Things We Dreamed About As Kids That Are Actually Terrible

When I was a kid back in the '90s, I remember thinking about all of the things I wasn't allowed to do yet. Things I would see adults do and just sigh with frustration.

Why is it that when you're a kid, everything adults do seems so damn cool? And then you grew up and realized you wish you could go back to being a kid because adulting sucks.

Let's take a look at all the things we wish we could do as kids, but now completely hate.

I wish I could do ____ when I was a kid

I guess you could call me a stupid child because, when I look back, I remember going to the grocery store (Albertsons in FoCo), the gas station, or fast-food joints and seeing my mom pay with a check. Here's where the stupid part comes in. I had no idea you actually had to have money in the bank to write checks. I guess I always just thought you bought the checks and then you were good to go. Boy, was I wrong.

Now I don't write as many checks in 2026 as my mom did in1993, but when I do, it's usually for something lame like a bill or a wedding gift. Checks were a lot cooler when I thought they gave you an unending budget.

What about staying up really late? I remember on weekends and summer nights practically forcing myself to keep my eyes open. Sometimes my parents would get dressed up to go out to dinner with their friends.

I had no idea they didn't really want to go. They most likely wanted to stay home, feed us, kids' cereal for dinner, and be in bed by 8:00. When did staying out late become less cool and more "ugh, I forgot I said I would go"?

Let's take a look at one more thing before I let you go. Drinking always made my parents so happy. While they didn't do it often, there were sure-fire occasions when we knew they would enjoy some libations.

Now, as a 43-year-old, I just realized that booze equals 3 days of recovery. Yes, I want to be a great dancer, and of course I want to tell the best jokes, but the joke was on me when I had my first hangover, and it's only gotten worse with age.

Sigh.