Did you ever argue with your mom about wearing makeup to school? Or a certain low-cut top? When was the socially appropriate age to wear dangly earrings or a push-up bra? Begging for your first cell phone because everyone else at school had one? Extending your curfew because you were ‘practically an adult’ by that point? Why was everyone in such a rush to appear and act older? Growing up felt less like something that happened to you and more like you had to convince everyone around you that it was happening. Here are some reasons kids are so eager to fast-forward through their younger years.
1. Freedom
As kids, we were constantly craving freedom and independence, like baby birds wanting to fly. We felt shackled by our parents and their rules. Burdened by the authoritative figures anywhere in our lives, parents and teachers alike. All we wanted to do was be our own person. To break free from the constraints our elders placed on us.
2. Herd Mentality
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is very real and especially prevalent during adolescence. Your friends are your entire world then. They are the people you turn to for advice as you are trying to figure out the type of person you want to be, because they can relate and are similar to you. You look to your peers to gauge how you should be living your life, so if they set their hair on fire and say it’s the new trend, guess what you’ll be doing?
3. Grass is Always Greener
When you’re young, you can’t wait to grow up. To receive the privileges that come with being a full-fledged adult. Yet, as an adult, I can attest, we constantly yearn for our childhoods. For the time before holding the responsibility that comes with newfound adulthood. Hindsight is always 20/20.
4. Media Influence
Since cold-acting laws have become more prominent and restrictive (rightfully so), many film studios have opted to cast adult actors in adolescent or even child roles. This gives a false representation to all the teens watching, who gain a warped perception of what their age range looks and acts like. This untrue representation fuels their desire to act beyond their years.
Everyone grows up at their own pace and shouldn’t be influenced by others, especially those online. I felt a lot of pressure from my peers to give up ‘childish’ things quickly. I was influenced by the media I consumed to become independent at a younger age, and I now regret it. I wish I had stayed younger for longer. But who says we can’t? I still enjoy kids’ movies as an adult, and I have plenty of Legos around my apartment. I still enjoy my favorite foods from when I was younger. There is no timeline for enjoyment. Is there anything in your life from your childhood that you hang on to? Do you regret growing up too fast?
Featured image via cottonbro studio on Pexels
