--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left home at 17, I became…" description: "\"When I left home at 17, I became successful astronomically fast. But I think my parents were so frightened of me failing that they focused on that more..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/toyah-willcox-5758_home_when-i-left-home-at-17-i-became-successf_1777175.jpg" --- # When I left home at 17, I became successful astronomically… ![“When I left home at 17, I became successful astronomically fast. But I think my parents were so frightened of me failing that they focused on that more than my success.” quote by Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/toyah-willcox-5758_home_when-i-left-home-at-17-i-became-successf_1777175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/toyah-willcox-5758_home_when-i-left-home-at-17-i-became-successf_1777175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/toyah-willcox-5758_home_when-i-left-home-at-17-i-became-successf_1777175.jpg) > “When I left home at 17, I became successful astronomically fast. But I think my parents were so frightened of me failing that they focused on that more than my success.” [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rapid early success can cause parental fear, leading them to focus on potential failure over achievements. **In simple terms:** Parents may fear failure despite success. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and discuss parental concerns. Themes family success fear expectations Mood reflective empathetic Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career start - family discussions - mental health Key Concepts Psychology of achievement parental dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How did parental fear affect your choices? - What support helped you balance success and anxiety? A Different Perspective Parents may not fully understand the pressures of early success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [17 Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/17-successful-1830169/) [Focused Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused-success-1830168/) [Frightened Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightened-failing-1830167/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Frightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-frightened-1830166/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful Astronomically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-astronomically-1830170/) ## Related quotes > [“People can be so frightened of failing that they do nothing, or choose something so dull they have no chance of shining. - Molly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-sisman/people-can-be-so-frightened-of-failing-that-they-do-nothing-or-choose/) [Robyn Sisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-sisman/) > [No one is going to give it to you. Spend everyday getting better and focus on that which you can control, let everything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/no-one-is-going-to-give-it-to-you-spend-everyday-getting-better-and/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [If you arent focused on success, youre failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-torres/if-you-arent-focused-on-success-youre-failing/) [Ray Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-torres/) > [I am an only child, and I guess was spoiled by my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordecai-brown/i-am-an-only-child-and-i-guess-was-spoiled-by-my-parents/) [Mordecai Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordecai-brown/) > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [“I've been alone since my mom met Scott. He sucked the nectar from her heart like a famished butterfly. No nurture, no nourishment left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-ve-been-alone-since-my-mom-met-scott-he-sucked-the-nectar-from-her/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) ## More by Toyah Willcox > [I love my work and that's the only thing I think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-love-my-work-and-that-s-the-only-thing-i-think-about/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I was completely unconventional in everything, which my mother found very difficult. I was a huge tomboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-was-completely-unconventional-in-everything-which-my-mother-found/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I'm just not interested in the norm. The only example I can give you is I can't go to a hairdresser and talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-m-just-not-interested-in-the-norm-the-only-example-i-can-give-you/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [We are all part of a vibrant, energetic life force and my overwhelming belief is that the mind survives outside of the body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/we-are-all-part-of-a-vibrant-energetic-life-force-and-my-overwhelming/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I have a confession. I don't enjoy animation. I have no idea why because I absolutely adore doing voiceovers. I think part of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-have-a-confession-i-don-t-enjoy-animation-i-have-no-idea-why/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Not sleeping is a problem when you get older. Not only is it linked to weight gain but the whole point of sleep is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/not-sleeping-is-a-problem-when-you-get-older-not-only-is-it-linked-to/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Snob value has great appeal. I have a couple of properties on the French Riviera that have doubled in value - I may buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/snob-value-has-great-appeal-i-have-a-couple-of-properties-on-the/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Some people believe tarot cards are a form of black magic or senseless new age mysticism but for me they are a practical way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/some-people-believe-tarot-cards-are-a-form-of-black-magic-or/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [My relationship with my father was absolutely wonderful. He was the love of my life and pivotal in my life. He was a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/my-relationship-with-my-father-was-absolutely-wonderful-he-was-the/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Between 2007 and 2016, I had a large white rabbit called WillyFred. I was happiest pressing my ear to his fur and hearing his heart beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/between-2007-and-2016-i-had-a-large-white-rabbit-called-willyfred-i/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I believe in the paranormal and I accept it but I don't change my life around it. I'm not an avid follower, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-believe-in-the-paranormal-and-i-accept-it-but-i-don-t-change-my/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Far too many of my peers were taken in by the jet-setting rock star lifestyle and didn't realise the money might not last forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/far-too-many-of-my-peers-were-taken-in-by-the-jet-setting-rock-star/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I hated every minute of my schooldays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-hated-every-minute-of-my-schooldays/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [My mother never slept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/my-mother-never-slept/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I have a very powerful belief structure. I'm very spiritual. I'm not religious but I am spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-have-a-very-powerful-belief-structure-i-m-very-spiritual-i-m-not/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) [Explore all 99 Toyah Willcox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) ## More Home quotes > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [If your life's at a juncture and you need to think about things, there's nowhere better than home. However old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-your-life-s-at-a-juncture-and-you-need-to-think-about-things-there/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Everything comes home, my mother used to say; every word spoken, every shadow cast, every footprint in the sand. It can't be helped; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/everything-comes-home-my-mother-used-to-say-every-word-spoken-every/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. 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