Growing up to fast
December 11, 2002, 7:09 PM

Do you remember how old you were the first Christmas morning you woke up and wanted to go back to sleep? If you were like me, you knew what was coming. There was no mystery about whether there would be presents under the tree, or if Santa had written a note and eaten the cookies. Knowing what to expect, it was just another day of vacation.

Sleep seems hard to come by as you get older. With homework, more responsibility and even a job, if there's no alarm buzzing, no bus, no teachers, just the satisfaction of lying still for a moment, you give in no matter what. My parents used to do this on Christmas morning, and I never understood why. Now I do. This is one of those defining moments when you know you are losing your childhood innocence.

It seems children want to grow out of their childhood; they dream of being adults. When you go to a toy store, what do you see? Usually mini versions of items used by adults. There's play money and cash registers, toy trucks and cars; everything you could think of to make a child feel mature. It's almost as if they're rushing their lives along. My cousin is ten years old and his mind is set on one thing - wanting everything now. Kids are impatient when it comes to the future. To them, it seems like so much fun, and so far away.

Teens want time to move faster so they can get their license and be able to vote. When you were four, did you rush your parents out the door to the movies so you could snag the good seats? No, most likely you were preoccupied with trying to tie your shoelaces. Little kids aren't caught up in the hustle and bustle of our instant-gratification society.

I think the last few years of childhood are those spent at high school. Your parents still take you everywhere, curfews are set, and sometimes your mom sneaks a love note into your lunch. Once you hit college, you know that everything will effect the rest of your life. For some this responsibility is exciting, for others it's scary, but hold onto your memories that remind you not to make life too complicated or stressful. And don't grow up too fast.

Later Days,
Blaze

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