Like. You remember goths with huge ratty hair and KISS makeup and men in heels and corsets and women in huge shapeless sweaters till you couldn't tell who was under what? Remember when the clothes were hand-shredded from the thrift store for five dollars and some spit?

The man says:

I’m absolutely not going to consider parenting for the same reason that you’re talking about. I’m not going to use a child as a way to stretch my ability to grow as a person. What a gross thing to do. What a gross thing to do—what a gross amount of pressure to put on a child. Nope, I am not going to have children because I know that I wouldn’t be a good father, well aware of it. Well aware of it—I barely take care of myself. I’m not patient with myself, how am I gonna be patient with a child? And then when I make mistakes, have the luxury of saying, ‘Well, there’s no way to be a perfect parent, I did the best I could—’I mean you could have done a lot better, you could have not had me. That would of been—*laughs* anyway. I’m not going to consider it, I already considered it and I’ve come to a logical—and the Earth is on fire! But anyway, I’ve come to a logical conclusion to not have children because I’m incapable of doing so ‘cause I don’t have that type of patience. I know that I don’t. And I’m not going to torture a child so that I can learn how to get it.

red: how was your first kiss? what do you love about yourself? when’s the last time you warmed your hands in front of a fire? would you rather watch a sunrise or sunset? what’s the best thing about summer?

orange: what makes you feel warm inside? what’s your favorite halloween tradition? what’s the last thing you learned? when’s the last time you felt obsessed? what’s your favorite article of clothing?

yellow: if you could have any view from your bedroom window what would you choose? what’s your favorite thing to do on a sunny day? what do you consider lucky? what made you smile today? what makes you happy?

green: what’s your favorite thing to do outside? do you like camping? what would you spend $1,000 on? what’s your job, or what do you want to do as your job? what’s your favorite article of clothing?

blue: what do you do when you’re sad? what are some things you do when you can’t sleep? what was the best (non-romantic) night you’ve had? what kind of covers do you have on your bed? who is the last person you told a secret to?

and i just feel sad

because you have a bunch of young people who are terrified of getting older.

they think age is going to change them, into something boring, something different, something grey.

and i just want to tell them, reassure them:

you will still be the same person.

isn't it wonderful?

you will love the things you love for so many years. you will find joy in the same things, decade after decade. you will feel the same inside, through all this time.

yes, the body will change. yes there's more responsibilities, less time, even less energy.

but there's no magical age where you stop enjoying that specific story, that specific game, that specific hobby.

but you know what also comes with age?