Some of us have constantly said the words, "I can't wait to grow up," or something along those lines. But now, whether we like it or not, we're faced with the harsh reality, this "problem," we all have to go through the circle of life….. growing up. 

The infamous Taylor Swift wrote a song in 2010 titled, "Never Grow Up." Some of you may be familiar with the song, and others may not. But one thing I imagine is true, this song does/will hit home for a lot of you.

"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger and it's so quiet in the world tonight. Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming, so I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light. To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret. I'd give all I have honey, if you could stay like that.."

This is the opening verse of the song and I instantly think of my little cousins. For some of you it may be the same, may be a son/daughter, or may be a little sister/brother. While reading over this, I also think back to when I was little. You got mad because someone took your favorite toy, or because someone wouldn't play with you. If someone made a silly face you laughed until your stomach hurt. All was right with the world and all that mattered was rolling in the grass, running around, and getting back up after you fell. Like Taylor sings, "…You got nothing to regret. I'd give all I have honey, if you could stay like that.." stands 100% true. I'd love for my little cousins to live life regret free, care free, and the way it is now. I'd give anything to go back and live without a care in the 

"You're in the car on the way to the movies and you're mortified your mom's dropping you off. At 14, there's just so much you can't do and you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots. But don't make her drop you off around the block, remember that she's getting older too. And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school.."

This is the second verse of her song. Ahh, how I can remember going to the movies just down the road in middle school and the beginning of high school. I hated when I was going with my "boyfriend" and my dad had to pick me up. Or the times when I argued and screamed at my mom for any reason I could find. If I could tell my 14 year old self what I know now, I would change so much. That age is such a hard time for both us and our parents. We're bratty teenagers who just scream, "I can't wait to get my license," or "I can't wait to move out!" But in reality, WHAT DID WE KNOW? If I have any advice for someone in that stage, cherish the times you have with your parents, appreciate that they're even driving you to the movies. and continue to "dance around in your pi's getting ready for school.."

"Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room. Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home. Remember the footsteps, remember the words said and all your little brother's favorite songs. I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone.."

The bridge. I can vividly remember every poster, every Barbie, every movie, etc. that was in my room growing up. I wish I still felt that same excitement when my dad got home as I did when I was little. Running into his arms saying, "Daddy's home!" Even though, I was the youngest, I remember everything about my older brother from his favorite songs, favorite toys, to his favorite TV shows. Before you know it, you're packing up your stuff for college,"I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone.."

"So here I am in my new apartment in a big city, they just dropped me off. It's so much colder that I thought it would be, so I tuck myself in and turn my night light on. Wish I'd never grown up.."

The last verse. I think this is where it really sinks in. As excited as we are to start this new chapter, enjoy this college experience. As much as we think we're ready TO GROW UP, that moment our parents leave is so bittersweet. We are now on our own. We finally are forced to grow up. And at one point we might even say, "Wish I'd never grown up.." This is where we all begin to say, "I wish I were little again, no worries, no regrets, no mistakes." The things we'd do to be the bratty 14 year old having her parents drop her off at the movies. 

"Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up. I could still be little. Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up. It could still be simple. Oh darling, don't you ever grow up. Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little. Oh darling, don't you ever grow up. Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple. Won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart and even though you want to, please try to never grow up. Oh, don't you ever grow up. Oh, never grow up, just never grow up.."  

I decided to put the ending chorus because it sums up all the feelings and makes us want to hug our parents or the little ones in our life. When you're little and innocent and the world is still a wonderful place, things are simple, why do we wish to grow up? STAY LITTLE, STAY INNOCENT, KEEP THINGS SIMPLE! If I could have prevented anyone from hurting me or some loser from breaking my heart I would. If I could prevent anyone from doing that to my little cousins, I would. But in reality, its all part of growing up. 

Whether we like it or not, we are all faced with this problem. A problem some of us have probably tried to run from a time or two, or twenty. A problem some of us have ran towards, trying not to look back. That's the thing… we TRY to not look back, TRY not to miss our childhood, carefree lives; but eventually we all do. Growing up sucks, growing up is hard, but it's what you make of it. We can't hold onto our high school years forever. There will come a time, if it hasn't already, that we don't want to see someone else grow up. I'm not sure if it's more of a selfish thing because it means we're getting older also, or if it's you don't want to see them hurt and in pain; It could be a combination of both. Life is a beautiful thing, the mistakes we make, the regrets we have, the broken hearts, the hearts we've broken all make you (almost) ready to face our problem, growing up.