Do you miss the innocent carefree days of childhood? Would you go back if you could?

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

When all life was about was playing outside till the streetlights came on. Riding bikes, hanging out with your friends.

When your only responsibilities were going to school and a few chores. When couldn't wait till the weekend to watch your favorite cartoons

Updates

+1 y

I'm very sorry for those who suffered abuse as a child, didn't have a good childhood. Mine wasn't always the best either.
I guess should of "emphasized" that as a child you still have that "innocent" belief that things will be so much better when you grow up. And unfortunately that's not always the case. And as a child you had more freedom, escape than you do as an adult.

[GreenEyedChelle]

I miss the being innocent and not knowing how bad the world has become. I do miss eating cereal in front of the tv on Saturday mornings and the barbie throwdowns I'd have with my younger sister. I also miss how one happy meal would fill me up, I'd have to have at least 3 to be happy lol! But I do miss how easy it was to play outside all day and almost everyone was your friend. With all the weirdos now it's hard to find good friends like when you were younger 😕😑

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I hear you. Being a kid isn't always great, but you had that innocent mindset that everything would be so great even you reach adulthood. Then you get there and realize it's not so great, it's a lot of hard work, responsibilities, and hard decisions.

[Sarahr123]

I’d go back in a heartbeat. And yes nostalgia kills me everyday.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

The older, more responsibilities, hard decisions makes me long for the days when you didn't have to worry about those things, someone worried about them for you

[Sarahr123]

Yes, and when I look at children and see how innocent they are, I realise they don’t have a care in the world. They are so happy and have no worries. You give them a chocolate bar and they’re the happiest child in the world! The only responsibility a child has is to go to school which is so much fun, and I miss that too, and to study and do well at school. They spend hours just playing and being kids. They’re so innocent and unaware of the dangers of the world, of how evil and cruel this world can be. I can’t help but sometimes envy them for it. But childhood is fleeting and before you know it, it’s over and then the people you knew in the first 18 years of your life start to disappear, you lose friends, you start to get responsibilities, you begin to realise what a cruel place this world is that we live in and then you look back on those innocent days of childhood and long for them. You yearn for them to come back but they’ll never come back. Then we’re just stuck with the bittersweet feelings of nostalgia as we take long walks down memory lane.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

You said exactly what I was trying tti say. It's the innocence, beliefs of a child and the loss of that as an adult. Very very well said. ❤

[Chase7777]

Your description of your childhood makes me want to hurt somebody.

[Girther10]

Yes, I remember it just like you describe it. After school it was all play, football football football, then just before dark, time to get home and wash up for dinner, then homework, then tv for as late as I could. Next day,, repeat.
The I blinked, and I was 40 years old, everything’s so important, big stress. bs...
I’d prob go back if I could...

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Glad you had that kind of childhood.
And I'm glad I made sure my kids did too. Even if times were different and are different now.
Not as safe- we put a pool and trampoline in the yard so most of my kids friends hung here so knew that were safe but could still be a kid.
But also limited their internet access which people don't seem to do. Kept em off the computer and kept them active outdoors.
Cellphones were flip phones more for emergency calls. Now 5 year olds have cell phones.
Is it the world so unsafe or is it that people don't raise kids the way that used to?

[Girther10]

That is the million dollar question. I think in the age of 911 kids being raised now I’ve been sheltered far more than we ever were

[Girther10]

Kids are being sheltered more. We hear aboutpedophiles and news travels at the speed of now

[Girther10]

I don’t think our kids are any less safe in general we are just more overprotective

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I raised my kids during those times and gave them the same childhood I had. I feel it's the internet, and parents too busy to monitor what their kids ate doing. Get off your phones, computer, video games and go ride a bike, play hide and seek.

[lightbulb27]

yes for sure, I'd live in some of it. answers prob depend up on what childhood was like. some people have it awful, and I'm sorry for that. no children should have to deal with the horror some kids deal with.

Mine over all had a lot of good in it. I've been very fortunate.
Yep, I'd ride my MR50 dirt bike all day in heave...

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Couldn't agree with you more... but ride it here, you still got some years left for you talking bout heaven

[lightbulb27]

I agree... feeling good. 53 is the new 38!:)

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Glad to hear if. I'll remember that as nearing 50's

[lightbulb27]

thanks mho!

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Welcome

[RickPen]

I never really knew innocence. Some of my earliest memories were of sexual abuse at the hands of the maternal "grandmother," who I later disowned. It was also filled with abject poverty, work (from ten years of age officially, and I'd been working on cars since age three to assist my dad).
I longed for living on my own, having a job, and succeeding in life. That included being removed from family. Sadly, life doesn't turn out how we want, injuries happen, and we're forced to rebuild. Taking the road unwanted is also sometimes necessary in order to survive. I can at least say that I managed to move away from family, and am happy enough where I am, though jobs and employment are so beyond garbage and frustrating that I sometimes question why anyone bothers working at all. Pay is just high enough to enable one to keep arriving at work, and promotions or raises are scarce or non-existent. I've never met one work friend with whom I've stayed in touch once either of us left a job; people are fake.
None of this is new, or different than childhood, but the ruse was that things would be better on my own. In a way they are; no sexual abuse, I am no longer ordered about or isolated without my consent, I'm responsible for myself. Now to figure out how to keep one working until I die, 'cause our generation isn't going to see retirement... not with how much debt so many of us have.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I'm so in your shoes more than you know. I suffered same abuse at hands of my father. I guess I was trying to say I miss the innocence of believing that things would get better as an adult, the sky was the limit. Fast forward to now, lost my husband and best friend to death within one year of each other, facing the possibility of losing my home after 16 years of struggle.
And even tho went through a lot as a child the were some good memories and easier to escape in the moment whereas now, no escape.

[RickPen]

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, good childhood memories exist amidst the tumult of pain, and I honestly can't imagine losing a spouse and best friend so closely together. You have my sympathy, and if you'd like to talk more about it, please feel free.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Thank you. And if you ever need an ear, mine's available

[Rob19777]

My childhood days weren't carefree far from it. Getting beaten with leather belts trophies telephone cords having hair pulled out by the roots skin torn from fingernail marks all up my arms being petrified to go home almost every night especially on nights with bad grades. Fighting almost everyday with classmates because they bullied you because you were much smaller in size compared to them in height. Getting sworn at yelled at saying im just like my father who i never met and hearing i wish i had an abortion. Yeah real carefree. Going almost every night without something to eat because my mother refused to put food on the table but rather forced me to do homework until 11pm and then up again at 5:30am to do more homework and fed me a breakfast i was highly allergic to which caused me to vomit. Basically barely eating one meal a day growing up. Yeah real carefree alright. Or how about when the beatings got so violent and fights used to get so bad my now deceased aunt woukd had to step in to intervene. Or how about a school system and a school who knew me and several other students that used to get beat so bad by their parents they did nothing to stop it and child protective services never did anything to abusive parents unless the child was literally dead then they would step in. Or how about being 4 years old or around that age and having to get a kitchen knife to defend your very life because the whippings and beatings were so bad you were afraid you were going to die but to young and to scared and to little to comprehend such a thing or examine it in a way a grown adult could. Yeah again real carefree childhood. Or how about the constant bullying in school almost everyday. So no i wouldn't want to relive those days for anything

[Rob19777]

or how about now deceased grandparents who never once hugged me or said i love you in fact those words were never once spoken by them and when they died last year and 6 years ago seeing nothing but anger and hate and pure evil in their eyes and feeling evil eminating from their hearts. Or how about being 19 and homeless sleeping under abandoned buildings or in a car in 20 degree weather and up to 90 degree weather as well all while them forcing me to go to college and them claiming they would help pay which was only a semester and a half while i struggled to pay for the rest and still trying to support myself with nowhere to live. And how about being 26 years old and having it continuously thrown in my face years later how my evil mother helped pay half of one months rent because my work was slow and lacking hours at a time. Yeah real great.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I'm sorry for what you went through and are still going through

[aWes0MeNeSs]

To a point, yes, but I also enjoy adulthood. I actually enjoy many of my responsibilities and the fact that I am in control of my life and can pretty much do whatever I want within reason. As a child, I needed permission to do everything, couldn't go anywhere on my own or buy anything for myself, etc. I do miss feeling as if the sky was the limit and anything was possible, and not being afraid to really chase even some of my wildest dreams, and also not caring about perfection and being as hard on myself as I am now.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

That's the part I miss the most

[aWes0MeNeSs]

Me too! I've gotten incredibly hard on myself over the years, and there's also the realization that many things are very hard if not impossible.

[jamesgoldman]

No... I blotted most of my childhood out as I didn't want to remember it let alone relive it
I remember being a wise old soul even then but being too advanced for my peers and not able to associate with enough adults to stimulate my mind... I found places to hide and read or do maths even outside
Until secondary school I remember nothing that failed to educate me
It took another 5 years to be taken seriously by adults even when I didn't care about my GCSEs (whatever I got would be good enough- 1 a, 1 b, 6 c's and 1 d) I spent the day I was supposed to collect my results at an antiques fair selling the stuff I spent my study leave buying in order to avoid my peers as it was going to be a drag

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Well hopefully life had gotten better. My life as a child wasn't good either.. things wouldn't say on a public forum but still remember the innocence of childhood even when they tried to rob me of it.

[jamesgoldman]

Life is better once you do it your way but I still want to be older than I am now by a number of years

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Don't rush getting old. Enjoy your 20's. Life flashes by as it is. Try to enjoy it along the way

[jamesgoldman]

I dislike the majority of my peers... can't wait until they hit 40 and have the mid-life crisis about pension planning while I'll be looking into retiring since I started planning instead of spending money in overpriced nightclubs and on throwaway fashion

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

There you go. A young man with a plan👍

[jamesgoldman]

I guess I am

[mrfoox]

Yes. If I can cut out the people that were around me who hurt me at this time, I would return if I could.
The fact many people now and in the past, have had their childhood ended at an early age is really sad to me. If I ever have kids, I will try my best to encourage them to be out, have fun and be a child! I've heard parents shame their 10 year olds for playing with dolls or similar... Once we lose that spark of imagination children use to play, we can never get it back. Not truly. And that's why I would want my child to keep it as long as they're able.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Saying that, you'll be an awesome parent if you do have children

[Therisinghero12]

There isn't a day that I don't think about it, but there's more to think about then what I would like, I have a responsibility to help take care of my family, and if I were younger again I wouldn't be able to do that, I would be back where I was as a kid, watching us barely scrape by most of the time, and I don't want to go through that again and I definitely don't want to put my family in that position again, I want to take care of them, so I just gotta find enjoyment in the present and experience the good ol' days in memory alone, and that's just what I'm doing :D

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Awesome answer. Your family is blessed to have you

[aicarg]

My childhood wasn't totally carefree. It came with many struggles of adapting to a completely new culture, language, climate. Losing a father figure, then a mother figure. Going to child therapy as I was said to have PTSD. Sure there were happy moments in life, I loved spending my time by the lake, camping trips, bingeing Disney movies... but I was definitely exposed to hard circumstances that made me mature quicker than most my peers.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

But it made you a stronger person for it.

[aicarg]

Very true! Indeed I do view myself as a stronger person 🙂

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Life either kicks you down or you become stronger from adversity in life... glad it made you stronger❣

[jetbass]

Hey there! Nostalgia hits hard sometimes, doesn't it? I often find myself reminiscing about those carefree childhood days when hanging out with friends and family was as simple as knocking on a door. Now, in the hustle and bustle of adult life, it's not always easy to recreate those spontaneous moments.

For me Joiner (app) has been invaluable in that way. It's this fantastic app I stumbled upon recently that brings back the magic of unplanned gatherings. You know, the kind where you can open your home to friends or join theirs in real-time, no prior scheduling required. It's like a breath of fresh air in today's world of over-planning.

I love how it keeps things simple yet exciting – just like the good old days. The app notifies you when a friend opens their home, and with a simple tap, you can join in on the fun. It's a game-changer for anyone craving that spontaneous connection with their loved ones.

[AdvNewks]

If I could go back knowing what I know now yeah of course. But life can be enjoyable no matter what age. I enjoyed my teenage years, I really loved my 20s. And I’m trying my best to make the most of my 30s. Enjoy the ride because it only happens once.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Well said

[Anonymous]

Not at all. My life is even better now, I love all of my hobbies, I still enjoy things I used to as a child like watching cartoons, playing video games and whatever else I wish. I do not buy into any of the ''you're too old to do that', therefore I simply do what I enjoy.

I also have plenty of free time, despite taking care of plenty of adult responsibilities.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

That's a good thing❣

[FinalFantasyBro]

Same! I enjoy doing these which people would assume as childish but I don't care I love doing kids stuff while having my adult freedom.

[Anonymous]

Oh, it was a fresh hell for me. Emotionally and physicially abusive parent, and a really strict other parent, so it was a tough childhood in a lot of ways. There were some nice things, but most of it wasn't that spectacular. School was hell. Got bullied there pretty much constantly. Most of the teachers were ok, but I had enough of the bully teachers that made each year in school suck, even not counting the kids who were constantly bullying and other stress MOST kids have in school. No, wouldn't take that back for all the cartoons and TV watching and movies and summers off.

[MissDawn7961]

Anonymous - sorry about you problematic child hood

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I'm sorry for what you went through. Kids shouldn't have to bullied at school. I agree some are, I wouldn't say most

[Opinion Owner]

I meant that school can be stressful for a lot of kids, even if there's not constant bullying - whether it's stress from all the work, stress from the social situations (drama of young romance), stress from time management, extracurricular activities, that sort of thing.

I think now, even with some things being tough, I'm enjoying more aspects of life at the moment. I can watch cartoons, I can watch R movies, work is kind of fun. I have some fun money. No one is physically attacking me any more. I'm away from a lot of those toxic people; and so there's a lot of peace and quiet. I'm lucky in that what I wanted to do as a grown up is kind of similar to what I'm doing now, so it's finally kind of cool. I wouldn't give that up for the real childhood I had, because this "grown up" childhood is kinda cool.

There might be some small things that'd be great - higher energy, higher metabolism, less expectation... but still probably not enough to hypothetically trade in what I already have for being a kid again.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Glad you're in a place you want to be

[AynonOMouse]

Yes, but I don't think it is still that way for children these days. Smart phones have made kids learn things they shouldn't even know about at such a young age and I think their childhoods are worse because of it.

[AynonOMouse]

The one thing that is better now is that it is now cool to be smart. :)

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Right... cool to have " brains"😊

[FictionalCharacter]

I miss being 5-6 year old. I would trade it and go back. Being an adult means trying too hard everyday. Being a kid is easy and no worries.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I think I'd stay 11

[FictionalCharacter]

Oh man, 11 is when puberty starts lol. Couldn’t handle that age 😄.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Better than menopause 😅

[Anonymous]

I grew up in an abusive household. As much as I would like to think that my parents would be better if they were given another chance now, I don't really believe they would. They're better now, but that's only because they know that they can't get away with it anymore. So I'm going to go with no. Those days should have been innocent and carefree, but they were anything but. I would never go back to having that little control over my own life and well being. The thought alone terrifies me.

[Iwillneverunderstand]

Pretty much.
Save to say any & all would.. I wouldn't go back too far but to start at like 11 again would be legit.
I'd hope to have taken an interest in a actual skill.

[Holldatur]

😂😂😂

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Omg when thinking of this question, it was almost what she should you like to stay and I was thinking 11

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

*age

[broken_heart_at_48]

Where I grew up it was pretty rough a lot of gang violence. I'm sure I would if things were different I would. That's why I fought and worked so hard to try and give my girls that kind of childhood

[The_man_whol_aughs]

I knew you were black

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I'm glad your kids had that kind of childhood

[broken_heart_at_48]

What does black have to do with it? I'm white so what's your dumbass point?

[The_man_whol_aughs]

So you lived in the hood huh?

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

@The_man_whol_aughs
Where are these assumptions coming from? First you assumed he was black? Now you're assuming hood? Sometimes a neighborhood can be getting rough without being "in the hood" but I really don't know what either have to do with anything other than trying to insult someone.

[The_man_whol_aughs]

I said I deserve whatever shit life throws at me and you didn't believe me

How about now?

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

@The_man_whol_aughs
No because I don't resort to insults
or trying to make someone feel bad
Idon't pass judgment on people I don't know. There's already way too much of that on here

[broken_heart_at_48]

Look stupid if I was standing right there next to you I guarantee you wouldn't be running your mouth

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Don't let people on here rile you up.
So not worth it

[broken_heart_at_48]

I was just thinking the same thing I was also thinking what a cool chick you are

[The_man_whol_aughs]

Hey if the people I met get to pass judgement on me and my family despite my family being absolute angels to them

I do the same or even worse thing to them

I pass that judgement because it was quite common and no it was in no way an insult just an assumption

I'm sorry if I offended you both

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Aww thank you❣

[The_man_whol_aughs]

Nani?

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

@The_man_whol_aughs
You're good. I'm sorry if people did that to you and your family. But then you should know how it feels and not do that. I've had lot of bad things done to me In life at the hands of others, things I'd never do to anyone else. The two wrongs don't make a right concept. But thanks for apology
Again, you're good❣

[The_man_whol_aughs]

I actually owe broken heart an apology since I never went through the things that he did

And he's right I can't say it to his face , he's far stronger than me both physically and mentally

[The_man_whol_aughs]

I'm really sorry I shouldn't have let my stupidity get the way of something serious

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

@The_man_whol_aughs
It's ok it takes a big person to apologize. And you did that. Just don't let life make you too bitter. Because you hurt yourself more that way.

[MissDawn7961]

no I would not want to go back because I do not want to remember the bad days , headaches , throwing up and so forth ! I am at another site called Quora and I get asked a lot of questions there and my answers to their questions seem to give others a lesson or something to learn or a chuckle as well , which is cool too ! thanks

[FinalFantasyBro]

I also use Quora and yes I get as this s lot of time over there too.

[CoolLolaYX]

Yet my older sister always ruined our fun. When I like to play fight. Not Evy my two sisters didn't like me. High school. I got Verbel bullied. Did one sweetheart. Then other relationship. The relationship did end. Girls didn't like me. I just started to hang out with guys more.

[CoolLolaYX]

Every

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Yeah most my friends in my teenage years were guys as well

[taleets]

I miss those days but at the same time, I also love having as much freedom as I do now. Minus my mental health issues I am in a really good position. I have no job or bills to pay so I’m riding this for as long as possible

[Duckysback]

I didn’t exactly have would you would consider a healthy childhood.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I'm sorry to hear that. But hopefully your happy times are just beginning

[Duckysback]

I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, a car that’s paid off, the freedom to defend myself if needed, and most of a bachelor's degree. So yeah, it could be a hell of a lot worse.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

That's great. Life does get better.. sometimes we are given trials and tribulations so we can better appreciate/ value what we have and how we got there.