Lucky Kids

In my U.S. History class we have just finished a mock trial dealing with the annexation of the Hawaiian monarchy. I am actually supposed to write a reflection like paper in response to this trial after I finish this blog. I am definitely not looking forward to doing that. When given assignments like that, is when I realize that I really miss those days of freedom in elementary school.
At gym class one day, I remember talking to a fifth grader who was complaining to me about her homework, saying, “I have soooo much homework tonight! You know, I have to do three whole workbook pages!” I rolled my eyes and told her that was nothing compared to the work we have in high school. But for some reason, she was determined to convince me otherwise. “But it’s three pages front and back, so I actually have to do six!” I had to laugh to myself because I knew that was nothing. But at the same time I remembered those days when I used to think that ‘six’ pages of homework was too much.
Some people may say that as teenagers, we have more freedom because we don’t have as much restrictions from the adults in our life since we are expected to think on our own and what not. However, I think that as kids, we actually had more freedom. As a child, we didn’t have as many responsibilities we are expected to have such as chores and the overdose of homework teachers give us to restrict us from doing the things we want to do. Therefore, we had more time to spend on whatever we wanted rather than taking care of so many tedious responsibilities. Also, we actually have to think more of what is right or wrong now, because the consequences are greater as a teenager. We can go to jail for stealing something from a grocery store as more mature people. But when we would have done the same thing as a kid, our actions are overlooked and will just be blamed on the parents. Basically, the kid can do whatever she wants since the parents will ultimately take the blame. Just by watching kids play on the playground, I can see the freedom little kids have. They run around screaming their heads off, without a care in the world. As an observer, I think it can be kind of cute, since it is normal for kids to act like that and it is expected for kids to have so much energy. But as teenagers, one will be thought of as really immature and weird if someone started running around screaming her head off. Therefore, kids have the power to act however they want and no one will care. It’s just too bad I didn’t realize how great it is to be a kid when I was a kid.