s amazing how different the experience is, even as an adult.
I told my therapist I felt guilting wasting my time by playing a kids game. She said I shouldn’t, because it’s the same as reading a book- you’re enjoying your time and spending it doing things that brings you happiness. It also heals the inner child.
Last year I went for a walk barefoot in the rain, and I gave in to the urge to splash in the puddles. I can't explain how medicinal that felt
Aw that's the best! I also love to step on crunchy leaves in the fall and squish snow blocks in the winter when I find one on my walk :)
I love a great romp in the rain during warmer weather! So good for the soul!
Age regression is our best friend :,)
I blow bubbles too. I like doing by myself outside in quiet. I think it's the immediate result forming and breathing does the trick.
Sometimes (like maybe twice) I'll see a psychic for funsies. The most recent one said that their entities said I need to play and she seemed almost taken aback. She said she's never had to tell someone that before and all I could do was cry. The guilt and shame I felt even thinking about 'having fun'. My husband and kids are pretty good at gifting me silly things. I have a Pusheen stress ball, coloring books, crafting things, etc.
I have recently gotten back into collecting monster high dolls and it's been really fun for my inner child! And my gf is accepting and supportive of me with no judgment. I also enjoy it since i have good memories of my childhood of playing with dolls with my sister. I definitely did have to work my way up to allowing myself to engage in a "childish" interest but i still was able to do it for myself!
I do a lot of these things. Come over and play with your kids and their toys? Hell yeah! Being over my hand puppets and put on a puppet show? Hell yeah! Do face painting, make crafts and jewelry with my friends kids? Hell yeah! Watch all the cartoons as soon as they come out? Hell yeah!
😊
🥹
I still watch cartoons and do "kids" stuff, even if my parents actively shun me for it. My hobbies included.
Thank you for this ❤️
Sooo....how do I do it without feeling in danger or full of shame?