As we were young,
we couldn’t wait to grow up.
We thought it would be great.
We were wrong.

Soda became *****,
lollipops become cigarettes,
detention become suspension,
and the innocent ones turn into *****.
Kisses become ***,
tick-tacks turn into prescription pills,
training bras become push up ones,
Footie’s become lingerie,
and taking naps turned into blacking out.
Saying “no” simply doesn’t exist.

Don’t we remember?
When the only drug we knew of was cough medicine,
when your mom was your hero, and your dads shoulders were the highest place on earth.
When getting high meant swinging in the playground,
when grass was something you played in.
when protection meant wearing a helmet-
and the worst thing boys could give is cooties.

Birthday parties become house parties,
Zip-lock bags become dime bags,
and a “pen” isn’t just something you right with.
Sleepovers turn into sneaking out,
Truths become lies,
and laying on the edge of a toilet at midnight, isn’t any surprise.

We thought growing up meant
things become fair-
but
we what we want now is to go back to the days
when there weren’t any cares.