#so I never thought of boys as being gross or having transmissible microbes

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

#- HK #I would say some of my peers pushed the cooties narrative but my parents discouraged it #so I never thought of boys as being gross or having transmissible microbes #and I was always raised to value romance so I I don’t think I ever noticed a shift in my attitude towards the male sex #however I was somewhat (okay Very) bitter when suddenly it was inappropriate for me to be alone in a room with my male friend #but that bitterness had nothing to do with my own feelings towards guys #(and I truly think it was unavoidable. it’s part of growing up. #you can’t know why it’s inappropriate unless you also know all the lurid things two teens can get up to alone.) #(perhaps the suddenness of the change can be mitigated but the sadness can’t) #anyways I’ve always wondered about this shift everyone talks about that happens around middle school #because I remember feeling quite glad and natural in it. though I always was an aspiring adult)