Here's a throwback article about things that I miss about childhood.

1. Concept of time

I think I speak for everyone when I say that time really does go by faster the older we become. I'm just going to assume it's because we acquire more and more things to do that it just seems like there is no time to do it in. As a kid, summer break felt like forever and staying up past my bedtime was a special privilege that came with it. Nowadays with assignments and work, going to sleep early is such a luxury. Back when August came around, I was actually excited to go back and begin a new grade level. When I move into my dorm before the semester starts, I'm savoring the last bits of summer break that I can.

2. Classic Disney Channel

Anyone who watched Disney Channel when they were younger always wanted to draw the logo between shows. C'mon! Hannah Montana, That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Kim Possible, Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, Proud Family, Phil of the Future! I couldn't wait to get home and watch these shows as a kid. ESPECIALLY when they did the mashup That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana. Plus, Disney Channel movies were the best. High School Musical, Jump In!, Get a Clue, Cadet Kelly, Stuck in the Suburbs, Luck of the Irish, Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off, The Cheetah Girls, Camp Rock, these are just a FEW of the greats. At one point in my life I had the walls in my room covered in posters from said shows and movies. Oh! And the Disney Channel Games could be argued as the highlight of Disney Channel summers. It was always hard for me to pick a team because my favorite stars were always on opposing sides.

3. Holiday Excitement

First off, before any assumptions are made that I'm a grinch, I definitely get excited about the holidays. I would be lying if I did say that it is the same excitement that I had as a kid. In school, they pretty much hyped up the big holidays. We always did turkey hands or wrote a short paragraph about what we were thankful for right before Thanksgiving break. For Christmas, classes had gingerbread house competitions, ornament making, and Secret Santa's. Valentine's Day is obvious, everyone brought those little cards and candy to share with the class. Helping my teachers decorate classrooms and hallways for various holidays always got me in the spirit. AND Disney Channel's movies including Halloweentown, Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire, and Twitches added to the anticipation for trick-or-treating, something I was always unsure about which age it was socially unacceptable to go door to door asking for candy...

4. Playdates

Before having a driver's license, work schedule, and college, I had a chauffeur and a lot of free time after school or during the summer. I miss being dropped off at a friend's house with a bag full of Barbies or Polly Pockets and staying for hours on end. (My friend's parents always had the best snacks). It was awesome having a playground right near my house cause everyone would come play and we'd end up having a giant game of follow the leader. As I got older, the jungle gyms became more elaborate and I remember it being so exciting to go to a new one and see the different features it had. Speaking of playgrounds, I rarely see a McDonald's with a Play Place anymore. Those are childhood goals. In my opinion, the ones with the ball pits were always the best. Anyways, in my younger days, my little brother and I had this mini kitchen toy set that we played with in the backyard and pretended to cook. We would pack dirt into a container and set it on the "stove" and when it was ready, add water to it and serve it as a mud pie. (These were not actually consumed). Of course this was back in the time when playing with my brother always ended up in a fight. Glad to say that we get along now; he's very intelligent and actual competition in any kind of game.

Reminiscing on simpler times makes me want to go find some beyblades, Bratz, Heelys, Razor scooters, backyard waterslides, and create a Neopets or Webkinz account (do those still exist?!). I hope y'all enjoyed this time travel to when life was easy.