I regret to inform you this may not be the case.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that a depressing, unfulfilling future awaits us all. Of course some of us will go to college, become doctors and save lives, marry and have children, live in a nice house and eventually buy that grave plot you've always had your eye on in the local cemetery. All very nice indeed.
While we look forward to and anticipate our future and all these new experiences that await us, we often forget that we are quickly leaving the innocence and 'carefreeness' of our lives behind. What I speak about is our childhood.
As teenagers, we started caring less about the things that used to matter most to us as children. We no longer want to be defined and treated as children so we have thrown away our childish interests and enjoyments to show how much we have changed. As we get older, more independent and begin to make our own decisions, we seem to get bogged down by pressures around us and lose sight of the innocent natural happiness we had when we were children.
So what was childhood? To me childhood was not a set time but rather an experience.
I am sure we all remember strange things we did as children and certain experiences have stayed with us.
For me, my childhood was marked by two things: Barney and giving my parents grief.
Barney was the pinnacle of my childhood. My sheer devotion to him and his cause can be clearly seen from my attire in the image below:
According to my mother, the most famous incident involved my father being locked in our bathroom for three hours straight. I must admit it took me quiet a while to convince my teddy bears to give the key back.
It's great isn't it? Having the power of life or death in your hands *evil laugh*.
I can vividly picture my mother crouching before my two and a half year old self saying, "Now Joanne, tell me where the key is because Daddy has to go to work."
Lets just say Daddy never went to work that day.
You may call me Barney's evil sidekick but I assure you, you have all had similar episodes during that blissful time that is childhood. Totes awks if you haven't..
So go home and lock you father in the bathroom, eat the inedible and let the snot run down your face for once. Enjoy what is left of your youth and release your inner child.
"Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age the child is grown and puts away childish things. Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies."
- Edna St. Vincent Millay