Faded memories of moving trucks and tire swings,

a driveway filled with old Chevy's and other broken things.

Simple pleasures like going to Chuck E. Cheese,

It only took words to put me at ease. 

Playing outside until I got sick, 

because all I had for breakfast were chocolate chips. 

Those days long past I will surely miss,

the "tuck me in, mom"'s with a goodnight kiss.

The Tinkerbell nightlight plugged into the wall, 

the Hannah Montanna comforter for which I was too small.

The taekwondo dojo which I left behind,

Happy Christmas mornings and Easter eggs to find. 

Pushing my mom's limits in the grocery store,

saying "I want this" until we walked out the door.

Looking forward to high school where I could work and then drive,

a ballerina, then cop, then singer I'd strive.

With my mismatched outfits, over little things I'd cry,

but now im older - realized, those days have passed me by. 

Now I do the grocery shopping, on top of hours of homework each night, 

Times of crippling sadness and anxieties, do you see my plight?

Now I do the cleaning and cooking, each time a balanced meal, 

confused emotions now, I don't know what to feel. 

Simple pleasures fleeted and anxieties will mount,

with scholarships and EOC's, well I'm too busy now, 

for chalk on sidewalks, hula hoops,or jumping on trampolines. 

As I watch my little sister grow up and all these things I see,

I think back to the time before my shoulders were weighted with expectations.

Trying to keep up with grades, chores, family and social life, I'm at my limitation.

Although no longer a child, when I realized this is foggy,

it was more of a gradual change in my schedule, mind, and body. 

Behind I left my afternoon snack and started doing my own laundry,

 my friends and boyfriend have my number so that they can call me. 

Going to homecoming and looking for a job,

learning to drive and stressing 'till my head throbs.

Trying alcohol, disgusting as it is, and exploring who I am,

saying bad words for the first time - the end of my childhood began.

Learning to save my money and match my clothes, all a part of growing older, 

my goals diminishing into reality, dreams are much less bolder.

While I'm surely not done with growing up, my childhood has passed.

Before I yearned for now to near, but now it's gone so fast.