1. Childhood is often referred to as "innocent", which is true...to an extent. Children are innocent in the respect that they believe the world belongs to them, and they don't understand the danger in things. Thus with no danger in their worlds, they are always safe and content. Yet it is this mindset that also causes the playful mischief and rebellion. Eventually, they learn. People tell them, "Don't do this; don't do that". Parents scold them for their selfish behavior. They are expected to "know better" than to misbehave; they are taught of the dangers in the world. Children lose their innocence, and they grow up. This is when childhood ends.
Cause/Effect
2. Why is childhood something so cherished in the eyes of adults? Children don't cherish it. They live it the same way adults live "adulthood". They live in the moment; sometimes they are happy, sometimes they are upset. There's nothing special about it in a child's mind. But it's valued when being looked back upon because now it's lost. The reason childhood exists is because life changes. Once people are taught morals and values, once they have responsibilities and expectations...childhood is gone. And don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?
Definition
3. Not everyone has a childhood. Sure, people experience life in early years, but childhood is more than just being young. Childhood is being naive, and ignorant. It's when you think everyone's purpose is to serve your happiness, and it's throwing a physical kicking-and-screaming tantrum when they fail to comply. It's thinking everything is safe, as long as you are with mommy. It's begging Dad to read a story, and another one, and just one more, please!, all to avoid bedtime. It's having endless energy. It's giggling at silly faces and funny dances. Childhood is wanting to be older, so you can be unrestricted. Oh, the irony.
Compare/Contrast
4. What happens when one gives into his desires and passions? When he lets his emotions control him, instead of squelching them? What happens when he does whatever he wants, rather than what others tell him to do? Some say he has sinned because he is impulsive and obscene, he acts upon desire and doesn't mind the consequences. But what if he is only 5 years old? Now we call him adventurous and joyful, and his mindset is viewing the world as safe and wholesome. What is thought to be cute and acceptable when one is a child becomes immoral when he is an adult. Enjoy your childhood, while it's allowed. Your freedom won't last forever.
Example
5. When my friend Sammy and I were young, we always built an elaborate fort in the house that was placed in the most inconvenient location, and we would hide in there all weekend playing with Mr. Bear and Taya (our favorite toys). We laughed at stupid things, and would play pranks on my brother, Erik, and the rest of the family. Sometimes we would go around the kitchen finding strange combinations of food to blend, and dared each other to eat it. But now we are older, and we spend most of our time talking, and sometimes going out to the mall. Childhood is when all the fun happens.
Description
6. I remember waking up late in the mornings to sun beams coming in from my blinds, and the sound of muffled conversation between my mom and dad in the kitchen downstairs, probably over a cup of coffee. I remember the day Amber and I decided to skip school and walked to the playground instead. I remember sneaking M&Ms from the goodie-jar at daycare with Denise and Lori. I remember the smell of crayons whenever we had coloring-time, and I remember playing outside for recess, and avoiding boys because they had cooties. I miss those days. I wish they weren't over.
"Where'd the days go when all we did was play? And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all...just a run and a jump into a harmless fall..."-Paolo Nutini, These Streets
2. Why is childhood something so cherished in the eyes of adults? Children don't cherish it. They live it the same way adults live "adulthood". They live in the moment; sometimes they are happy, sometimes they are upset. There's nothing special about it in a child's mind. But it's valued when being looked back upon because now it's lost. The reason childhood exists is because life changes. Once people are taught morals and values, once they have responsibilities and expectations...childhood is gone. And don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?
Definition
3. Not everyone has a childhood. Sure, people experience life in early years, but childhood is more than just being young. Childhood is being naive, and ignorant. It's when you think everyone's purpose is to serve your happiness, and it's throwing a physical kicking-and-screaming tantrum when they fail to comply. It's thinking everything is safe, as long as you are with mommy. It's begging Dad to read a story, and another one, and just one more, please!, all to avoid bedtime. It's having endless energy. It's giggling at silly faces and funny dances. Childhood is wanting to be older, so you can be unrestricted. Oh, the irony.
Compare/Contrast
4. What happens when one gives into his desires and passions? When he lets his emotions control him, instead of squelching them? What happens when he does whatever he wants, rather than what others tell him to do? Some say he has sinned because he is impulsive and obscene, he acts upon desire and doesn't mind the consequences. But what if he is only 5 years old? Now we call him adventurous and joyful, and his mindset is viewing the world as safe and wholesome. What is thought to be cute and acceptable when one is a child becomes immoral when he is an adult. Enjoy your childhood, while it's allowed. Your freedom won't last forever.
Example
5. When my friend Sammy and I were young, we always built an elaborate fort in the house that was placed in the most inconvenient location, and we would hide in there all weekend playing with Mr. Bear and Taya (our favorite toys). We laughed at stupid things, and would play pranks on my brother, Erik, and the rest of the family. Sometimes we would go around the kitchen finding strange combinations of food to blend, and dared each other to eat it. But now we are older, and we spend most of our time talking, and sometimes going out to the mall. Childhood is when all the fun happens.
Description
6. I remember waking up late in the mornings to sun beams coming in from my blinds, and the sound of muffled conversation between my mom and dad in the kitchen downstairs, probably over a cup of coffee. I remember the day Amber and I decided to skip school and walked to the playground instead. I remember sneaking M&Ms from the goodie-jar at daycare with Denise and Lori. I remember the smell of crayons whenever we had coloring-time, and I remember playing outside for recess, and avoiding boys because they had cooties. I miss those days. I wish they weren't over.
"Where'd the days go when all we did was play? And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all...just a run and a jump into a harmless fall..."-Paolo Nutini, These Streets
