We have all seen those nostalgic reels: seeing toys you grew up with in the 2010s that died out, remembering a specific TV show and finding the exact same princess dress you had when you were 8. You will look through the comments — all clearly teenagers and up — saying how much they miss those experiences and want those memories back. Then you will see the flip side of this: little kids making dancing videos in Lululemon tops, owning iPhone 17s that are bigger than their faces and plastering makeup on already flawless skin. You will look through the comments — little kids viewing these videos — saying how much they want to experience and have those memories faster.
I find this ridiculous to be honest. While it can be fun — and perfectly normal — for you to look back at old photos, laugh at what you used to be like and remember the things you used to do and be into, the interest of your childhood should be limited to just that. Sure, a certain toy or certain activity you did can be nostalgic, but missing it? Some may argue they miss the feeling of that certain toy or certain activity, but really, why would you? Are you not satisfied with the activities you do now? Do they not bring you happiness too? Age does not define your limitations to joy.
I also find the people who miss childhood very hypocritical when these people were the same kids who wanted to rush childhood. Aside from the current age of “Sephora kids” and owning a huge collection of electronics, those people who would bully others for wanting to be kids while they are still kids are extremely disappointing. Kids’ interests are being suppressed in the world today, some by forceful choice and others by a demanding trend. Why is the expectation now that 9-12 year olds automatically are teenagers? A lot of them are trying to look way older than they actually are, and not in a natural way. The fact that kids want to grow up has always been a part of the childhood stage, but they should not force it like the way most do now.
Many teenagers wish to go back, relive childhood and be a kid again. You will see teenagers in children’s parks and in the toy section of Target, buying children’s toys like NeeDohs and ordering from the kids menu. I’m not saying you can’t have fun or that you cannot be there, it’s just interesting that it has become such a norm. Is the drive for this coming from a desire to have fun, or was it because you took your own childhood for granted?
Every age has its own ups and downs. The problem is people choose to only remember childhood as bright, happy and full of wonderful memories. When you are younger, you have to be in bed early, have a set screen time and you really do not have much control over your life. As you get older, your lack of control is traded in with responsibilities that enable you to do things on your own, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. For example, the responsibility of driving can be heavy and intimidating, but it allows you to drive wherever and whenever you want, which is fun and exciting. Your perspective of growing up, just like you all wanted to anyway, doesn’t have to be bad, even though you feel tricked that it was.
The more you fully take in the age you are, the less you will miss the age you once were. Because I fully experienced my childhood and did not rush to grow up, I don’t miss my childhood at all. If anything, I become more excited for the future instead of feeling excitement from the past because I can control the outcome of my future and be able to give myself my own happiness and memories. Those experiences will be much more impactful than your past childhood memories; getting into your dream college will do much more for you than when you were eight buying the new Descendants doll.
So,
To the younger generation, if it was really up to you, would you right now throw away your plushies, get rid of your iPads, get introduced to responsibilities and eliminate all your free time to play? I am guessing not. Childhood is meant to be enjoyed, not rushed.
To the teenage generation, if it was really up to you, would you right now walk down to your basement, pull out a dusty bin, grab your favorite dolls and start to play with them? I am guessing not. So, it is time you start focusing on the present moment and enjoying the age you are right now. Childhood is disappearing, but that does not mean your happiness has to as well; it can still come in newer, different and even more exciting forms. Because, if you keep missing when you were 5 at age 15, you will miss being 15 at age 25, and at age 35 you will miss being 25, and so on. We need to stop missing the age we once were before we miss the age we are right now.
