I was at Target picking up a couple new notebooks for the fall semester when I saw excited little kids and stressed out parents following them around. While this is a pretty normal sighting in Target, I then noticed the oversized pencils and rulers hanging from the ceiling, the neon colored school supplies lists from every elementary and middle school in the Valley, and I couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic for the days when I was one of those kids. Here are 11 reasons why back-to-school shopping was more fun in grade school.

1. Locker decorations.

That colorful metal shelf you never used, and those magnetic frames of you and you best friends are no more.

2. Matching backpacks and lunch boxes.

Extra points if it was monogrammed.

3. Textbooks came with the classroom.

The only time of year you actually paid for reading materials was during the Book Fair.

4. Getting to buy new clothes every year because you grew over the summer.

I haven't grown since the eighth grade, so that excuse doesn't work anymore.

5. Finding the perfect picture day outfit.

Now, every day is picture day with Snapchat.

6. The hopes of getting the 64-count crayon box.

Unless you're an art major the closest you'll come to coloring now is excessively highlighting and annotating notes.

7. Glitter folders, pens and notebooks.

Apparently they're "unprofessional" in college.

8. Buying book covers just so you could put them on your head like Batman.

Did anyone actually use them for their intended purpose? Doubtful.

9. Going to the grocery store and buying fun snacks.

That means Lunchables, Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks and Cosmic Brownies.

10. And when you were old enough, getting to shop with your friends.

Remember how cool you felt shopping without parents. Like a real adult.

11. You didn't have to pay for any of it.

Oh, to be young again.

On the bright side, at least you're done with puberty and get to choose what you want to learn now.