Childish vs. Childlike

Hey Papabear! How ya doin'? :3 

Well... I'm writing you again for a reason completely different from all the mess that E was... and actually I decided to take any possible chance to spend time with him and have fun in any way possible; obviously, this will have to stop as soon as one of us or both of us get a couple.

Putting that aside... and it may sound stupid... but uh... well, as you know, I'm already legal here at my country, but I still don't look at myself as an adult nor a young adult... Weird thing, since I already experimented with adult stuff like sex, and I'd love to have some tattoos... But aside from that... alcohol? other "adult stuff"? I don't care for those things, and I'm still really childish at times. I'm not ashamed of that, just confused, since some friends look more adult than before... Their features have hardened, and according to myself I have changed nothing! I still have a round face, my smile is really childish at times... So my question here is: Is it wrong to try and have a childish attitude at certain stuff? or, as a lot of people says... man up?

P.S Sorry if the letter is too long nwnUuu

Thnx again for everything you do!

Yang (age 18, Mexico)

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Dear Yang,

Embracing the child within all of us is rather at the heart of being a furry, in this bear’s opinion. Most furries, young and old alike, enjoy things that most “adults” have abandoned as being childish, such as TV cartoons, animated movies, comic books, and video games.

It is not “wrong” to still want to maintain that childlike fun in your life, but please do note the distinction between being “childish” and being “childlike.” 

Childishness is about being immature, having temper tantrums when things don’t go your way, being selfish, being irresponsible, depending on others for basic necessities, refusing to work for a living, and so on.

But an adult who is childlike is someone who takes responsibility for him/herself, supports him/herself, and takes responsibility for his/her own actions, yet, at the same time, a childlike person enjoys fun, silliness, goofy stuff, and the joy of play. Such people don’t buy into the social pressures of “getting ahead” and “keeping up with the Joneses” (if you understand that expression in Mexico).

For the throngs of the many, being “adult” has to do with slaving away at a job to make more money, being concerned about promotions in the workplace, gaining the respect of their peers (even if they don’t like their peers), conforming to the standards of the group, and owning lots of stuff (the more expensive, the better). These are sad people who lack individuality and soul.

Many furries are rebels, rejecting “normal” society to join the culture of play and imagination and creativity.

It’s fine to be “childlike,” great even. But don’t be childish. Make sense?

Hugs,

Papabear