Being Immature

When I was ten, I somehow got in in my head that I was going to be mature. This idea probably came from being in awe of my older cousin, who was fifteen at the time and a smart, kid-loving, and witty high schooler who everyone in the family raved about. Her being my role model, I decided that I was going to be just like her, and act sweet and quiet, rather than wild and slightly obnoxious at times. This was different than my other identity that I wanted, the girl who climbed trees and ran around barefoot, but it was the new thing I wanted to accomplish. So, when my family went to Rhode Island that summer to see my family, I did just that. I tried to be sensible and friendly, and interacted with my little step cousins. Sure enough, I got my wish, and everyone started saying how nice I was, and how I had grown up. It was then that I realized that once I had gone this far, there was no going back. I was stuck being mature forever, and that was it.

There's something to be said for being a kid forever. People scoff at grown men who think up so-called "immature" ideas with their kids (Phil Dunphy style, if you will), or teenagers who crack annoying jokes, but some people never really were kids. Maybe they grew up trying to be proper, having declared themselves adults by the age of eight, and were stuck in the role of being mature forever, just to be liked better (or not, in some cases). Once you are mature, you can't just do what you would do as an immature person and get away with it. This makes me feel bad for children born into royalty in in 17th century.

Whenever my mom's side of the family (her sister and her family, no one else) came over for Thanksgiving or other dinners, the kids would request a table away, so we could tell "potty jokes", and so that there would be enough room for everyone's plate. I don't think we told that many jokes, but it was fun to laugh hysterically and be annoying. When you're seven, nobody cares that you do these things, because it's part of who you're supposed to be.

So when you you change naturally? When you people expect you, at a certain age, to start acting mature? Is it when you turn thirteen, or go to middle school? Emotionally, I don't think some people ever become mature, but at least they know how to act in serious social situations. But when do they learn that, if the date of when they have to start being mature is unknown?

Just for the record, I went out to pie yesterday after our spring concert with two other families, and since we were at a restaurant, the kids did have a separate table. I was sitting with three boys from one family, two from another, a rather quiet brother and sister, and my younger brother. Rather than trying to take charge (three of them were only a year younger than me, after all), I let them put Tabasco sauce, salt, pepper, and syrup in the water glasses, and laughed along with them. I doubt the waitresses will ever see me again and recognize me, so there's an excuse right there to act immature. When you're hidden away from society for a little break, it's okay to take a rest and break character.