i kiddo,

I hope you're enjoying life. As a kid, it's really easy to do. Cartoons, toys, cuddles with your parents. Anything you want or need is right there in front of you.

Don't grow up. It's a trap.

I know you've heard that before, but I've come to realize a lot of people lose their inner child as they grow older, and it makes me sad.

Little one, I'm going to let you in on a secret. You don't have to lose the way you look at the world.

The world will try to force it out of you. You'll be immature, childish, and irresponsible. It'll tell you to grow up, and fast.

There's a difference between being responsible and being in touch with your inner child. Remember that.

It's perfectly acceptable to sit down and play video games after a long day in class.

It's okay to goof around in the grocery store trying on hats, because it's fun and it makes shopping more bearable.

It's okay to watch cartoons at night after you finish your homework.

It's okay to make stupid jokes and laugh so hard you can barely finish them.

It's okay to get overly excited about things. It's okay to keep that sparkle in your eye,

It's okay to cry when you've been hurt. It's okay to want your parents when your day isn't going well. It's okay to stomp and throw a tantrum when you get home because your day was just THAT terrible.

It's okay to cry when you realize you've grown up, because I do.

I don't know when my five year old self became my twenty five year old self, but somewhere along the line, I learned to drive and I became more independent. And I find myself wishing many times that I could shrink down and climb into my mom or dad's lap and fall asleep there like I did when I was little. I find myself missing the days where I could skip around the grocery store while my mom picked out my food for me, and then got me a candy bar because I was being so good.

I'm graduating this December, which means I'll be moving out soon. I'm excited to start out on my own, but I'm saddened by the fact that I won't be able to come home from work and sit with my parents. I won't be able to sit at the counter and tell them about my day.

I cherish my childhood memories and don't want to part with them. It helps me stay connected with my inner child, who I used to be.

Someone just like you. Children are fun. Children are full of wonder and magic and have the ability to see the world exactly as it is. Please, sweetheart, don't ever lose that.

I'm glad I didn't.

Love,

A Child at Heart.

Title: "Oh Darling Don't You Ever Grow Up"- Taylor Swift