It’s very strange to me. I have a 16-year-old son: he’s 6’2-1/2” and weighs 270. I don’t ever say, “He’s a baby.” I say, “You’re bigger than most adults, and so you’d better show even more maturity than someone smaller.” Even my 3-year-old will say, “I’m not a baby, I’m a brother! I use the toilet!”
On the general topic, my husband has been telling me about the man with whom he shares an office, and the other day he said this man was 36 years old. I said, “I’ve been thinking you were talking about a 24-year-old!” because the person just sounds so immature.
Incredibly strange to me too. I was raised to “be a man” very early on (father was USMC Gunny Sgt.). I, in turn, instill this on my children (from my previous marriage) as best I can. “Suck it up”, “Carry your own water”, “Life is pain”, “No one owes you anything”, etc. A very large spirit of non-dependance.
My wife has 3 adult children from a previous marriage. She raised them as a single mom for the better part of their lives, and as a result of her doting, they’re about as emotionally mature as 12 year-olds. She still refers to them as her ‘babies’ (not sure if it’s a normal mom thing, or a refusal to cut apron strings), solves their problems, makes phone calls for them, and sends money as often as she can.
I just don’t understand it.