The Last Day Of Childhood
By shiloh62
@shiloh62 (46)
United States
November 5, 2009 2:56pm CST
Last August,just before school began again, I was walking and came across two children playing at a pretend,make believe game.
I thought for a long time about why I had such a whistful,sentimental feeling for so long, and I finally got it.
I believe that there is a difference between a "child" and a "kid". I think that change happens when one enters grammar school; first grade. And very soon there is no more time for things like make believe games and Whinnie the Pooh lunchboxes.
While it does no good for anyone to dwell on the past so much that they forget to live today, just for fun and out of curiosity I was wondering:
Do you remember your last day of childhood? What did you do? Did you have fun?
Or, if you can't, what would you do if you knew that today was it?
4 responses
@xiaoqing (44)
• China
6 Nov 09
I am sorry to say that my childhood had gone for ever since my primary school. Before I went to school, the time was carefree and I needn't worry about anything. But afterwards, from primary school to college, I had to study hard under all kinds of pression. Now, I have to look for a job and work hard to make money to survive. I am tired...
@shiloh62 (46)
• United States
6 Nov 09
Keep a good face! Learning and working can be wonderful experiences. You only get what you put into them,however. As in my preceeding comments on this topic, I think we can rest easy knowing that we do have our childhood memories for comfort. But don't dwell too long on them and then forget about today.
@opalina143 (1240)
• Morristown, New Jersey
5 Nov 09
My childhood has definitely ended, but I can't pinpoint the exact moment when it happened. I know that in first grade I was still in the prime of my childhood, for years up until fifth grade or so I played imaginary games with my friends in the neighborhood. At some point I stopped being creative and started caring what other people thought of me- caring about having the right clothes, the right hairstyle, and looking good to others. I think that is when my childhood ended, just as I started to become a teenager. I don't remember how old I was. But as soon as I started caring what people thought and what I looked like- I mean, i can't remember ever caring about that as a child, I just wanted to have fun, I didn't care if my clothes made me look 'fat' or were out of date.
But no, I can't pinpoint the exact day, but I know it happened. It's sad to think about how much I've lost.
@shiloh62 (46)
• United States
6 Nov 09
Yes, most people can't. However we do know that we did have one, so I wouldn't be too sad. I feel sad for many children who don't get to have that experience at all due to abuse or neglect. I feel equally sorry for children who grow up too fast.
A story in my local paper several years ago told of a child who read the New York Times at the age of six. I think this is horrible. The parents were very proud of THEMSELVES for having taught him, but I don't think there is a need for this so young. Let them be children first.
@blondexkitty (42)
• United States
5 Nov 09
Although I am legally old enough to be considered an adult, I don't believe that my childhood has ended yet. I still love to use my imagination, wear clothes with cute designs and words on them, and I have a budding interest in fashion dolls (Dollfies, to be exact). It helps that I have a round, soft face and people almost always mistake me for an actual child. I think that anyone can stay a child, or even enter a "2nd childhood" if they don't become too jaded with the world or too mature for their own good. :)
@shiloh62 (46)
• United States
6 Nov 09
AHA! The secret to a happy life. It looks as though you not only have a good head on your shoulders,but you've also discovered this.
The trick is to balance maturity with the normal sense of discovery and wonderment inherent in human beings. It's a wonderful life when you realize that even though you've "grown up", there is still something new and fascinating around every turn.
@carenxinxin (40)
• China
6 Nov 09
In my memory,the last day of childhood of mine is March of last year.Now i'm a student of college,but i'm always thinking back of my childhood,because it is so interesting at that time.I went to have a party with my friends in the afternoon and had a big dinner with my family in the evening that day which was a beautiful day! I think we may always keep the memory of our childhood into the bottom of heart.
Let's smile when we think back of the childhood!
