Growing up is realizing that you’re not too quiet, your family just doesn’t let you speak. That the respect they have for you is limited to how much shit you do for them.

Growing up is realizing that you don’t lack communication skills, your family just doesn’t know how to talk. They don’t have conversations, they talk and maybe respond once before changing the topic into something they want to talk about.

Growing up is realizing that you struggle with emotional control not because you’re immature and stupid, but because the people who were supposed to help you and guide you sat there and yelled at every inconvenience. It’s realizing that you can’t deal with your anger and frustration because they were allowed to yell and get it out, then they turned around and told you to suck it up.

Growing up is realizing that just because your family isn’t beating you doesn’t mean you have it good or that your family is good.

Growing up is realizing that your parents are as much of a child as you are, but they get the grace of being older.

Growing up is feeling bad after seeing your sibling act shitty, because they have the same parents you do. The same parents that decided kids should know everything and don’t have to teach anything.

Growing up is realizing that your family was never truly family. Only by definition did it fit, but in actuality? It was never a true family.

But you know what growing up also is?

Growing up is realizing that you can teach yourself the things you missed with your family.

Growing up is being proud of yourself over your achievements, no matter how small.

Growing up is realizing that it may be scary, but you are you, and nothing can change that.

Growing up is learning best tricks and things you can do for the future.. things that make you excited to live to see that future.

Growing up is learning to be your support.

Growing up is knowing yourself, the flaws and every little bit of beauty.