What's the point?
I'm 21. I was homeschooled my entire life. Sheltered and isolated from the rest of the world. I can get out now, but does it even matter? The life I wanted to live is gone.
I never got to be a regular kid, and just do dumb kid things. Don't even know what it's like to be a teenager. For years, there was one thing that I wanted to do, more than anything. And that was to go to prom. But I never got to do that. Now I can't. I've never been in a relationship. Never kissed anyone. I hear people say I didn't miss anything. That teenage relationships are all drama, but I want drama. Teenage love is raw. It's volatile, usually fleeting. It can be one of the most intense emotions one will ever have. And It's one of the most beautiful things in life. I missed it. In fact, I didn't even get a chance to try to have it.
Getting to grow up with others is one of the best things in this world. And it's how we become functioning adults. I grew up sad and alone. Now I have no social skills and next to no friends. I never got my coming of age story. Missed all the rites of passage. I don't even know how to drive. It's like my life never even got started. So, what's the point in trying now, 21 years late?
Sure, I can still have something of a life. But without going through these things, these experiences. To have those memories to last me. Well, it's not a life I want to live.
@Idontevenknow54321
Hey there, thanks for sharing your story.
I'm a bit like you, except I'm 23. Homeschooled, sheltered and isolated. No prom, I don't drive, no romantic teenage (or adult) relationships. I still haven't kissed anyone romantically. The whole kit and caboodle.
What's the point? The point is that you're still alive. You can't go back and turn your past into what you want it to be. But you have your future and free will.
It's not easy having a bland childhood, but you have a choice still. You could let it define you and say "Well, this is my life, guess I'm doomed to be like this forever," or you could say, "well that sucked, but I'm going to try new things that I want to try." It's up to you.
Why not have prom now? Seek out other homeschoolers who feel like they missed out there, and set up your own prom. Wear a prom dress, or a suit/tux. I know a 30 year old former homeschooler who's talking about setting up a "Homeschooler Prom." As long as you're still alive it's not too late.
So yeah, do dumb kid things now. Take pictures with Santa, set up pinatas, make wishes on shooting stars, or whatever things you didn't get a chance to do as a kid. Don't let being an adult hold you back. You can do this.
Sorry if this is a bit intense, but I've spent a lot of time moping and regretting my childhood. I thought I'd never be able to make friends, and about four years back I almost died because of it. But I survived.
I'm still struggling, but I'm learning to make friends, and I don't regret survivng. I've gotten a second chance to do the things I want to do. I recently got to try DnD for the first time. I watch Disney movies and cartoons with friends and have sleep overs.
It's not perfect, it's not what I imagined, but it's getting better. I'm behind my friends in a lot of ways. And yeah, I'm still awkward, but I'm learning to live. It's a process that doesn't happen over night. I'm going at my pace, and that's okay.
What if now is your coming of age story? This is your life after all. What do you want to make of it? It's okay to take your time figuring this out. You're still learning, and that's okay.