Our moms knew that when we were sincerely telling them that there was no need for us to go to school anymore because we were in a band now, that wearing fedoras with anime pins was a thing, or that opening a bar in Jamaica with exotic snakes in glass cases was our future career—they really knew it, it would only be a phase. Redditor u/GeorgoyFriendman asked his fellow users of the r/AskReddit community, “What was your biggest/most regrettable 'It’s not a phase, mom. It’s my life.' that, in fact, turned out to be just a phase and not your life?” and the funniest and most hysterical stories poured in.
So if you had an emo ‘phase,’ if you wanted to wear colored contacts but there was nothing wrong with your vision, and if you really thought you were a rapper, check out the best entries and vote for your favorite ones. And then carry on regretting those questionable fashion choices and tramp stamp tattoos.
More info: Reddit
#21
Ugh. My tramp stamp. Thought it made me look so hot and flirty. Now I'm a professor and always have to wear high waisted pants so none of my students ever see it.
148points
#22
I became extremely religious in my late teen years. Planned on being a missionary to FARC in Colombia kind of extreme. My mother tried to tell me that I might feel differently in the future and to be careful. I screamed that, if anything, I wanted to be MORE extreme.
I run a liquor store now and she is kind enough not to rub my face in it. I think she’s mostly glad I’m not trying to convert godless drug-lord revolutionaries while dodging AK-47 fire.
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141points
#23
There was a time in my younger days when i was obsessed with death. I wanted to be a hitman. I had convinced myself that i was gonna be an assassin. That lasted a few months
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139points
#24
I went through a weird phase as a child where I almost exclusively watched The Weather Channel for a couple of years. This was back in the early 2000s, when there was no entertainment programming, just repeating news segments and "Local on the 8s," the latter of which I got really excited for. I was also obsessed with watching this stupid slideshow on the local access channel and memorizing the lunch menus for every school in the district.
My mom would get angry at me for doing this. She even took me to see a child psychiatrist, who decided there was nothing wrong with me-- I was just strange. But really, I was absolutely obsessed with PowerPoint. I made all sorts of presentations in my free time, and I was convinced I would become a professional PowerPoint maker, which no one at the time told me wasn't a thing.
It turned out to be a phase because being forced to use PowerPoint today makes me groan... I'd rather spend hours editing a video or writing an essay, especially if that PowerPoint presentation requires an accompanying speech.
I find this phase to be regrettable because I missed a lot of great children's shows of the time, like Lizzie McGuire and As Told By Ginger. I just wanted to watch the most mundane, unmemorable things on TV.
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135points
#25
I thought I was asexual cause I'd never liked anyone before and so I told my mom I wanted to grow up and live alone and never find love because people only made you feel worse once they left. Evidently it's worth it and I'm not asexual
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129points
#27
I got really obsessed with being a Christian - buying all the Christianity books, Christian music (like Christian hardcore/ska/pop punk). I joined a methodist church and even got baptised and went to all their mission trips and such.
I'm Jewish lol but I got to go to NYC so _(ツ)_/
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122points
#29
Sad part is we still have phases as we age. Hit 40 and I had my first "I'm going to get cancer and die" phase. Little later it was "I'm going to have a heart attack and die phase". I've had friends all seem to go through something similar, that realization of our own mortality.
Plus people my age get wanderlust and chase tail or buy a new sportscar (did neither thankfully).
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115points
#30
Being a tattooer. Regrettable because of those poor people who have my awful doodles on their bodies.
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108points
#31
I went to a car show once as a teen, and the only newer car there was some chick's PT cruiser. It was hot glittery pink, and at the time I was obsessed. I insisted that one day I would have a hot pink car, with pink seats, pink dash, pink carpets, etc. I was pretty heavily goth at the time, so my parents just rolled their eyes.
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108points
#32
Oh god, acting. After years of theater starting in elementary through college, I thought that was it. Loved being on stage. My (Korean) mom would try and bribe me with fast food and other contraband instead of heading out to classes and auditions.
Now I work in IT but still take classes here and there. So, compromise
107points
#33
oh my god I thought I was a redneck (18f). only wore camo, adopted a southern accent, tried trading in my brand new infiniti for a dirt bike... not a good chapter of my life
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99points
#34
There was a time when I believed that I wanted to enter seminary and study for the priesthood.
Mom said, "It's a passing fancy. You lead an intensely secular life and are only flirting with the idea because you enjoy time spent at church playing your organ as a lay person."
She was right, but I wouldn't admit it at the moment. By my junior year in high school, the notion had passed.
98points
#35
Wanting colored contacts. My vision was fine, but I wanted purple eyes. I still think it would be cool, but I'm not going out of my way for that.
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97points
#36
Dancing to one direction and thinking I'd be in the background of their music video lmao. I actually said that this is going to be my career.
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96points
#38
I never got to experience anything like that as a kid. I suppose the closest thing was back when I got into paintball. I was obsessed. Turns out it was just a 3 year phase since the entire paintball community sort of died off all around the same time.
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84points
#39
Wanted to be a wrestler, would put on shows on my trampoline and had a magazine too, never made it to mania
79points
#40
Anime, emo stuff (mcr and the like). I still am mildly into them but nowhere near the levels I used to be. As much as I hate my emo phase, I don’t think I would be who I am now without it. Same goes for anime. (For the record I still love mcr. They’re a great band! I just don’t use them as a substitute for a personality anymore)
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74points