I'm sure that we can all relate, but when I was younger I hated being a kid. I always wanted to be the 'big kid' and grow up as soon as possible. Being the younger of the middle children in my family, I always wanted to do what my older sisters were doing. I wanted to be able to go around and not have to have my parents watching my every move. Little did I know that when they would constantly tell me to "enjoy it while it lasts," I honestly should have been listening.
Now that I am 19 and in my sophomore year in college, I have never missed being a child so much in my entire life. When I was younger I never needed to worry about money unless I wanted to save up for a toy or treat. Gas, textbooks, groceries, my education, and literally so many other things I now have to be responsible for and make sure I have enough money to pay for. On campus, I have four different jobs on top of another while I'm home to help pay for all of this.
As a child, we were forced to take naps, and I hated it. Staying up late was the most exciting thing on the planet. I consider it a very lucky day if I am able to take a nap as an adult. Now, when I stay up late it is usually because I am working or busy finishing up my homework. As an adult, you never really sleep. Some naps are just longer than others in my opinion and you have roughly a third of the energy you did as a child.
Also, all of this education will eventually (hopefully) lead to a full-time job. This is terrifying because this job is something you have spent your entire life working and learning for. Not only that, I can no longer wear a simple top and jeans when I show up to work like I did for school. Business attire is a thing. Kids never had to deal with that. If you manage to get sick as an adult, you not only don't have your parents to help take care of you, if you miss a day of work it will take days to catch up. This was never the case as a child. Either you weren't in school yet or the homework was anywhere from easy to nonexistent.
Out of all of the things that I miss as a child, the part that scares me the most about being an adult is that within the next ten years everything will change.
I will have graduated from college, gotten a job, and possibly have boughten a house or apartment. I will have to pay 100% of my bills on my own, pay back my student loans, decide if I want to continue on to receive a higher education, and possibly even get married and start a family.
While I know that the adult life has its perks, I can't help but think of all of the different responsibilities that I will soon have. So, with this being said...
Childhood, if you take me back I promise to fully live out my years. Can I wish for a do-over and "enjoy it while it lasts?"
