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Forum » I'm 67 and just bought my first coloring book. Is that weird?
I'm 67 and just bought my first coloring book. Is that weird?
I discovered this website through my granddaughter, who said "Nana, I think you'd really like this." I'm not sure what that says about me, but here I am. 😊
My husband passed three years ago and the house has been very quiet since then. I've been trying to find things that bring me any kind of joy — I garden, I walk, I've joined a book club — but nothing really stuck. Last week I was at the drugstore and saw a coloring book in the children's section. It was "under the sea" themed, with fish and coral and little mermaids. And I just... bought it. Along with a box of crayons. The 64-pack with the built-in sharpener.
I told myself it was for my granddaughter when she visits, but she's 14 and not really into coloring anymore. The truth is, I sat down that evening and colored a whole page of sea turtles and it was the most peaceful I've felt in months. Is this strange? A woman my age coloring in a children's book? I feel like I should be doing crosswords or Sudoku or something more age-appropriate.
Replies (15)
@SoftSkyMarin Thank you for the warm welcome! I'll admit I spent about 10 minutes just organizing the crayons by color before I even started coloring. That was almost as satisfying as the coloring itself.
Lydia, welcome! 💛 And absolutely not — it's not even a little bit weird. What you experienced is exactly what so many of us here have discovered: creative, "childlike" activities bypass the adult brain's constant hum of responsibilities and worries in a way that "adult" hobbies sometimes can't.
Also: the 64-pack with the built-in sharpener? Elite choice. You have excellent instincts.
I want to talk about the "should" in your post, Lydia — "I should be doing crosswords or Sudoku." Who decided that? Some marketing executive in 1985 who wanted to sell puzzle books to retirees? There's no age limit on creative expression. There's no expiration date on joy.
What you described — the peace, the quiet mind — that's what psychologists call "flow state." It's deeply restorative. The medium doesn't matter. Coloring book, painting, knitting, woodworking — it's all valid. You found something that works. That's not weird. That's wisdom.
My grandmother started coloring at 72 after my grandfather died. She said it gave her hands something to do while her mind processed the grief. She's 80 now and has a whole shelf of completed coloring books and framed a few of her favorites. It's not weird — it's therapeutic, and the fact that we've decided coloring is "for children" is just one of those arbitrary cultural rules that doesn't serve anyone.
my mom is 64 and she colors with me when i'm regressed and we don't talk about it we just... color. side by side. it's the most connected i've felt to her in years. maybe your granddaughter would actually love to color with you, even if she's "too old for it" — she might just need permission.
@latebloomer_lydia If you're interested in expanding your coloring options, there's a whole world of "adult coloring books" that are basically just more intricate versions — mandalas, nature scenes, geometric patterns. But honestly? The children's ones are sometimes better. Simpler shapes, thicker lines, less pressure to make it "perfect." And there are some incredible indie coloring books on Etsy with themes like "cozy fantasy" and "cottagecore" that appeal to all ages.
Also: colored pencils, when you're ready to upgrade from crayons. A little more precise, still deeply satisfying.
the 64 pack with the sharpener is the platonic ideal of crayons. you're already winning.
Lydia, I'm 27 and I color almost every night before bed. It's part of my bedtime routine. You're not behind — you're right on time. The world convinces us that certain joys have expiration dates and it's just not true. Welcome to the coloring club. We're very proud of our sea turtles. 🐢
Lydia, welcome! 💛 And absolutely not — it's not even a little bit weird. What you experienced is exactly what so many of us here have discovered: creative, "childlike" activities bypass the adult brain's constant hum of responsibilities and worries in a way that "adult" hobbies sometimes can't.
Also: the 64-pack with the built-in sharpener? Elite choice. You have excellent instincts.
@latebloomer_lydia The crayon organizing is a whole separate activity and it's glorious. My daughter and I do "crayon sorting" as a wind-down activity before bed sometimes.
I want to talk about the "should" in your post, Lydia — "I should be doing crosswords or Sudoku." Who decided that? Some marketing executive in 1985 who wanted to sell puzzle books to retirees? There's no age limit on creative expression. There's no expiration date on joy.
What you described — the peace, the quiet mind — that's what psychologists call "flow state." It's deeply restorative. The medium doesn't matter. Coloring book, painting, knitting, woodworking — it's all valid. You found something that works. That's not weird. That's wisdom.
@noodle_arms This is so beautiful. Silent parallel play with a parent... that's healing on a whole other level.
@latebloomer_lydia If you're interested in expanding your coloring options, there's a whole world of "adult coloring books" that are basically just more intricate versions — mandalas, nature scenes, geometric patterns. But honestly? The children's ones are sometimes better. Simpler shapes, thicker lines, less pressure to make it "perfect." And there are some incredible indie coloring books on Etsy with themes like "cozy fantasy" and "cottagecore" that appeal to all ages.
Also: colored pencils, when you're ready to upgrade from crayons. A little more precise, still deeply satisfying.
the 64 pack with the sharpener is the platonic ideal of crayons. you're already winning.
on the REFRIGERATOR. lydia you are already one of us. that's the most correct thing anyone has done in this thread.
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