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41 Most Regrettable ‘It’s Not A Phase, Mom, It’s My Life’ Examples Shared In This Online Group
Our moms knew that when we were sincerely telling them that there was no need for us to go to school anymore because we were in a band now, that wearing fedoras with anime pins was a thing, or that opening a bar in Jamaica with exotic snakes in glass cases was our future career—they really knew it, it would only be a phase. Redditor u/GeorgoyFriendman asked his fellow users of the r/AskReddit community, “What was your biggest/most regrettable 'It’s not a phase, mom. It’s my life.' that, in fact, turned out to be just a phase and not your life?” and the funniest and most hysterical stories poured in.
So if you had an emo ‘phase,’ if you wanted to wear colored contacts but there was nothing wrong with your vision, and if you really thought you were a rapper, check out the best entries and vote for your favorite ones. And then carry on regretting those questionable fashion choices and tramp stamp tattoos.
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#1
When I was 16, I kept my hair dyed blue, and kept myself fairly busy earning money to keep buying the hair dye so it would stay that way. One summer, one of our cats, a gray and white one, had to have a leg amputated after being bitten by a snake, and I noticed that the skin beneath the fur was the same color, in the same pattern, as her fur had been.
And it was just enough to pass idiot teenage muster.
So, I shaved my head with the intention of getting my entire scalp tattooed blue, thinking that when my hair grew back in, it would be forever blue. I even found a tattoo guy willing to do the job, but only if an experimental square inch worked.
I'm still blonde, but I do have a tattoo on my scalp that's just a blue square.
My mother was too dumbfounded to say anything. And my step dad just walked out onto the back porch to stare into the yard for a while. It was never brought up again once it was clear the experiment didn't work.
I never dyed my hair again after that either.
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#2
I was VERY into The Transformers when I was a wee lad in the 1980s. One day, I decided to change my name to the name of my favorite Autobot. My name was lame, and I wanted an awesome Transformer name. And I was VERY insistent that my parents only call me by my new name. Calling me by my 'old' name would cause a big fat tantrum on my part.
So for the better part of a week, my poor parents had to call me Wheeljack.
#3
My friend and I decided we were going to open a bar in Jamaica with exotic snakes in glass cages in the walls at each booth. We convinced ourselves it would be amazing for at least 2 years in college. It was going to be called Fredro's.
My entire family made fun of me for it. Once we got out of college, we realized it was not feasible and joined the office grind. We're also 2 white guys with no ties to Jamaica.
#4
My boyfriend when I sixteen that I swore to god was my soulmate.
I don’t even remember his name now.
Sorry mum.
#5
I wore a top hat with an anime pin on it for around a year. Met one of my current best friends while wearing it, idk how he could bear to speak to me after that.
#6
Really wanted a horse.
Ridiculously allergic to horses.
Also could not afford a horse.
Louise Stange-Wahl 3 years ago
My very first word was HORSE. Everything I wore had to have a horse on it. Started riding lessons at 8. My instructor said I was a natural with the horses and she had only a few students like me over the years. Parents said when I was 15, they would buy me a horse, but I had to pay for the board. Found my perfect Arabian horse...and she was pregnant so I had TWO horses. Exercised other peeps' horses to pay for my board. Fast forward 20 years later, bought my own farm. My babies (original horses) lived 35 years. Bought a small ranch in New Mexico hauled my horses cross country. So here I am, 65+, still just as horse crazy, and the best part of my day, here in the most beautiful location in the world. is taking care of them. Here is the view from the front of my ranch. Proof you should stick with what is in your heart and do not give up! South-Mtn-...5d0cb2.jpg 
#7
Acting like a thug ... being 12 years old from a white middle class family but acting like a career criminal, born in the streets, who had done a nickel of hard time in the clink. At the mall on a Friday night giving you the crazy eye with my backward hat and baggy pants.
If someone did actually “try” me we would usually just bump chests and say “do something then” “go head then” “no you do something homie” walking in circles with my hands by my side because I’m more concerned about looking gangster than I am about defending myself. 9/10 times nothing would happen but I would definitely chalk it up as a win for my crew anyway.
Side note tho one of my best homies head butted a guy with terrible head butt technique and it knocked them both unconscious, but because my friend woke up and got up first he declared himself the victor, it was surprisingly hard to argue with that logic.
Also I had my nickname embroidered on my fitted hat from lids “Lil E” but because of the calligraphy style font and bad spacing it appeared to read Lile or Lily as most would pronounce it and that sucked ass ... spent like a whole months allowance on that stupid hat never to be worn again, but also never forgotten by my friends.
Sincerely yours, Lily
#8
Being a mall goth was "just who I am, mom!" I am 34 and no longer a mall goth. But I do still look back fondly at all the stupid s*** I used to wear. It was a lot of fun.
#9
I went through an Eminem phase were I decided to speak more “urban”. It was basically me saying “yo” a lot and making fulsome gestures with my hands. I would work lyrics into my everyday vernacular like “how ELSE do you get to the booty” and “rap god!” Usually they were completely out of context and inappropriate. I called my friends my “peoples”.
I’m cringing into the floor just thinking about it.
#10
Scene fashion. I back-combed my hair to hell and back, and got quite a few facial piercings I still have scars for lol
The worst part was the actual clothes. I still cringe thinking about when I wore these neon blue leopard print leggings with a pink tutu skirt. And all the tacky, cheap beaded jewelry. My mom told me not to leave the house like that and I told her she didn't "get it".
All the cringe.
#11
I had a posh phase once. Spoke in a terrible british accent, put my pinky out while drinking tea, said pardon a lot. My brother told me to stop so i did
#12
I was obsessed with "The Craft" in junior high and was convinced that I was a witch. I basically just drew pentagrams all over my school work and wore a lot of rings on my fingers. That's it.
#13
Just the standard: "I don't NEED to go to school, MUM. I'm in a BAND!"
#14
My gymnastics.
Then I slipped up and paralysed myself. Had to learn to walk again which took 3 years.
Interestingly, where my parents discouraged me from "wasting time" on gymnastics before the accident, after the accident and my recovery they encouraged me to take it up again... but i cant. The accident and the horror surrounding it still gives me nightmares some nights.
Lynne Monteith 3 years ago
So sorry you had to go through this. It takes great strength both to do gymnastics and to recover from such an injury.
Emma London 3 years ago
I never understood the idea of "just getting back to the saddle" after a traumatic event, visiting your crash site, etc. In some cases it might be a good thing that one faces what happened, but it's not that simple. So many things could go wrong without adequate support, and re-living a traumatic event usually isn't good for you.
Clearly sunny 3 years ago
I'm sorry, you're amazing. Battle of mental strength is the true strength.❤️
Jessica Shookhoff 3 years ago
Oh, I'm so sorry! But you're a badass for learning to walk again!!
Glynna Bowood 3 years ago
Very surprised they would want you to go back to gymnastics after that bad of an accident!
TheReader19 3 years ago
I'm sorry to hear that, but previous to the accident there was nothing wrong with having a passion
Demongrrrrl 3 years ago
I don't think this was a phase the OP grew out of. It was an activity that she loved but was tragically forced to abandon.
Demongrrrrl 3 years ago
To be clear, I'm not in any way trying to diminish her story. That was a horrible thing to happen, and she shows amazing strength of will in her recovery. Her parents should not have tried to get her to go back to gymnastics.
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Arctic Fox Lover 3 years ago
What? Of course I didn't think that the pic above was a bunch of nooses!
Lana Jig-maker 3 years ago
but like pause. congrats on WALKING AGAIN. You did the second biggest YOINK a body can do.
Yeah, you heard 3 years ago
This is a harrowing story, not a funny story of a teenage cringe phase!
Elaine Mattingly 3 years ago
You can excell at something else , you did already, you're walking! Congratulations on your courage and determination.
Louise Stange-Wahl 3 years ago
Hope you are still staying with it. There are so many other ways to be active!
#15
Oh god..... i was a fedora guy once. I hate myself so much for it.
#16
I wanted to be a big-time hero and save the world from every bad thing.
I just play D&D now.
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago
Me too. I want to have magic and super powers, but I'm just Noemie so I play D&D.
#17
Being a hippie. Still love nature, meditation and the Grateful Dead, but it's nice to have a clear head and a meaningful career.
Tim Haight 3 years ago
Unfortunately the idealism of the summer of love (1967) died the next year with the assisinations of Martin Luther King JR and Robert Kennedy. Also the Chicago 8 rioting at the Democratic National Convention and the escalating war. I still love the music and nature too.
#18
Trenchcoat phase after I saw the matrix. Turns out a goofy f****** 13 year old doesn't look or feel as bada** in one as Neo does. EDIT: I was a sheltered kid in a sheltered town. I'd heard of Columbine but had not seen the video and had made no connection between the coat and the event.
#19
I have a real whopper.... I loved anime as a teenager. This was in the 90s so it wasn't that mainstream yet. Because I had no interest in anything else, I took a year of Japanese. Then because I STILL had no other ambition or interest, I signed up in the military to go to Japan. For 8 years.
Got out, went to college and because I STILL didn't know what I wanted to do, I studied Japanese. By this time, the interest in anime had worn off, but learning culture and history was cool. So... I went to college to learn Japanese. As a major.
6 goddamned years, a ton of core classes and not a single interest in any other thing. I was "done" with the Japanese language at that point, but because near the end, my class literally couldn't be run without me, I stayed. I stayed because I felt like it would be a waste if I changed it. Like everything I had done up to that point was a lie.
Here I am with a degree in Japanese Language/History and Culture and I'm not at all interested in it anymore.
I'm looking for a real job, have been since I got out of college but for now I work for a temp company for a Japanese air conditioning company.
#21
Ugh. My tramp stamp. Thought it made me look so hot and flirty. Now I'm a professor and always have to wear high waisted pants so none of my students ever see it.
#22
I became extremely religious in my late teen years. Planned on being a missionary to FARC in Colombia kind of extreme. My mother tried to tell me that I might feel differently in the future and to be careful. I screamed that, if anything, I wanted to be MORE extreme.
I run a liquor store now and she is kind enough not to rub my face in it. I think she’s mostly glad I’m not trying to convert godless drug-lord revolutionaries while dodging AK-47 fire.
#23
There was a time in my younger days when i was obsessed with death. I wanted to be a hitman. I had convinced myself that i was gonna be an assassin. That lasted a few months
Bettie-Jean Neal 3 years ago
I used too think that because I have Asperger's that I'd make a great hit-woman since I'm completely detached from other people and don't relate. I get it.
#24
I went through a weird phase as a child where I almost exclusively watched The Weather Channel for a couple of years. This was back in the early 2000s, when there was no entertainment programming, just repeating news segments and "Local on the 8s," the latter of which I got really excited for. I was also obsessed with watching this stupid slideshow on the local access channel and memorizing the lunch menus for every school in the district.
My mom would get angry at me for doing this. She even took me to see a child psychiatrist, who decided there was nothing wrong with me-- I was just strange. But really, I was absolutely obsessed with PowerPoint. I made all sorts of presentations in my free time, and I was convinced I would become a professional PowerPoint maker, which no one at the time told me wasn't a thing.
It turned out to be a phase because being forced to use PowerPoint today makes me groan... I'd rather spend hours editing a video or writing an essay, especially if that PowerPoint presentation requires an accompanying speech.
I find this phase to be regrettable because I missed a lot of great children's shows of the time, like Lizzie McGuire and As Told By Ginger. I just wanted to watch the most mundane, unmemorable things on TV.
#25
I thought I was asexual cause I'd never liked anyone before and so I told my mom I wanted to grow up and live alone and never find love because people only made you feel worse once they left. Evidently it's worth it and I'm not asexual
#26
I used to button the top buttons of polo shirts
#27
I got really obsessed with being a Christian - buying all the Christianity books, Christian music (like Christian hardcore/ska/pop punk). I joined a methodist church and even got baptised and went to all their mission trips and such.
I'm Jewish lol but I got to go to NYC so _(ツ)_/
#29
Sad part is we still have phases as we age. Hit 40 and I had my first "I'm going to get cancer and die" phase. Little later it was "I'm going to have a heart attack and die phase". I've had friends all seem to go through something similar, that realization of our own mortality.
Plus people my age get wanderlust and chase tail or buy a new sportscar (did neither thankfully).
#30
Being a tattooer. Regrettable because of those poor people who have my awful doodles on their bodies.
#31
I went to a car show once as a teen, and the only newer car there was some chick's PT cruiser. It was hot glittery pink, and at the time I was obsessed. I insisted that one day I would have a hot pink car, with pink seats, pink dash, pink carpets, etc. I was pretty heavily goth at the time, so my parents just rolled their eyes.
#32
Oh god, acting. After years of theater starting in elementary through college, I thought that was it. Loved being on stage. My (Korean) mom would try and bribe me with fast food and other contraband instead of heading out to classes and auditions.
Now I work in IT but still take classes here and there. So, compromise
#33
oh my god I thought I was a redneck (18f). only wore camo, adopted a southern accent, tried trading in my brand new infiniti for a dirt bike... not a good chapter of my life
#34
There was a time when I believed that I wanted to enter seminary and study for the priesthood.
Mom said, "It's a passing fancy. You lead an intensely secular life and are only flirting with the idea because you enjoy time spent at church playing your organ as a lay person."
She was right, but I wouldn't admit it at the moment. By my junior year in high school, the notion had passed.
#35
Wanting colored contacts. My vision was fine, but I wanted purple eyes. I still think it would be cool, but I'm not going out of my way for that.
#36
Dancing to one direction and thinking I'd be in the background of their music video lmao. I actually said that this is going to be my career.
#37
new kids on the block. was a lifestyle.
#38
I never got to experience anything like that as a kid. I suppose the closest thing was back when I got into paintball. I was obsessed. Turns out it was just a 3 year phase since the entire paintball community sort of died off all around the same time.
#39
Wanted to be a wrestler, would put on shows on my trampoline and had a magazine too, never made it to mania
Clearly sunny 3 years ago
Kids will be kids. I once sat on the back fence chewing a gun leaf pretending to be a koala!!.
#40
Anime, emo stuff (mcr and the like). I still am mildly into them but nowhere near the levels I used to be. As much as I hate my emo phase, I don’t think I would be who I am now without it. Same goes for anime. (For the record I still love mcr. They’re a great band! I just don’t use them as a substitute for a personality anymore)
#41
My anime phase. I don’t really watch a lot of anime now but I wouldn’t mind watching it from time to time. Especially when I was 13/14 and went through a whole phase of watching this one show and becoming dark because this character was only into dark things and wore the color black all the time. I also remember thinking how super hot he was. Now I don’t ever want to remember this time at all
What do you think ?
SirPatTheCat 3 years ago
Honestly I say don't get too upset about 'embarrassing' phases. It's normal for kids to experiment with their identities and it was probably a lot of fun at the time, so cut your younger self some slack :)
Kari Panda 3 years ago
Agreed. These things were part of us - we enjoyed it, and as long as no one was harmed, there’s nothing wrong with it. Besides, we can’t and we shouldn‘t be the same person from birth to death.
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ScarlettofHydraIsland 3 years ago
Oh! Can I join? I went through my nerd/never got past third grade in sixth grade (aka dressed in brightly colored shirts with animals on them and weird looking pants). In seventh and eighth grade, I went through my goth/emo stage where I wore all black (and black makeup in eighth grade) and refused to listen to anything but Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Five Seconds of Summer. Then I went through my suburban white girl phase in ninth grade where I dressed almost exclusively in skinny jeans, converse, and short, tight tops I wasn’t even comfortable in. Now I’m comfortable in my more urban style.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
I had a turquoise-hair-and-punk-music phase. I REGRET NOTHING. Except getting caught with dyed hair, b/c I wasn't allowed. My mom sighed the "mom sigh" and said it'd grow out. My dad was gonna shave me bald. Lucky for me, my sister was in her "flirt with cops" phase and got brought home...
Cecilia 3 years ago
Same, but ultraviolet dyed hair, got in huge trouble for dying my hair, but still completely worth it
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The Demon 3 years ago
Someone needs to hear. I went through a "chocolate is disgusting" phase. No Chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, M&Ms, Brownies, no choclate. I got over it and love choclate. When I look back, I sometimes wonder if that was even me... :>
Tacocat 3 years ago
Ha! I went through a phase/not a phase, too! I was the quiet nerdy girl. Never was too interested in the trends (still am not), and did all the stuff no one really wanted to do (SCA, fundraisers, french, long division FOR FUN, etc). But, in the end it wasnt a phase! I'm still the introverted geek I was, and I am quite proud. XD Another phase that never phased out was Taylor Swift. She's still my favorite artist. Pretty sure the only phase I outgrew was trying to keep up the trends at age 8. Just took too much effort (and money)...
HooowlAtTheMoon 3 years ago (edited)
I went through a phase where I thought I would be a singer when I got older. I idolized myself, I thought I sounded so good. Truth is, I suck at singing. I enjoy it still, I sing all the time, but singing in front of anyone is a big nope from me now. I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a bartender really bad. Not anymore.
Arlo_CL 3 years ago
Man, I had my share of embarrassing phases, but thankfully this was all before Twitter and Instagram. I can safely cringe in my mind and know that no one will know how weird I was except my parents 🤣
Miss Cris 3 years ago
They may have that album that they love to show to your friends, giving lots of explanations and details...
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Sarah Runyon 3 years ago
Use to shave my head ( because I always had short hair and was going to be called names anyway in high school so why not go for broke). And then I would let my friends draw whatever they wanted with sharpies on my scalp. Went home with a Celtics symbol one day and was in therapy the next. Glad no one drew a penis or wrote F***. Good times.
Ozacoter 3 years ago
Lol. A friend of mine user to doodle in my neck and arms in class when we were bored. I went around for a while with a barcode on my neck. My mum didnt find it amusing xD
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Seabeast 3 years ago
This is just a part of growing up, trying new things. If that experimentation gets suppressed by heavy-handed parents, they either don't have the courage to explore new things as adults or they go to the other extreme and flit from one thing to another for the rest of their lives after becoming adults.
Dest 3 years ago (edited)
I am in a 'phase' now. A goth, but it's just that I wear black. I rarely dress up in the proper style. Idk if this will last, but I sure hope it does. It just became a part of my identity. Been like this for 4 years already. Ps. Black is difficult to stain. Pps. It's also hard to find that one black shirt when you got a full black wardrobe
Birgit M 3 years ago
Haha, yes, that one black shirt! The contents of my wardrobe have been all black for more than 20 years now and I don‘t think I‘ll ever grow out of this „phase“. I started wearing black because I liked bands like The Cure and The Sisters of Mercy and I found that the dark alternative scene consists of peaceful and tolerant people. I love it! And I also love the different styles in clothes. I don‘t wear make up and my clothes are mostly quite simple and unpretentious but there was never anyone to tell me that I‘m not goth enough. Do as you like!
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Hiie Posti 3 years ago
Right now I'm in my history phase. I love everything from fashion history to Roman Republic and Greek mythology. Also
Carol Emory 3 years ago (edited)
I used to wear make-up so heavy, you'd have thought I put it on with a trowel. I used enough hairspray that my hair would holdup to any Category 5 hurricane anytime. Now, you couldn't pay me enough to wear makeup and hairspray. They not only cost me a fortune, I spent several wasted hours a day trying to make myself look pretty. I'm glad my husband saw behind all the BS and realized that I didn't need make-up or hairspray to be a good person.
Kristal 3 years ago
Not really a fan of calling an adolescent's period of self discovery as a phase. It's learning about ourselves and finding what sticks. To me, "phase" in this context is seen as negative and there's nothing wrong with learning. I understand others may disagree, as is their prerogative, I just think we need to embrace the wild ride of self discovery in a positive/educational type of way ^_^
Michelle Geiger 3 years ago
Same! High schools kept the hairspray companies in business with our big hair. Thought guys with mullets especially permed in the back were sooo cute😂
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sturmwesen 3 years ago
Meh, most of these seem like normal subculture streams or experimental hobbies for teens. I sometimes miss my goth/punk hair. I do not miss the effort and money that went into that style.
Charlotte A. 3 years ago
Not a phase exactly but very cringy... When I was about 12 I very seriously told my mum that I was now ready to have children of my own. I could feel how adult I was. But I was going to wait until I was 18 before I got married and had babies. Thankfully that's not how my life turned out. (I don't particularly like kids and came to realise I don't want them, so...)
Anna Repp 3 years ago
I don't understand why people are regretting things like watching anime or wearing certain style of clothes or dreaming of a certain career.Maybe looking backwards it is a phase, but when it lasted it was not - it was YOU. And that phase defined the current you, so why being ashamed of it?
laila 3 years ago
when i was 13, i watched dreamwork's the prince of egypt 3 times a day for a month. and i watched it at least once daily for about 3 months after that. it's still my favorite movie, and i still have it all memorized. i also became obsessed with ancient egypt, and taught myself how to read and understand hieroglyphs. i find a new obsession every couple years, but the prince of egypt one was the most severe.
Fixin'Ta 3 years ago
My son had an anime phase that lasted beyond college. He's not entirely off it, but says it's not as interesting as it used to be. He fell in love with Japanese and taught it to himself by watching anime and reading Japanese grammar books. So now, thanks to, first, JRR Tolkien and second, that anime phase, he now has a Master's degree in linguistics.
Aubrie Allen 3 years ago
My mom is still hoping that I outgrow my punk/goth phase. I turn 40 next week.
Fidgets McGee 3 years ago
Loved the chick who thought tattooing her head would give coloired hair...O so wish that was a thing. I've been on this Bored Panda phase since I was super bored during the lock downs...dman still in it...
MandaPanda 3 years ago
My "It's not just a phase" when I was 12 I wanted to be a writer. I stayed up late at night writing, I had notebooks, I'd write any spare chance I got. Next year I'll be graduating from college with a degree in English. Thing is, my mom always supported his dream so she kind of fueled the fire.
Teodora L. Kostadinova 3 years ago
Ugh...I'm soon to be 33 and still have (and wear) my massive collection of band shirts. (metalhead since 16). I have even started to wear a long wallet chain again, but overall have only tuned down my appearance, despite the fact that my workplace is preeeety conservative.
Blossomstar 3 years ago
I’ve had a few. The first one I had was littlest pet shop and my little pony, I was 5 but had a tons of little figurines of both the shows. My second was Pokémon’s and Digimon but I don’t really regret it, I still love both of the shows (though digimon’s was undeniably better then Pokémon’s) but it was a bit too much. My third one was warrior cats and I’m not even sure how I had friends after that one. I roleplayed as a warrior cat, and forced my friends too, had like 30 of the books among other things (my class was tiny and I had had the same friends for years so I managed to get through it without being bullied). Right now I’m really into anime and art, they help me get through quarantine and give me sometimes to focus on and talk to friends about.
Commander OwO 3 years ago
I randomly got into baking and was obsessed with this TV show and spent so much time memorising recipes. My parents also spent some money to buy ingredients and stuff just for me to get over it a month later :') I still bake sometimes though, recipes are something that stays in your memory forever
Patti Vance 3 years ago
i don't know if i would call it a phase. but, my very close friend and i would do strange things as young teens. like skip school to go to the opening of an art exhibit at the museum, then take in lunch at the japanese gardens just for the jasmine tea. got busted for that one and no one believed that we weren't smoking dope or doing something else illegal until we produced our tickets to showing. also, had to dodge the traffic of the 8 laned freeway to and back as all our money was spent/saved for the show & lunch. the other thing was taking our guitars to the airport to play. not panhandle for change...just to play.
D. Pitbull 3 years ago
I'm starting to realize... the only reason "Anime" is really cited as embarrassing is because of the "too much" aspect - and that it tends to be watched/obsessed over when in the teens (as opposed to 8 years old and absolutely obsessed with, say a Marvel or DC hero). Just... there is absolutely nothing wrong with it - just like everything else though - balance. balance. balance...
just a donut 3 years ago
I literally was obsessed with goth when I was like 7 or 8 I don't even know why -_-
GoodCatto 3 years ago
Can I join? Okay so I was obsessed with SCP when I was younger, like 9 or so. I am memorized almost every SCP and their special containment procedures and I was a pain in the butt to my class for it. Now I just like reading stuff on The wanderers library site, but I wouldn't mind a little SCP stuff now and then.
SirPatTheCat 3 years ago
Honestly I say don't get too upset about 'embarrassing' phases. It's normal for kids to experiment with their identities and it was probably a lot of fun at the time, so cut your younger self some slack :)
Kari Panda 3 years ago
Agreed. These things were part of us - we enjoyed it, and as long as no one was harmed, there’s nothing wrong with it. Besides, we can’t and we shouldn‘t be the same person from birth to death.
Load More Replies... ScarlettofHydraIsland 3 years ago
Oh! Can I join? I went through my nerd/never got past third grade in sixth grade (aka dressed in brightly colored shirts with animals on them and weird looking pants). In seventh and eighth grade, I went through my goth/emo stage where I wore all black (and black makeup in eighth grade) and refused to listen to anything but Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Five Seconds of Summer. Then I went through my suburban white girl phase in ninth grade where I dressed almost exclusively in skinny jeans, converse, and short, tight tops I wasn’t even comfortable in. Now I’m comfortable in my more urban style.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
I had a turquoise-hair-and-punk-music phase. I REGRET NOTHING. Except getting caught with dyed hair, b/c I wasn't allowed. My mom sighed the "mom sigh" and said it'd grow out. My dad was gonna shave me bald. Lucky for me, my sister was in her "flirt with cops" phase and got brought home...
Cecilia 3 years ago
Same, but ultraviolet dyed hair, got in huge trouble for dying my hair, but still completely worth it
Load More Replies... The Demon 3 years ago
Someone needs to hear. I went through a "chocolate is disgusting" phase. No Chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, M&Ms, Brownies, no choclate. I got over it and love choclate. When I look back, I sometimes wonder if that was even me... :>
Tacocat 3 years ago
Ha! I went through a phase/not a phase, too! I was the quiet nerdy girl. Never was too interested in the trends (still am not), and did all the stuff no one really wanted to do (SCA, fundraisers, french, long division FOR FUN, etc). But, in the end it wasnt a phase! I'm still the introverted geek I was, and I am quite proud. XD Another phase that never phased out was Taylor Swift. She's still my favorite artist. Pretty sure the only phase I outgrew was trying to keep up the trends at age 8. Just took too much effort (and money)...
HooowlAtTheMoon 3 years ago (edited)
I went through a phase where I thought I would be a singer when I got older. I idolized myself, I thought I sounded so good. Truth is, I suck at singing. I enjoy it still, I sing all the time, but singing in front of anyone is a big nope from me now. I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a bartender really bad. Not anymore.
Arlo_CL 3 years ago
Man, I had my share of embarrassing phases, but thankfully this was all before Twitter and Instagram. I can safely cringe in my mind and know that no one will know how weird I was except my parents 🤣
Miss Cris 3 years ago
They may have that album that they love to show to your friends, giving lots of explanations and details...
Load More Replies... Sarah Runyon 3 years ago
Use to shave my head ( because I always had short hair and was going to be called names anyway in high school so why not go for broke). And then I would let my friends draw whatever they wanted with sharpies on my scalp. Went home with a Celtics symbol one day and was in therapy the next. Glad no one drew a penis or wrote F***. Good times.
Ozacoter 3 years ago
Lol. A friend of mine user to doodle in my neck and arms in class when we were bored. I went around for a while with a barcode on my neck. My mum didnt find it amusing xD
Load More Replies... Seabeast 3 years ago
This is just a part of growing up, trying new things. If that experimentation gets suppressed by heavy-handed parents, they either don't have the courage to explore new things as adults or they go to the other extreme and flit from one thing to another for the rest of their lives after becoming adults.
Dest 3 years ago (edited)
I am in a 'phase' now. A goth, but it's just that I wear black. I rarely dress up in the proper style. Idk if this will last, but I sure hope it does. It just became a part of my identity. Been like this for 4 years already. Ps. Black is difficult to stain. Pps. It's also hard to find that one black shirt when you got a full black wardrobe
Birgit M 3 years ago
Haha, yes, that one black shirt! The contents of my wardrobe have been all black for more than 20 years now and I don‘t think I‘ll ever grow out of this „phase“. I started wearing black because I liked bands like The Cure and The Sisters of Mercy and I found that the dark alternative scene consists of peaceful and tolerant people. I love it! And I also love the different styles in clothes. I don‘t wear make up and my clothes are mostly quite simple and unpretentious but there was never anyone to tell me that I‘m not goth enough. Do as you like!
Load More Replies... Hiie Posti 3 years ago
Right now I'm in my history phase. I love everything from fashion history to Roman Republic and Greek mythology. Also
Carol Emory 3 years ago (edited)
I used to wear make-up so heavy, you'd have thought I put it on with a trowel. I used enough hairspray that my hair would holdup to any Category 5 hurricane anytime. Now, you couldn't pay me enough to wear makeup and hairspray. They not only cost me a fortune, I spent several wasted hours a day trying to make myself look pretty. I'm glad my husband saw behind all the BS and realized that I didn't need make-up or hairspray to be a good person.
Kristal 3 years ago
Not really a fan of calling an adolescent's period of self discovery as a phase. It's learning about ourselves and finding what sticks. To me, "phase" in this context is seen as negative and there's nothing wrong with learning. I understand others may disagree, as is their prerogative, I just think we need to embrace the wild ride of self discovery in a positive/educational type of way ^_^
Michelle Geiger 3 years ago
Same! High schools kept the hairspray companies in business with our big hair. Thought guys with mullets especially permed in the back were sooo cute😂
Load More Replies... sturmwesen 3 years ago
Meh, most of these seem like normal subculture streams or experimental hobbies for teens. I sometimes miss my goth/punk hair. I do not miss the effort and money that went into that style.
Charlotte A. 3 years ago
Not a phase exactly but very cringy... When I was about 12 I very seriously told my mum that I was now ready to have children of my own. I could feel how adult I was. But I was going to wait until I was 18 before I got married and had babies. Thankfully that's not how my life turned out. (I don't particularly like kids and came to realise I don't want them, so...)
Anna Repp 3 years ago
I don't understand why people are regretting things like watching anime or wearing certain style of clothes or dreaming of a certain career.Maybe looking backwards it is a phase, but when it lasted it was not - it was YOU. And that phase defined the current you, so why being ashamed of it?
laila 3 years ago
when i was 13, i watched dreamwork's the prince of egypt 3 times a day for a month. and i watched it at least once daily for about 3 months after that. it's still my favorite movie, and i still have it all memorized. i also became obsessed with ancient egypt, and taught myself how to read and understand hieroglyphs. i find a new obsession every couple years, but the prince of egypt one was the most severe.
Fixin'Ta 3 years ago
My son had an anime phase that lasted beyond college. He's not entirely off it, but says it's not as interesting as it used to be. He fell in love with Japanese and taught it to himself by watching anime and reading Japanese grammar books. So now, thanks to, first, JRR Tolkien and second, that anime phase, he now has a Master's degree in linguistics.
Aubrie Allen 3 years ago
My mom is still hoping that I outgrow my punk/goth phase. I turn 40 next week.
Fidgets McGee 3 years ago
Loved the chick who thought tattooing her head would give coloired hair...O so wish that was a thing. I've been on this Bored Panda phase since I was super bored during the lock downs...dman still in it...
MandaPanda 3 years ago
My "It's not just a phase" when I was 12 I wanted to be a writer. I stayed up late at night writing, I had notebooks, I'd write any spare chance I got. Next year I'll be graduating from college with a degree in English. Thing is, my mom always supported his dream so she kind of fueled the fire.
Teodora L. Kostadinova 3 years ago
Ugh...I'm soon to be 33 and still have (and wear) my massive collection of band shirts. (metalhead since 16). I have even started to wear a long wallet chain again, but overall have only tuned down my appearance, despite the fact that my workplace is preeeety conservative.
Blossomstar 3 years ago
I’ve had a few. The first one I had was littlest pet shop and my little pony, I was 5 but had a tons of little figurines of both the shows. My second was Pokémon’s and Digimon but I don’t really regret it, I still love both of the shows (though digimon’s was undeniably better then Pokémon’s) but it was a bit too much. My third one was warrior cats and I’m not even sure how I had friends after that one. I roleplayed as a warrior cat, and forced my friends too, had like 30 of the books among other things (my class was tiny and I had had the same friends for years so I managed to get through it without being bullied). Right now I’m really into anime and art, they help me get through quarantine and give me sometimes to focus on and talk to friends about.
Commander OwO 3 years ago
I randomly got into baking and was obsessed with this TV show and spent so much time memorising recipes. My parents also spent some money to buy ingredients and stuff just for me to get over it a month later :') I still bake sometimes though, recipes are something that stays in your memory forever
Patti Vance 3 years ago
i don't know if i would call it a phase. but, my very close friend and i would do strange things as young teens. like skip school to go to the opening of an art exhibit at the museum, then take in lunch at the japanese gardens just for the jasmine tea. got busted for that one and no one believed that we weren't smoking dope or doing something else illegal until we produced our tickets to showing. also, had to dodge the traffic of the 8 laned freeway to and back as all our money was spent/saved for the show & lunch. the other thing was taking our guitars to the airport to play. not panhandle for change...just to play.
D. Pitbull 3 years ago
I'm starting to realize... the only reason "Anime" is really cited as embarrassing is because of the "too much" aspect - and that it tends to be watched/obsessed over when in the teens (as opposed to 8 years old and absolutely obsessed with, say a Marvel or DC hero). Just... there is absolutely nothing wrong with it - just like everything else though - balance. balance. balance...
just a donut 3 years ago
I literally was obsessed with goth when I was like 7 or 8 I don't even know why -_-
GoodCatto 3 years ago
Can I join? Okay so I was obsessed with SCP when I was younger, like 9 or so. I am memorized almost every SCP and their special containment procedures and I was a pain in the butt to my class for it. Now I just like reading stuff on The wanderers library site, but I wouldn't mind a little SCP stuff now and then.
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