Is it OK to want a balloon at a fair when you're 14?

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I think your mom was reading way too much into the balloon...I mean at the end of the day its a balloon and a 14 year old is still a kid. I've seen adults want far sillier things and no one looks the other way.

Joe, I see more similarities here. I was the "baby" in my family and my parents were already in their thirties when I was born, thus I was expected to be a "mini-adult", not a kid, so I would catch up with everyone else. In addition I only have three first cousins younger than myself, and they lived far away.
My first year in Jr.High (age 12) was also my last year officially trick-or-treating. My parents strongly believed that children with a "teen" at the end of their age were too old for the pastime, so I spent the next Halloween (1975) handing out candy at our house to the lucky kids that did get to go out, and my envy would surge when another 13 year old would show up at our door in costume. A few years later, a minor miracle happened. I was 16 and had my drivers' licence. One of my father's co-workers lived nearby who had two small kids, a girl in second grade and a boy that started kindergarten. Their dad had to work that evening and mom was recovering at home from a medical procedure, so I offered to take their kids trick-or-treating. The parents thought it was a wonderful idea, and so did I. I remember making myself a makeshift superhero costume using a blue Superman-logoed long sleeved pajama top, blue thermal pants, and a pair of red Converse "Chuck" hi-tops, compleating the outfit by safety-pinning a large red towel around my back for a cape. As I took the two kids around the neighbourhood on foot, I was still very surprised at the number of houses that offered me candy, even though I wasn't carrying one of those plastic pumpkins. I had red gym trunks on over my thermal "fake tights", and managed to fill both pockets full.
The next year (age 17) I actually bought myself a "glam" metal rocker costume, snuck out of the house and changed into it inside the car after telling my folks I was going to a Halloween party at my friend's church. Instead I drove around only to houses where the occupants knew me well and trick-or-treated. Most thought it was cute, and nobody denied me candy.
Nowdays on Halloween I go bar-hopping in costume, and usually get free shots after going up to the bartenders and saying, "Trick AND treat!" As Willy Wonka said, "candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker".
I'll admit much of the way I look and act today is out of rebellion for what I feel was being forced to grow up too soon.

I think baloons are outside the age norm. I would always give my children a balloon if they asked (if I had the Money)but I would be embarresed if my son would have asked for a balloon at 14 years old. The classmates of my oldest (15) are drinking beer, talking about girlfrinds or sport, going to parties etc. No talking about baloons.

But I have always tried to fit in and pass as NT (especailly before I found out I had AS), I would´nt see it as normal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a baloon! I just tried to fit in so I have tried so very hard to look like the other girls/moms etc.