I remember being younger and going trick-or-treating with my siblings, cousins, and other family members. Once we were old enough to watch each other, we were able to go out alone. Thanksgiving was the same. Our parents never thought twice about letting us go outside to play after thanksgiving dinner, despite the fact that we lived in a city. Summertime cookouts were no different. Whether it was my parents, aunts, uncles, or babysitters, the world always seemed so safe, innocent, and enjoyable.

It’s not that we were sheltered as children, but perhaps our eyes weren’t as wide-opened as we thought.

It’s unclear to me how the world became so different, but half of the things we were allowed to do as children aren’t allowed anymore because the world has changed.

One of the major aspects of my childhood that I miss the most are the holidays. There were no better nights of the year than going to my cousin’s house on the lake every Halloween, and spending Christmas day there as well. Nothing beat running around in neighborhoods during family cookouts and not needing to worry about the world around me.

It makes me upset that child today will not be able to enjoy holidays at the same level that my cousins, siblings, and I have been able to. Nowadays, parents are advised to rarely let their children out of their sight. Children are encouraged to learn self defense and stay in large groups as opposed to small ones.

We live in a world where you can’t trust anyone. On Halloween, safety precautions are tripled because threats are doubled. It’s not fair to children today that ten years ago, I could trick or treat safely in the same neighborhoods. The same goes for cookouts during the summer. Cookouts or graduation parties that take place on lakes raise red flags for parents of younger children. Drowning is not the only problem, but dangerous people.

Christmas when I was a child was more innocent as well. You may have received some of the things you may have wanted and some needs, usually from Santa. Looking at current children, the entire dynamic has changed. Now, throughout the entire population, Christmas has been turned into a holiday full of greed and not-so-friendly competition. Having younger siblings and being around young children around the holidays makes me upset. I feel bad for them because all of the conversations after Christmas are competitions for who got the coolest presents.

I’m not saying that our current children are bad and that they need to experience holiday’s the way we did, but when I see how things are now it makes me nostalgic. I can’t help but miss that feeling when I was getting ready to trick or treat or perhaps when I couldn’t sleep when Santa was on his way. It makes me upset that most children won’t be able to make memories the same way that we did. It makes me wish that, over time, we can find these values as a society again and someday children can enjoy holidays the way we did.