The Problem with Birthdays

Everyone loves a good birthday. Lots of cake, gifts, and happy wishes. 

But, I've always been one to find birthdays somewhat depressing. Because it means you're growing up. 

Last Saturday, I turned 19. What? How did that happen? My last teenage birthday. Next year I'll be 20. Ew.

Since I was really young, I've always said that I was never going to grow up. I was going to be a kid forever and ever and ever and ever (my grandpa and I promised eachother we wouldn't grow up... but now I'm 19 and he's 70 something... so that didn't work out too well). Growing up is so overrated. What's so fun about being an adult?

As I turned 19, I asked myself lots of questions. Like how old is too old to be shopping in the teen fiction section of Barnes & Noble? Or when do I stop shopping at Hollister for jeans? Or when do I have to stop asking my mom to do my hair? Or when do I have to start going to the doctor by myself? Or when do I start to feel like a real adult? (Considering the fact that I still buy stuffed animals on a daily basis, probably not anytime soon)

Here are some things I would tell myself at different ages:

Dear 12 year old Madi, don't rush to be thirteen. Being a teenager is hard work. You change, you grow, you mature, and life gets alot harder. You'll deal with depression and friend & boy problems. You'll have lots of homework to do. So, enjoy being 12. Because life rocks at 12. You can ride your bike & watch Disney Channel & still carry around stuffed animals. Don't rush to be a teenager... it's a bit overrated.

Dear 15 year old Madi, there's no need to be 16 so quick. Yeah, you can drive and be a cool high schooler, but the times of your mom picking you up and taking you everywhere is over. You'll miss the times spent with your mom and the easiness of not having to worry about driving and who's picking up who. Enjoy being 15, because pretty soon you'll be pumping gas, backing up into people, getting tickets, and missing your mom. 

Dear 17 year old Madi, who cares about being 18? There's no need to be a legal adult. You don't need to go clubbing, buy cigarettes, or buy lotto tickets. So, be happy that you're only 17. Because it means you're still just a kid.

19 is weird. I'm trying to enjoy growing up, but I just can't. Pretty soon I'll be graduating and I'll be on my own. Life will be hard and I'll miss my family way too much. 

So, to those of you just itching to grow up... DON'T. You'll just wish you were a kid in the end.