Does anyone else act like a kid at home but not in public?

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I act like a kid who badly needs attention at home. I can't leave my cats alone, I hold them, play with them which my aunt whom lives with us finds extremely annoying. I flap my hands, I say hi to people a lot, I just act very childish at home because there I'm most comfortable with being myself.

At school or when I'm talking to people I don't know that well I act formal, shy and mature (I think), but as soon as I get home, I start to act like an eleven year old. Sometimes I wonder if I am mentally younger than I am (I am seventeen), because I haven't tasted alcohol, had sex or anything that would be considered normal for a teenager my age, but (not to be arrogant) I tend to talk about deeper things (at least I consider them deeper) than most people my age. But I do play Minecraft, I still love Lego, and I always want new stuff! Is anyone else familiar with this?

Last edited by J-H-H on 25 Oct 2013, 4:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

They say that everyone with Asperger's aren't the same...

...but they usually are. I think am both the most childish person in my class, as well as the most mature.

I'm 51 and although I go to work and "have to" act like a 51 year old when out in the world, I do act like a kid at home, yes! I live alone so I can get away with it, lol.

I talk baby-talk to my cat. I sing him songs like a child would do to a kitten. I love watching wildlife shows on TV, and if there's a cute animal I'm sitting there saying out loud: "Ohhhh, look at the little baby one!!" I take a very childlike enjoyment in things and I feel free to express that when by myself. (Although, I get an idea that a lot of females do this stuff anyway, regardless of age or neurology.)

But as I get older, I'm starting to get more eccentric in public too....I feed and photograph and track the lives of a group of waterbirds near me, and although at first I did all this silently, and only talked to these birds when nobody was passing by, now I don't care who hears me talk to them. They're sentient, quite intelligent creatures who actually do respond to human communication just like anyone's cat or dog, and so now I chat away. A couple of these birds respond to the name I've given them, so I just call out to them. I realize that a lot of how I'm being must seem very like a little kid. But I'm really enjoying myself. I'm sure people think I'm completely nuts, but I'm starting not to care.

I've always felt like I'm mentally younger although of normal to high intelligence -- just....younger in spirit. I like innocent, kid-like pleasures in life and I see the world with a lot of that way of enjoying things.

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I am 30 and I still act a bit childish in private; laughing, squealing at something I think is hysterical on TV, for example. But in public, I'm pretty stoic. Acting youthful doesn't always have to be seen as a bad thing, though; I find that we also appear to be young to others (my new coworker thought I was 23). There is something about that youthful exuberance that we have in private that translates well and appeals to certain types of people.

I think it's normal to some extent for everybody to act differently at home than they do when outside their home comforts, but I believe it is more extreme with people with ASDs.

Firstly, saying, ''awwwww, look at that cute little animal'' to cute animals on the TV is something I hear NTs do a lot, admittedly women more so. My mum and her sisters do it all the time and it gets on my nerves. I do like animals but I don't keep shouting out how cute I think they are. It's really annoying.

I do act more childish, argumentative, hyper, angry, etc, at home. And when I'm out with friends or in public or at work, I act timid, placid, passive, shy, nervous, and laid-back. So basically, my friends can't imagine me being firey and aggressive and opinionated and immature, and my family can't imagine me being placid, laid-back, passive, and quiet.

So then I constantly get asked by my family how I can act so easy when I'm with my friends, but be so difficult to the people I love the most. I just don't know the answer.

I think very few people would ever honestly act the same around strangers as they do inside their comfort zone. But we take it upon ourselves to learn about what we have in common with people and how we are different, because that is the only way to work together as a community. Even though it is taxing to put on a different aspect within and outside of the home, I think it is the right thing to do and a normal part of life. I feel sorry for people who don't experience that comfort zone, especially those who feel like someone is judging them.

Joe90, I very, very much relate to that. When I was your age and younger, I was like you, very reserved and placid in public and around people I didn't know that well, but when at home around my family I could often be difficult and fiery. And my family too, my mother particularly, kind of made it a cruel mock to bring it up and say "Oh, you can't stand up to the bullies at school, yet you're all temper to me?!" I think it's because home and family are supposed to be the safe place to be yourself -- unfortunately even there one can run into lack of acceptance, especially when, at least I know in my own case, one is taking out frustrations on people at home, caused by the suppression I know I exercised while outside the home. In a sense, all the shyness and suppression of my real self created a volcano that came erupting out in frustration and anger behind closed doors.

As I got older, I came out of my shell more in the outside world, and didn't need so much to erupt later at home as there was more balance and less suppression.

I agree that a lot of" AWWWW cute animal!" is annoying, by the way. Which is why it's a good thing nobody lives with me.

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I am more mature in public and around other people.

I'm 27 and I don't think I act my age when I'm at home. I live alone and I'm still into things I kid would be into. I still pretend, dress up like wearing costumes mostly cat related costumes and I sleep with stuff animals. Now when I'm out in public I can cover up all that. I can pretend to be normal. Kind of fooling my self if you will how good I am.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/study- ... -wh,33762/

+1

Gotta maintain that public image of being "normal."

I sure do act like a kid in the privacy of my room....I have all kinds of plushies on my bed, I talk to myself, I snuggle under my Cars blanket, I go on Youtube and sing along to songs, watch old preschool shows, and lots of other stuff I don't remember at the moment.

Yep; I'm a bit of a goofball at home. At work sometimes, too--I'm comfortable around my coworkers.I simultaneously feel more and less mature than others my age.

Hah!

OH YES. lol I certainly do. I'm 22 years old but my mom would consider me a manchild when I'm at home. I'm always doing childish things like watching cartoons or doing things inappropriate for 'adults'.

I'd say I'm more eccentric, silly and fun at home and with my close friends. I tend to be more mature, quiet and relaxed than eccentrically loud in public, unless I'm with mates for a meal. End of the day I prefer being home and feel happier doing my own thing than socialising with a lot of people.