is being childish bad as a adult?

Question

i am 26, a father & a step dad. I love my family and being around them.. But my wife sometimes says i act like the kids sometimes alomost as if i am a child myself. is this wrong & what can i do to chage if it is

Answer 1

There is a difference between being child-like and child-ish.

Child-like is willing to look at things with the vivid fascination a child has for interesting things. It's getting joy out of being alive and feeling alive. It's seeing things for the first time - even though you've seen them before a thousand times.

Child-like is good.

Child-ish - is being unwilling to accept the things that need to take place. It's thinking solely of yourself and not of others. It's being wasteful with limited resources, it's refusing to even acknowledge responsibility, let alone accept it. It's always blaming others - or not knowing what/who/how something went bad.

Child-ish is bad.

Case in point - playing catch with the children is child-like - but having to be the winner all the time is childish.

Going out for an occasional ice-cream cone is a child-like splurge. Blowing your rent money on a poker-game (or new hubcaps for your truck) is childish.

Same with the girls - A new manicure every so often is also a child-like splurge. Blowing the rent money on a new designer purse is child-ish.

And for both of you - admitting your mistakes and really working on changing is good - blaming everyone for your weaknesses is childish.

Got it? It's ok to be child-like. It isn't ok to be childish.

Answer 2

There is a balancing act as a fun loving adult. You can still be funny, play, be happy and spontaneous as an adult but you have to balance it with maturity and responsibility. Also kids don't need a buddy or a play mate, they need a father.
As with most adults, make sure that you are being the adult and father, get your priorities straight and then when time is left over and as is appropriate, you can play.
Just so you know, this is very common especially in men. Most of my friends complain that their husband is actually one of their chidren.

Answer 3

Does she mean it in a bad way, like you're acting like a bad child? If you act as charming as some kids, she wouldn't mind that.

But, we're supposed to have a permanent child in us, along with an adult part, too. I think it's OK acting like a kid, she's probably not used to people around her acting in their child persona and not being in their adult state. Most of the time we have to be an adult, so maybe you could try to get her into her child self, and she can understand the freedom it gives you acting goofy and playing with your kids on their level.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with having fun with your children, but sometimes you have to set your boundaries, because you're their father and you have to set a good example for them. There is a time and place for everything, so you need to be extra careful about the way you're acting while you're spending time with your family. Besides, you want to act more mature in certain situations and responsibility because you don't want to make yourself look bad infront of your children!

Answer 5

No, it's not wrong to act like a kid. Adults can be child at heart, regardless of their age. In some situations, just act mature, and take care of your responsibilities.

Answer 6

If you take care of your responsibilities then don't worry about being childish. Playing with the kids is a good thing.

Answer 7

There is nothing wrong with that!!!
i remember in my house, my dad always acted like one of the kids. lol
There is a time to be mature, and a time to just have
fun with the kids.
however, don't over do it!

Answer 8

Stay young at heart. Be an adult when the time calls for it.