What Adults Don't Understand | Teen Ink

What Adults Don't Understand

February 15, 2009
By Anonymous

My mom was reading one of the poems of this magazine the other day, and she did something that really irked me. She was reading a poem from the February issue, Nothing Like. When she was finnished reading, she let out a 'humph', like she didn't actually belive that "kids" like us could know what love is yet. Like love is only for responsible adults. Well let me say something right here and right now: By the time you are thirteen, you have probably been in love. There I said it. Now people can argue about it.



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This article has 127 comments.


on Oct. 15 2010 at 2:19 pm
this is why parents have problems with kids, for making dumb comments like this! like for real parents get a life, and let us learn on our own and what not gooodnesss !!!!!!! ahhh!!!!

blippi SILVER said...
on Oct. 14 2010 at 4:29 pm
blippi SILVER, Two Rivers, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"the words the happy say are but paltry melody, but those the silent feel are beautiful"-Emily Dickinson

I think that truly being able to love someone has a lot to do with maturity. I'm not saying that teens can't love, but they shouldn't fall in love until they are older because it entails a lot of emotional responsibility that most are not ready for. the thing is, as people get older they grow change....the person you fell in love with when you were sixteen could be a completely different person 5 years from now. The teen years are years for growing and having fun, not getting your heart broken. :)

bRonwYn_e GOLD said...
on Oct. 14 2010 at 12:04 pm
bRonwYn_e GOLD, Bon Aqua, Tennessee
19 articles 1 photo 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
Denial is expected in the face of puuure eeevil.

hey, author here...when i wrote this so very long ago, i did not realize that this simple paragraph would get so much attention. thanks to all who commented!

on Oct. 14 2010 at 11:05 am
expressionist SILVER, Harriman, Tennessee
6 articles 1 photo 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
If life gives u lemons you shud make lemonade then go find someone whose life has given them vodka n have a party!!!-Ron White

Well in my belief people know the difference between actual love and just puppy love. You can feel it in your soul.

TrinityCreed said...
on Sep. 17 2010 at 5:13 pm
Well, not to set a flame but we as teens and kids dont have a concept on love. We don't; but one thing is for sure: your mother shouldn't have checked on your stuff like that. Bad enough my dad checks on my email and some other stuff. I feel that parents should butt out of our 'personal space.' If we as kids respect our parents ,how is it that we can't be respected back? So in basic terms I agree with you partially.

on Aug. 31 2010 at 11:47 pm
SamiLynn PLATINUM, Anthem, Arizona
20 articles 9 photos 137 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The unexamined life is not worth living." ~Socrates

You are never too young to love <3 and just because some people fall in love faster, it doesn't mean their love is any less genuine.

on Aug. 31 2010 at 9:54 pm
C.D.Vitta SILVER, Bethesda, Maryland
8 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.

I'm guessing that perhaps some consider it love, others a crush. Personally I had a crush from 9 to 14, and I've seen others who have been in love. I'm ok with that. However, when teens take it TOO seriously (movie-style) it bughs me a bit.

MWolf9 BRONZE said...
on Aug. 31 2010 at 1:28 pm
MWolf9 BRONZE, Jackson, New Jersey
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Read my work and you will find a new way to view mankind.

I agree with the second post completely.

MWolf9 BRONZE said...
on Aug. 31 2010 at 1:27 pm
MWolf9 BRONZE, Jackson, New Jersey
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Read my work and you will find a new way to view mankind.

I completely agree. If you truely fall for a person, it matters if he treats you with the proper respect that you deserve.

on Aug. 9 2010 at 2:15 pm
frogsof2015 SILVER, Farmington, Minnesota
8 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
you got nothing to lose if you have nothing to begin with.

Extremely true. There is no age limit on love, it's something that just happens. There's no explaining it. So why is there a minimum age limit on love? It's stupid.

on Aug. 9 2010 at 11:52 am
liv.laf.love13 SILVER, El Paso, Texas
5 articles 0 photos 24 comments

Favorite Quote:
MUSIC IS THE CURE!!

i agree!!!!!

on Jul. 18 2010 at 11:40 pm
CheyGurl SILVER, Chula Vista, California
7 articles 11 photos 50 comments

Favorite Quote:
Jealousy is a disease get well soon :]

This is very true... i hate when people tell me you odnt know what love is cause im 14 age has nothing to do with it... age is just a number and thats it.

on Jul. 18 2010 at 10:31 pm
FluteChick PLATINUM, Jefferson, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 24 comments
I'm 17 and haven't yet felt that I've found THE ONE. Sure, I've dated/liked a few guys, but I soon realize I'm not quite ready for a relationship that deep. I mean, I have a friend that's 14 and SHE thought she was in love with this guy but once she got to know him, she realized she didn't really know who he was and that it wasn't really love. She realized that you can't REALLY LOVE at that age. And I agree. It's best to wait, rather than be hung up on a guy. If I sound bitter, it's not because I've never been asked to a dance, it's because I've dated and made mistakes and it hurts. It's not fun to hurt... :/

Sliva23 BRONZE said...
on Jul. 4 2010 at 9:47 pm
Sliva23 BRONZE, Melbourne, Other
3 articles 0 photos 58 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love to faults is always blind, always is to joy inclined. Lawless, winged, and unconfined, and breaks all chains from every mind.

This is soo true.....adults dont understand at all....maybe they've forgot how it was like for them with they were kids but they should try and see that love can be found anywhere to anyone and its really stupid that they have forgot the teenage love is really something magical

on Jul. 3 2010 at 10:25 am
HappyGoLucky326 BRONZE, St.Charles, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
I whole heartedly agree with you. I myself know what it is, and I experience it every day... I have to say, however, that at 13 i had not felt that strong emotion. Yes, everyone knows what love is, what it feels like... but once you've found THE ONE, it's totally different...  at 13 you don't choose your life partner, but sure I agree that the love is there. The reason parents dont think you know, is because they a) can't fathom the thought b) they are watching their child grow up. all parents wish they could keep their kid... well a kid.... so once they start growing up and falling in love it gets scary..

on Jun. 26 2010 at 12:40 pm
CJbutterfly SILVER, Chattahoochee, Florida
7 articles 1 photo 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
\"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game\"

right 13 is "just a number" and love can find you at any age. maybe i agree with not being able to love like adults but you can have really deep feelings for someone that could possilbly turn into love.

on Jun. 26 2010 at 12:37 pm
CJbutterfly SILVER, Chattahoochee, Florida
7 articles 1 photo 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
\"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game\"

Young love is so true. Im 13 now and I have been in love before.

on Jun. 26 2010 at 12:21 pm
Liz891 PLATINUM, Endwell, New York
25 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
I don't know what to write here. :D
P.S. I'm really hyper!!!!!!!!!!

Ok I think that kids do feel some kind of love. It's more than a crush, but it's not exactly true love. We don't feel the same way adults do, but I do believe that we experience some kind of love.

on Jun. 4 2010 at 8:30 pm
ArtGirl101 BRONZE, West Gardiner, Maine
1 article 3 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Childhood only lasts so long, so cherish it while it's still in your grasp"
~ ME!!!

Uh, not to be too critical, but you're wrong. NO WAY can 13 year olds love! Not like an adult! Not like my parents! Or grandparents! Or aunts! Uncles! Cousins! No, you can NOT feel true love, the love that is in no way describable, when you are 13.

13 is just a number. You can's say that someone can suddenly fall in TRUE love on their birthday. Age really doesn't matter in that way.


on May. 29 2010 at 4:58 am
kandyraye SILVER, Parkton, North Carolina
6 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths that you take, but measured by the number of times your breath is taken away

So step back for a minute and think about what you are saying. Have you ever thought that maybe "Adults" don't agree with the whole in love thing at your age? Myabe they just know what their relationships turned out like. "Adults" had the same emotions as you do now... just they know the out come of it all.