The phrase "Back When We Were Grownups" is the title of a novel by Anne Tyler. The story revolves around Rebecca Davitch, a middle-aged widow who reflects on the life choices she made growing up, including dropping out of college to marry and raise a family. The phrase captures the idea of looking back to a time when one was considered an adult, but now questioning who they have become and whether they are living the life they truly wanted. It suggests a nostalgic but critical examination of adulthood and identity, especially from the perspective of someone re-evaluating their past and present life.
Specifically, the novel explores the theme of self-discovery later in life, as Rebecca wonders if she "turned into the wrong person" and contemplates the path she did not take as a young adult. This reflection on the past "when we were grownups" is about the expectations, decisions, and realities of adulthood from the vantage point of midlife.
If this query refers to the phrase's broader connotation, it implies a look back to a previous time in adulthood, often with feelings of nostalgia mixed with reassessment or regret. If it references the novel or film adaptation, it is about personal and emotional retrospection regarding the life lived "back when we were grownups."
