I’m not sure, I just cringe every time I have to say it. I guess it’s just kinda like referring to one’s puberty as “blossoming” and feeling cringe when talking to friends and you’re like, “…before I blossomed …”. In that case you’d more likely say “when I was a kid”, but I don’t want to say “when I was a dude” lol.
It’s just a personal thing, no issues with the word or those who use it/like it. I don’t have a word I prefer.