Life costs money. People die. Parents get divorced.
"It seems only yesterday I used to believe/ there was nothing under my skin but light./ If you cut me I would shine" (77).
There is a turning point in our lives when we realize life is not as magical as it seems. Life costs money. People die. Parents get divorced. However, this turning point occurs at different times in every child's life. I remember feeling depressed in sixth grade when I found out my friend was having sex, my classmates were dropping the f bomb, and someone stole my eraser. Of course not all my classmates were this disturbed, but it was the fact that some of my classmates were actually acting this way that was so upsetting. I guess you could say that was the turning point in my life, but it was even worse when one of my closest family members died. Children who have abusive parents realize life is not simple and are introduced to the reality that life is hard at an early age. Orphans and children growing up in poverty also learn young.
Perhaps this poem explains the angst of teenage years. We don't want to be told what to do anymore, but at the same time we want to be kids. We miss the days when everyone seemed to get along. If you scraped your knee, someone was there to kiss the booboo and make it better. Homework took an hour tops to complete and then all there was to worry about was what to play next. We could run around outside, splash in the mud, sink our bare toes in the sand box, and not worry about having to shower in time to be at work. I remember my dad telling me not to rush my childhood because those would be some of the best days of my life. Perhaps teens hate to admit it, but we are simply sad over the fact that the best years of our life are over. However, now that I am an adult, I realize that what my dad really meant was to enjoy the most simplistic days of my life. I look forward to getting married and having kids someday. I just cannot see how that time of my life could be any better than being a child.
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Recent Comments
Carissa Altizer on Life costs money. People die. Parents get divorced.: I remember feeling the exact s
I remember feeling the exact same way in 5th and 6th grade. Friendships, swearing, stealing my eraser...your story flashed me back for a minute. I can remember it all so clearly. The part about the eraser made me laugh, but I remember the first time somebody stole my pencil. Nothing had ever been stolen from me before and suddenly my safe, little school didn't seem so safe anymore.
Thats exactly how i felt. School was always supposed to be my safe haven but that all changed once kids starting acting like teenagers. I couldn't believe what kids starting talking about at the lunch table. Believe me it's too graphic to even post on here! And those were 11 and 12 year olds. It is ridiculous!