Childhood - too precious to cut short?

No designer clothes for this pair.  All G10 and H10 need is friendship, sand, a bit of sunshine and coloured pencils to make a it perfect day.  Long may this continue.  I hate the fact that childhood seems to be getting shorter yet our life expectancy is getting longer. What is it about this modern rush to grow up?  It's a real mystery and I'm unable to see the Darwinian benefit of this urgency to leave those carefree days behind.

I have to admit that's why I love Pembrokeshire... there is less emphasis on having the latest gear and looking like little pop stars and believing that the only credible job in life is to be 'famous' - all so much pressure at such an early age, just to fit in.  Those stiletto heels for babies and padded bras for seven year olds make my skin crawl.  I watched a programme on TV last night about pageants for children here in the UK.  There was a very young child who had had plastic surgery to pin her ears back (her Mum admitted she didn't find her attractive at birth) and another child of seven who wears contact lenses, even though she finds glasses more comfortable. "Mummy will be cross if I wear my glasses."  I found I was catching flies, my mouth wide open in amazement that these parents (Mummies primarily) were merrily creating psychological problems for the years to come. 

I'm not the best Mum in the world - but really after that programme I felt that perhaps I wasn't too bad!

Let the children be free, run, get dirty, laugh, play, remain unconcerned about their appearance - for as long as they can.   After being an adult for more years than I care to admit, I'd change places like a shot.

Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.