I am currently writing a free verse narrative driven poetry collection that centers an older man taking time to reminisce on his life. One of the key elements in the story is that he begins to echo what he was told as a child by his father and others about thinking outside the box/ in a way that goes against expectations.
When asking this question I am focusing on a feeling of becoming a completely different person than who you were a child. For example a fun loving kid who loved the nuance in the world that is shot down by “this is the way the world works”. In a “these are your goals” kind of way.
I am a woman but I feel this story would be better told through a male character, due to the type of societal expectations that are placed on men.
Also I am more so looking for answers from men between the ages of 25- one foot in the grave.
Edit: Thank you so much for these comments! It really helps me get a better perspective from the parenting view.