Kids are spoiled rotten these days...

And I'd have to say that I'm one of them...

This little thought occurred to me a few weeks ago. A couple of months ago, while watching a movie on The Wonderful World of Disney (yeah I'm 20 and still watch kid movies, and what?), I realized that I really wanted to go to Disneyland. So, I brought up the thought to my mom, I just asked her if we could go, kinda kidding but not really. She said, "Maybe." With my mom, maybe means maybe. So a couple of weeks later, sometime last month, my mom asked me, "Do you still want to go to Disneyland?" I said, "Duh!" So we started planning, and by the looks of it, we're going next month. It got me thinking that all I had to do was ask my mom once, and she agreed. Keep in mind, I've been there twice already, but felt like going again. Me and my brother aren't spoiled in the way that you'd think. My parents do not pay for my college, or my gas, or my insurance or my phone. If I ever wanted anything after I graduated from high school (clothes, electronics, etc.), I had to get for myself, and still do, including my education. When I was in grade school, a straight A report card would get me: a whole $20! Not 20 per A, 20 in total. Yet growing up, when it came to traveling, my parents were more than happy to shell out a few bucks. I can't count the number of times I've been to California, and I've also been to Las Vegas and Reno and about anywhere else here in the southwest, and we've also been on a 7 day cruise to Mexico. Trips aside, my mom bought my brother and me a flat screen tv for Christmas (not one for each, but one for the living room to play our video games on). My mom always told us that she always wanted to give her kids all the things she didn't have (and she didn't have much), and it got me wondering if parents really want better for their children? And to what lengths will the parents go to make sure their kids have a memorable childhood? And do you think that all these rewards could be screwing up my brother and me? Remember though, we're both high school graduates, going to college and except for a car accident, neither one of us has ever been in trouble with the law, or involved with drugs. So if this is the outcome of spoiling your children, is it really all that bad? (My mom was very strict on us growing up and still kind of is, even now)

I may be 20, but I still feel 10 sometimes, which spawned the Disney idea. Next year we're supposed to be going to Las Vegas again because I turn 21, but now we're talking about going to Italy...I wonder which one we'll end up going to...

Inside and Out

With your head in the lights,
and the lights always off,
don't lose the exit sign.

Follow the arrows
hidden within your memory,
it's not just another train,
it's your escape.

Like an old blanket
it snuggles you in its darkness.
The arrows slowly fading
as you sink deeper underground.

Filled with rainbows and butterflies,
it's easier on the inside.
The clouds and rain here
would bring anyone down.

This is the reality
and you've only got one chance.
Clouds will clear away,
but time won't wait.

The arrows will brighten
and the rain will cool you off,
the fluorescent exit sign is your hope
and the light only you can turn off.