5 Things We All Took For Granted As Kids
By: Ben Ravetta
Tags: Growing Up, Childhood Memories, Childhood, Adulting, 90s

1. Matching Pairs of Socks

Wow. So simple, yet apparently the hardest thing on planet Earth to do as an adult. We all seem to want to grow up so fast as kids, but when we do, things aren’t quite how we imagined them in our heads. “But, I can’t wait to be a grown up and..” — no. Let me stop you right there. You can. I have never been so frustrated than I have been as an adult. Finding matching socks is SO hard. And let’s be honest, we all know why. Nobody wants to sit there, pairing up 100 thousands pairs of socks when they’re out of the washing. And we’re adults, anyway! “Screw that, I’m going to just buy this pack of socks” (guilty).

2. No Responsibilities

I’m not lying when I tell you that, adulting sucks. It really does. Oh, you want to go on holiday? You want time off? You want to jump in a ballpool butt-naked and pretend it’s the 90's? Better ask (read: get permission from) your wife, your girlfriend, your mistress. Inform your kids school teachers, inform the council, the town mayor and the Hubble space station. Get ready to put your plans on hold there, Sport. Because you have responsibilities now. That’s right. Fun? No. You’ve gotta pay bills. What do you mean you “want to watch football”? That’s a negative, son. Get yourself to work.

3. Creature Comforts

I don’t know about you, but, I really loved coming home from school and being able to just sit there watching TV or reading a book, or hitting the kerbs with my skateboard. My Mother would be somewhere else. In the kitchen, cooking up a storm. Or upstairs, doing housework. My bed would be upstairs too, where I left it. Except it was made, fresh sheets, ready for me to just jump on in. The roof over my head wasn’t going anywhere if I sat and watched TV for a week straight eating Space Raiders. Feeling safe and secure was just how it was. You didn’t have to worry about paying bills or who was cooking the next meal. So, thanks Mama, shout out to you.

4. Enjoying the Finer Things in Life

I grew up in the 90’s. I was born in ’87. I’ve seen things. Things you Generation Alpha kids wouldn’t appreciate today. What do you know about Blockbuster. What do you know about Mortal Kombat nights on Sega Megadrive. If I told you that Tupac and Biggie used to be friends, would you believe me? How many tapes you found in Tony Hawks Pro Skater? It felt MAGICAL. Those who grew up in the 90’s will know, and I say this with absolute genuine sincerity — Shit. Was. Real.

Back when Justin Bieber was still shitting in nappies, we were running the streets. Water pistol parties and BBQ’s all Summer long. The weather hit different back then. Everything hit different. The World seemed kinder. The towers still stood. And there was plenty to do. Perhaps I’m wearing rose tinted glasses, but I’m sure you agree, no matter what era you grew up in, that this was a time when we could do anything we wanted. However we wanted. The world of possibilities lay before us, nothing seemed impossible. For me, time didn’t run out, well, at least not until the street lights came on.

5. Freedom to Live

Remember when you didn’t have to answer to anybody? Remember when, you could just live your life without having to mind what you say, for fear of offending someone? Remember being able to think freely, without judgement. You could do some stupid shit, and not feel embarrassed, or scared, or helpless. You could think up endless dreams, and they’d all be within reach. You didn’t have to worry about politics, your future, your past. You didn’t have to think about all the boring stuff you do as adults. I think this is the most valuable thing we took for granted. Time runs out. The clock started ticking when we were born, but we just didn’t care as kids. Life is free. It’s a gift that we are given and as children we really took advantage of that freedom. We didn’t worry if time might run out. We didn’t think about tomorrow’s woes or yesterdays regrets. We lived in the present moment. And if you manage to do this as an adult, please leave a comment below and let me know how 😄

All the best.