---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t understand how to grow up,” she…"
description: "\"“I don’t understand how to grow up,” she cried, sinking into Robin’s arms. “I’m so scared we’re going to die here and I’ll never figure it out.”\" — Nan..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg"
---

#  I don’t understand how to grow up,” she cried, sinking…

![“I don’t understand how to grow up,” she cried, sinking into Robin’s arms. “I’m so scared we’re going to die here and I’ll never figure it out.” quote by Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg)

> ““I don’t understand how to grow up,” she cried, sinking into Robin’s arms. “I’m so scared we’re going to die here and I’ll never figure it out.””

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Fear of mortality and uncertainty can overwhelm one's sense of growing up.

**In simple terms:** Fear of death stalls maturity.

Key Takeaway

Face fears to grow.

Themes

fear mortality growth

Mood

anxious hopeful

Type

literary emotional

When to use this quote

- grief counseling
- college transition
- parenting challenges

Key Concepts

existential anxiety coming of age

Questions to Reflect On

- What fears hold you back?
- How can you find meaning amid uncertainty?

A Different Perspective

Maturity also requires acceptance, not just confronting fear.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Her arms are scared, they make people flinch if they get a glimpse as they quickly look away, but she just laughs because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bingen/her-arms-are-scared-they-make-people-flinch-if-they-get-a-glimpse-as/)

Bingen

> [My mom is a Twilight fan as well and she's just as excited because she's read all the books so I think she wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-greene/my-mom-is-a-twilight-fan-as-well-and-she-s-just-as-excited-because/)

[Ashley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-greene/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine and found people simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-first-person-who-having-enclosed-a-plot-of-land-took-it-into-his/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [“I was so over crying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-was-so-over-crying/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [“She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/she-said-she-usually-cried-at-least-once-each-day-not-because-she-was/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [Yes, I'm a nice man and I enjoy babies. I'm a sensitive guy. I held a baby the other day and it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-shandling/yes-i-m-a-nice-man-and-i-enjoy-babies-i-m-a-sensitive-guy-i-held-a/)

[Garry Shandling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-shandling/)

> [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [“So you aren’t going to tell me what just happened?” I deduced. The fact was clearly readable across his face. He looked me over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markelle-grabo/so-you-aren-t-going-to-tell-me-what-just-happened-i-deduced-the-fact/)

[Markelle Grabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markelle-grabo/)

> [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/)

[Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/)

> [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [“In the streets, the children scream, the lovers cried, and the poets dreamed,” he crooned, putting down the metal grill tongs to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-clarke/in-the-streets-the-children-scream-the-lovers-cried-and-the-poets/)

[Alexandria Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-clarke/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

## More by Nancy Holder

> [If you haven't read Zomburbia, you haven't read about zombies. This is a new take and it is scary, freaky, and original. Gallardo resets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/if-you-haven-t-read-zomburbia-you-haven-t-read-about-zombies-this-is/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“We are defined by how we react to setbacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/we-are-defined-by-how-we-react-to-setbacks/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“Don't you feel more than one thing at a time? That's what insanity is, trying to feel one way. That's why it feels good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/don-t-you-feel-more-than-one-thing-at-a-time-that-s-what-insanity-is/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“Sweetly, he cupped her cheek and very slowly and deliberately pushed down the bodice of her blouse just a little. She laughed. They kissed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/sweetly-he-cupped-her-cheek-and-very-slowly-and-deliberately-pushed/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [Earth, Ashes to ashes and dust to dust in mother earth we place our trust and as we cycle through our years we water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/earth-ashes-to-ashes-and-dust-to-dust-in-mother-earth-we-place-our/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“The fly that should be dead and the dog that should be dead in the house that should be dead, and the bride, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/the-fly-that-should-be-dead-and-the-dog-that-should-be-dead-in-the/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“It stops hurting so much when you realize how unconstructive hate is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/it-stops-hurting-so-much-when-you-realize-how-unconstructive-hate-is/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [I can feel you, even though I can't see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-can-feel-you-even-though-i-can-t-see-you/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“I now pronounce yo a mated pair," the cardinal said, clearly pleased with himself over the phrase. There was an expectant pause while everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-now-pronounce-yo-a-mated-pair-the-cardinal-said-clearly-pleased/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“It was hard to believe that once upon a time, she had been afraid of pretend things. The real world was pretty darn scary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/it-was-hard-to-believe-that-once-upon-a-time-she-had-been-afraid-of/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“Para siempre. Forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/para-siempre-forever/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [We're staying for the moment. ut if you do anything i find the least bit suspicious, I'll kill you. Fair Warning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/we-re-staying-for-the-moment-ut-if-you-do-anything-i-find-the-least/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“I love you," he said. "Oh, dear God, Skye, you have to know it. And if you'd gone..." He saw Eriko lying dead. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-love-you-he-said-oh-dear-god-skye-you-have-to-know-it-and-if-you-d/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“I hear it" Antonio whispered. "I hear you wanting . That's your heart. That's life. That's being alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-hear-it-antonio-whispered-i-hear-you-wanting-that-s-your-heart-that/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

> [“When will you human monsters stop twisting innocent people into beasts and putting the world at risk?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/when-will-you-human-monsters-stop-twisting-innocent-people-into/)

[Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

[Explore all 26 Nancy Holder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/)

## More Cried quotes

> [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [“In the streets, the children scream, the lovers cried, and the poets dreamed,” he crooned, putting down the metal grill tongs to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-clarke/in-the-streets-the-children-scream-the-lovers-cried-and-the-poets/)

[Alexandria Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-clarke/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/)

[Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/)

> [“So you aren’t going to tell me what just happened?” I deduced. The fact was clearly readable across his face. He looked me over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markelle-grabo/so-you-aren-t-going-to-tell-me-what-just-happened-i-deduced-the-fact/)

[Markelle Grabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markelle-grabo/)

> [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [Yes, I'm a nice man and I enjoy babies. I'm a sensitive guy. I held a baby the other day and it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-shandling/yes-i-m-a-nice-man-and-i-enjoy-babies-i-m-a-sensitive-guy-i-held-a/)

[Garry Shandling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-shandling/)

> [“She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/she-said-she-usually-cried-at-least-once-each-day-not-because-she-was/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [“I was so over crying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-was-so-over-crying/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine and found people simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-first-person-who-having-enclosed-a-plot-of-land-took-it-into-his/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [My mom is a Twilight fan as well and she's just as excited because she's read all the books so I think she wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-greene/my-mom-is-a-twilight-fan-as-well-and-she-s-just-as-excited-because/)

[Ashley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-greene/)

> [“I tried cutting myself to express my heartbreak over Tommy (Lord Flood) rejecting me, but OMFG it hurts like flaming fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-tried-cutting-myself-to-express-my-heartbreak-over-tommy-lord-flood/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

Browse all 1,318 Cried quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I don’t understand how to grow up,” she cried, sinking into Robin’s arms. “I’m so scared we’re going to die here and I’ll never figure it out.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nancy Holder"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cried-sinking-into-robin-s-arms/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cried"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cried-sinking-into-robin-s-arms/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/nancy-holder-23491_quote_i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cr_1134688.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don’t understand how to grow up,” she cried, sinking into Robin’s arms. “I’m so scared we’re going to die…” — Nancy Holder",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nancy Holder",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I don’t understand how to grow...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cried-sinking-into-robin-s-arms/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/i-don-t-understand-how-to-grow-up-she-cried-sinking-into-robin-s-arms/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```