I'M GLAD I'M NOT A KID ANYMORE ...
Other kids can be so cruel.
"I don't want to play with you anymore" was a devastating rejection.
"You're not my friend anymore" was the ultimate rejection -- even if it only lasted a day.
Life and death decisions were made on impulse.
In the elevator, some stranger always stuck a fat ass in my face.
Older kids, even my siblings, teased without mercy or compassion.
Dad always gave me a haircut just when my hair was almost as long as I wanted it to be.
I was never allowed to do the things my older siblings were doing.
I was never allowed to do the things all the other kids (said they) were doing.
Pop quizzes caused unspeakable panic.
When I got a 95% on a test, Dad want to know why it wasn't 100%.
I had to wear a yellow rain slicker and galoshes with latches -- when it wasn't even raining hard yet.
After the First Grade, I was embarassed by the yarn running through my overcoat sleeves to connect my mittens.
The "Bulova Watch Time" commercial always reminded Mom when it time for me to go to bed.
I had to go to Confession every Friday and make up sins (I lied twice, I disobeyed my parents three times, I commited adultery four times).
On long car trips, I never got a window.
On long car trips, I always had to pee -- and Dad wouldn't stop the car until it was almost too late.
Pets died.
Grandparents -- or a parent or sibling or friend -- died.
Video games hadn't been invented yet.
If you can identify with some of these, you have survived the most difficult time of your life.
-- Dr Speedbump

Be sure to read I Want To Be A Kid Again for the rest of the story.

HOME is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. (-- Robert Frost)