Yes! Different circumstances but, I am 23 and feel like I am at least 40. Life makes us old before our time. STRESS makes us old before our time. I already have my first grey hair! But you know what? Life is still beautiful, and even when it hurts, it is real and the world turns every day no matter how old we are in spirit and body. You can't get your childhood back, but don't spend your future looking back... decide where you want to go and go! You can have a wonderful life, still. Your abuser stole your childhood- don't let them take more.

people i know tell me i act kinda old for my age, like my family and some of my friends. But right now i'm in college, so I try to remember to have fun and study every once in a while. As for how i look apparently i look like I'm 15 or 16...... wouldnt be too much of a problem..... BUT I'M 20, STOP CARDING ME FOR MOVIES PEOPLE

i am in my forties now and like you, lost my childhood due to abuse and my mom's ATTITUDE towards being too social and not a good mom
point is, take every chance to get to live those days again, and you will still be able to enjoy them.
I love the swings and you'll find me on them along with all the little ones, they look at me funny, but I still have the little kid in me (we all do) and we are better people when that little comes out to play!
So I say to you, go swinging, hang in the trees, play in the dirt or sand, whatever, just PLAY, PLAY, AND PLY SOME MORE!!! The little one inside will thank you for it a thousand times over, I promise!!!
Good luck

I was old way before my time, for reasons like yours, and now I am taking care of that little girl who wasn't cared for when I was younger. Believe me I let her play every chance she gets. I am 32 years old and like barbra2, I make up for lost time. Sometimes, I am the most immature kid on the playground. If someone stole your childhood, simply steele it back. Your number does not have to determine your age.

I've had that thought too...that I was missing out on what other people experience.

But then I realized that if I didn't have those experiences, then how do I know that I miss them?

How do I know that my life would have been better with those experiences?

For instance, I didn't date in high school. Other girls were dating and going to parties, etc. but I didn't.

I could lament about how it's so sad that I didn't do that stuff, but ya know what? I'm better off not having done that stuff then.

And now that I'm older, I can do whatever the hell I want - just like people are saying in this thread - they can go on the swings, play like they never played before...

I'm actually going to a batting cage today for the first time in like 14 years!? I'm so excited and it's just a time to hang out and have some fun with myself and my boyfriend.

The people who did the dating and went to the parties, it could be said that they missed out on what I experienced...depression, frustration, etc....which has ultimately led me to be very introspective and constantly learning more about myself. It's actually been a huge gift!

I'd take self-awareness over a party and a date any day. :-)

Just got back from the batting cages...it was sooo much fun!

I loved connecting with the ball and hearing that crack. I did softball pitches. I feel so alive. :-)

(I haven't been doing a lot of physical things the last few years because of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I struggled with and have finally gotten over.)

Had some strikes, but mostly lots of hits!

i also feel like my childhood was lost,
so im tryin to make my future better, it is so hard, but im willing to work for my happiness, i just know no one can take anythign away from me again
and I thank god everyday for that.

I too feel like I never had a childhood. I was my mothers keeper. But, Jesus promised he'd restore what the locust has eaten, a very good description of offenders. This is why I call myself "childredeemed". I haven't really grieved yet as I'm still angry with that other me, but I'm getting there...sasha

i was always told that i was more mature for my age. in matter of fact my husband is 50 and i am 32. when we first started dateing he thought i was older because how mature i was. he looked alot younger. i never really had a childhood. i finally left my situation at 16 and have been on my own untill i got married. i think when we go though what we gone though theirs no way we cant grow up faster then were supposes to and it sucks. i wish i would i had a chance to have a childhood but know i just try to make sure my 2 childern have the childhood and life i've never had.

I know the feeling.. I'll be 18 in less then two weeks and I hear the same thing.. "your so old for your age"..Your so mature.. I feel like I lost my childhood and teenage years. I resent some people because I never got to experience it I just grew up. I want to know what it's like to have a normal childhood to be a normal teenager but I just.. I've never been able to think as one.

Maybe there's something wrong with me..?

i lost my childhood too lived as if i was in my 30's cooking and cleaning getting nocked about by my dad like a battered wife and all i have now is maturity yes i am self serficiant but i just wanted to be a kid abuse early on in my childhood has robbed me of any memories i had when things were better.

Definately. Like you, i lost my childhood and my teen years and miss it terribly. I know i can never get that time back but knowing what i know now, i am doing the things i missed out on knowing that i will not get into trouble because i know when to stop. Trust me you are young enough, don't spend any more time looking back just take your life from here and run with it, have fun and enjoy. Don't wait until you are in your forties like me, it is harder now than it is at your age. good luck and have hell of fun while you can.

my childhood was stolen from me. my mother recollects my childhood as "classic teenager behavior" after i said it was "classic trauma, abuse, neglect behavior"

here is how she phrased it:

"... you were not talking much at that time in your life. You were sullen, untruthful, involved in drugs, stealing from all of us and Grandmother, acting out in school, and the list goes on. It was a very bad time for all of us...Remember, you were expelled from school for some time before we even knew it. Life was difficult at that time."

Yeah, I really understand. It wasn't always like that for me. But I did miss out alot on my teenage years. That's the time when you're suppose to be figuring out who are. I was never give the chance to be my own person, being in a extremely controlled enviroment. I started to shut down, I found I couldn't relate to the other kids.
I don't know if it was because of the abuse. Sometimes I wish I could get back those years of my life. But then again most people suffer mid life crisis I just had mine like 3o years earlier. It has also given insight. There are things I am going to be less succeptible to than people my age, because I've already learned the hard way. I'm not as naive.
People say I'm too uptight and serious for my age. Sometimes I wish I could be a little more relaxed. I'v tried and tried over the years to change but I can't. I decided not waste anymore time on what's out of my control. I guess this is who I am and who I may always be.
I'm still trying to rediscover myself. I feel like I just went from little girl too woman and that has consequences.