#very bittersweet agere things

[shhtickerbook]

there’s something so bittersweet about being an age regressor in a toy store. Going down aisles and carefully tracing the packaging of all these different playsets and dolls. All of the things I never got to play with as a child.

Yearning so terribly to pull open these colourful boxes and play to your heart’s content. Choosing my favourite little figure and walking them from room to plastic room. Mind fizzing with ideas and games.

But instead i stand apprehensively, are people staring at me? Do they think it’s weird that I’m here? I put the box down, even when a kindly worker approaches and asks if I need any help finding what I need today.

“Oh sorry no it’s not for me, it’s for my baby sibling.”

Every time.

[dragon-queen21]

Agere prompts: Christmas

First part is all fluff, after the separation is bittersweet + angst

-Little one who never celebrated Christmas + cg who goes over the top for the holidays

-Caregiver who has to get very creative in hiding gifts so that their little one doesn’t find them before the 25th and peaks. Bonus if the regressor drags in other characters to help them search for the hidden presents

-Caregiver buying a lot of presents for their little one. It’s their first Christmas together and they just want them to have the best day ever. Regressor meanwhile hardly ever getting presents, or not getting more than one thing, or never getting what they want, so when they wake up Christmas morning they are so overwhelmed at the massive collection of gifts under the tree

-Caregiver teaching their little one to ice skate? Cute. But I’ll raise you one, regressor teaching their caregiver to skate. Holding their hands and pulling them along as they’re all wobbly. It’s like the roles have reversed!

-Regressor siblings who keep sneaking out of bed to see if Santa has come yet

-Replacing what is normally a bottle of milk with a Christmas themed drink (eggnog, hot chocolate, Apple cider, etc)

-Caregiver going through a box of ornaments and reminiscing about all the times and moments when they got/made the decorations with their little one

-Reindeer pet regressors! Pulling around their siblings on a sled/toboggan. Munching on carrots and gingersnaps. Decorating headbands with antlers with jingle bells and tinsel. They whisper to their friends that they have met Santa- it’s true!

🎄💚🎄❤️🎄💚🎄

-Caregiver buying a joke gift. What’s their little one’s reaction? Do they end up loving? Did they also give their cg a silly gift? Are they really hurt?

-Regressors who miss their caregivers/can’t make it home for the holidays

-Regressor who doesn’t want to participate in all of the festivities because they’re mourning their actual childhood and so many sad/bittersweet memories are flooding them. Do their caregiver try and drag them along into the fun to rewrite better memories? Do they sit with them and talk about the old time? Does the regressor try and hide that they aren’t feeling the same joy as everyone else?

-Regressor who wants gifts for little them, expecting to get a bunch of toys come Christmas morning. But their caregiver only gave them maybe a toy or two just assuming they wouldn’t want to be babied so most presents are for them normally

-Regressor crying over the gifts they got. Could be both positive or negative. Maybe they are super happy with something they always wanted, or disappointed and overwhelmed without knowing a better way to express themselves

-Regressor (or caregiver) who suffers from weather prone migraines. A huge snow storm that should lead to a fun day spent playing outside is instead spent stuck inside feeling miserable and the guilt of ‘ruining a perfect day’

-Favorite Christmas decoration getting broken, or simply no longer working when they get it out

[nostalgiclittlespace]

your post on regression grief hit me hard. i recently had a moment where for a couple hours i so vividly went back to when i was a kid, when it was the spring leading into summer during middle school and we all gathered in the open grassy field and played games. music played. the smell of the season was full of joy. ive been having more and more moments like this. the older i get and the more trauma i endure, the more i find myself having moments where i regress and cling to my tiger plushie and find myself talking a certain way. i go back to reliving these memories and its so comforting and simple.

Regressing is entirely new to me. i was told its something bad and “problematic”, so i was really scared when i started to put two and two together. do you have any advice for someone newly discovering this part of themself? (i know this is a heavy question so its okay if you dont!!)

Hi, friend ❤️❤️❤️ First of all, I have the impulse to say that I’m sorry for all the stress you’re under. While regression can be a very joyful thing, the side of it you usually see on the internet, it can also be that crushing, confusing grief. I hope some of what I’ll say can help.

First, I completely understand where you’re coming from. For me personally, regression is revisiting childhood because adulthood is hard and being a kid is just so much easier. Sometimes it feels like that’s the only safe place. Those memories are precious, and they are happy. (Some of my favorites are when I remember playing with my siblings, running around my backyard. Those were my favorite days)

My first piece of advice is that it’s okay to cling onto those memories and regress with them. It’s okay to have that bittersweet sting as you remember how simple life used to be. No matter who you are and what your situation is growing up is it’s own kind of trauma—suddenly being faced with responsibility and work, when it seemed only yesterday we didn’t have to worry about a thing. So, it’d natural to miss those easy times, and to wish for the, back. If that make you regress, then that’s okay.

I am actually fairly new to regression as well. I started trying age dreaming a year or so ago to try and cope with stress (with moderate success), but it wasn’t until the past few months that I’ve actually started to do regress routinely and consider myself a member of the community. I will admit that before I framed my regression negatively. I felt almost ashamed of myself for not handling my stress in a “typical fashion”. Which brings me to my next piece of advice. There is nothing wrong with regression. If you’ve been on this side of the Internet for long enough, I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but I’m saying it again. Age regression is completely okay, it is a valid coping mechanism.It takes time to let go of those negative outlooks and preconceptions (believe me, I know) But you have Avery supportive, kind, and fun community agere, and we’d all be happy to help you however we can.

For me, the best way to get comfortable with regressing was to take baby steps. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures like decorating your bedroom as a nursery (tho if that’ll make you more comfortable, then go for it!) personally, I started small. Watching Disney movies. Sleeping with a stuffed animal every night. Coloring with crayons and coloring books instead of my fancy colored pencils. Eventually, it became natural.

However I would also like to point out that not all regression is sunshine and rainbows (unfortunately.). It’s also that space where we recognize our trauma through a child’s perspective, and that’s hard. It’s okay and normal for regression to be difficult or painful.

Nonetheless, it’s important to take care of those feelings. remember that you deserve this safe place.

I think the most important thing I can say is to indulge in it. Your mind will thank you. Personally, I’ve honestly been handling life so much better, recalling lost childhood memories I would have forgotten about, and just generally feeling happier since I’ve allowed myself to regress when I need to.

I hope some of this was helpful. Sorry if it was a bit scatterbrained. If I think of anything else, I’ll edit this later. And If you need anything else, whether to ask some more questions or just need a listening ear, I’m always available! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Lots of love to you, friend, sending lots of warm, happy vibes your way

-Marty 💙

[agerefandom]

Flips!Christine and Erik Headcanons

(I put this set under a 'read more' because while I do skirt around their relationship in my Erik agere content, it's harder to avoid the fact that Erik was very much an adult when they met when I'm writing about Chrstine's regression, so because of mentions of that, I'm putting a content warning here for the age gap: although my headcanons are set in a time when they're both adults, that isn't intended to fix the previous imbalance)

The two of them have come to revel in the oddness of their relationship: they have been enemies and lovers and predator and prey, and now that Christine has gained her own claws, they come together on shifting ground

Erik has always known about Christine’s regression: she was often young when she wept for her father in the empty rooms of the opera house, where her angel’s voice would soothe her to sleep

Many nights, he would carry her back to bed once she had succumbed to slumber, and tuck her in as he imagined a father might

Those nights made him feel desperately protective and desirous of the same gentle treatment, which he himself had never received

Christine did not take long to find out about Erik’s regression in return, and once she told him that she wanted to help, he always immediately ran to her to cling when he was regressed

This is one single edge of their complicated relationship, but it is a very meaningful and gentle part that they both prize dearly

Erik calls her ‘mama’ and Christine melts for it every time

Christine still calls him ‘angel’ when she’s small: a bittersweet thing for the two of them, but innocently meant in her regression

They don’t get along when they’re both regressing, and tend to give each other space and time: they both need a gentle hand that the other can’t quite give when they’re both small

Erik has a much more dissociative experience with regression, with memory loss and confusion upon regressing and aging up again

Christine tends to have more memories shared, and less disorientation, but she’s also more prone to regressing in stressful situations, whereas Erik regresses when he feels safe (or is waking from a nightmare)

Both of them are very clingy to their caregiver when they’re regressed and the other is around, but they can also spend a day alone when regressed and have a good time doing that as well, especially Christine, who likes to dig in the garden

they both enjoy sharing music through regression: Erik is a magnificent musician at any age, and Christine likes to sing simpler songs when she's regressed, which Erik never fails to praise her for

Christine likes to read books but Erik prefers to be moving or creating, too restless unless it's time for a nap, but he'll make an exception if Christine will cuddle him while she reads out loud

[theregressionlibrary]

Ooh, wow we got tagged! Thank you, didn't expect that hehe

Favorite Color: Blue and green!

Last Song: Well- it's called Denial by Mannequin *****, their name is a bit innapropriate for this blog ^^: they make fun music if you like indie punk!

Last Movie: Ohh hmm this ones hard to remember. The last one I remember is the Barbie movie that I saw in cinemas with my friend :>

Other stuff I watched this year: Exception, 7 Lives of Lea are ones I finished this year! Both limited series, both good, both bittersweet. Oh and Tuca and Bertie!

Currently Watching: BBC Ghosts season five!!! Zombie Land saga, The Days. Oh and Sweet Tooth!!

Shows I Dropped this Year: Breaking bad lol, I love Jesse but I think it's not the right show for me at the moment, I've kind of slowed down with Miraculous. I like watching it when I'm ill and stuff and it's been very on and off for me. Oh and I keep meaning to finish season 1 of OFMD but,, finishing things for me is a big struggle lol, even when I love storytelling so much.

Currently Reading: Coraline!

Currently Listening to: I switch what I'm listening to a lot and I keep meaning to actually explore specific artists rather than just somewhat like a bunch of songs lol but I have been listening to Kuromy the past few days

Currently Working On: The next coming event!! And just adding things to the queue of course. And also my well being ʕ uᴥuʔ of course

Current Obsessions: Y'know!! It's silly!! I haven't any intentions of playing the actual game or watching a let's play but.. Baldurs Gate 3. The characters are so fun and interesting so I've... been reading fanfics and looking at fanart and looking at youtube shorts of the characters </3 I'm just not really a gamer and I don't have the energy to play such a big game but I'll enjoy the fan stuff anyway!

0 pressure tags, sorry if we don't know each other lol, this blog isn't very me-focused: @roseyposie-agere @moonlighthoneybee and @edens-agere-garden if they still use tumblr lol

Tagged by: @tragic-cosmic-magic

Thank you!

Favorite Color: Turquoise or any shade of lighter blue, really. It’s pretty.

Last Song: Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran.

Other Stuff I Watched This Year: I couldn’t tell you. Life’s been chaotic. Work has been busy. I’ve been teleporting around everywhere.

Last Movie: Before I Wake. It was … interesting.

Currently Watching: Nothing at the moment — I’ve been a busy little murder hornet bee.

Shows I Dropped This Year: Supernatural.

Currently Reading: Neverwhere. Shhh, I bought it, read a couple of chapters, and haven’t had time to pick it up since. It’s really good, too!

Currently Listening To: Closer To The Edge - Thirty Seconds To Mars. Peruse my Spotify playlist if you’d like. It’s called Beyond Ineffable, and it’ll probably give you whiplash.

Currently Working On: Reorganizing my Spotify playlist (it got out of control), my Good Omens fanfic when I’ve got time (time, who’s that?) and laundry, lol.

Current Obsessions: Good Omens. 1941 Crowley. Crowley in general. Halloween.

Tagging: @scarecrowcloud @azirapalalalala @aziraphalalala @phoen1xr0se @peachworthy @missdeliadilisblog @wearecrowley @crowleyscleaninglady @ineffabildaddy @ineffablemoist @ineffablemossy @sparrowsortadrawzzz @fellthemarvelous if you’d like :)

[pmcguffin]

...and I’ll call it “Christmas.

As I recall, we were well into November, and my husband and I were working increasingly longer hours as the holidays approached.  I worked at the hospital, and our census was high because of the annual surge of all those non-emergent surgeries that are scheduled at the end of the year, you know, after the insurance deductibles have been met.  I was also working with my husband, who, as a catering director, had an events calendar that was completely packed. He needed the help, and I loved the work, but that second job was hard, and the extra hours had taken its toll on my give-a-damn.  I was tired.  

My children were also busy juggling school and church, hanging out with friends, cruising the boulevard, and the constant popping in-and-out, always in a hurry because somewhere, someone was always waiting for them.  Those teen-agers were very social, and our house hosted a perpetual flurry of the comings and goings of my girls and their entourages.  It was a lively time, those days of giggles, dramatic eye-rolls, girly gossip, color guard practice and football games…  Remembering is bittersweet, for I miss those days.  

Our lives were full, and we were happy…but this mama was exhausted.  Done. I just wanted a nap. 

“When are you going to put up the Christmas tree, Mama?”  

“I’m not.”

“What?  We’re not going to put up the tree this year?”

“I’m not.  I’m so tired, I don’t care.  Daddy doesn’t have time.  You girls can do it this year.”

“C’mon!  You’re kidding.  Really, when are you going to get out the Christmas stuff?”  Clearly, they weren’t taking me seriously, and they would revisit that conversation a few more times.

Finally, I told them, “I am not putting up the tree.  I am tired, and you will have to do it this year.  If you don’t get that tree up and decorated in a reasonable amount of time,” I pointed to the corner of the dining room, “I will take that Norfolk Island Pine right there, and I’ll throw a string of lights on that thing, I’ll hang a few balls and a piece of tinsel, and I will call it ‘Christmas.’  It is up to you.”  I was…done.

Now, “that Norfolk Island Pine” was not the most robust plant.  Three feet tall, and sparse in its density, I wasn’t even sure it would survive being decorated, but there it stood in a terracotta pot, the only tree for which I could muster enough energy to festoon.  I really couldn’t have cared less; I was that tired.

Another week passed. Still, no tree.  Fine.  After work one day, I stopped by Big Lots where, for just a few dollars, I procured one very small strand of 25 twinkling lights and a box of miniature ornaments.  I was all set, and when I got home with the goods, I gingerly placed those lights on my li’l Norfolk Island Pine. I then carefully hung the tiny ornaments on those delicate branches.  I dragged that big terracotta pot into the living room, plugged it in, and called it “Christmas.” I showered, got into my jammies, and settled myself on the sofa, illuminated by only the glow of the television and 25 twinkling lights.  I was content, at peace...done.

My family later found me napping in that spot, and I don’t remember getting up to go to bed. The next day was a both-job workday, so I got home late. I wearily shuffled into the house, and noticed my li’l Norfolk Island “Christmas” tree had been pushed back into the dining room.  I ambled through the foyer and peered into the living room, where, lo and behold, there stood what is still the most beautifully decorated Christmas tree my family has ever done.