I was babysitting a two-and-a-half year old that I'd been sitting since she was nine months and a question came to me. I noticed how little she could do for herself, though she desperately wanted to, and how the situation was more or less the same for her six-month-old brother, only with more dependance and less sentience. Then, there were the parents, both busy working or cleaning or walking the dog, so as to need a sitter. Now, I remembered the thread a bit back about 15 year olds or something, so I figure that there are a few out there. I'm 14, gonna be a sophomore, and I wanted your opinion-- are these truly the best years of our lives? It seems they should be-- no real responsibilities, nobody to care for, stuff like that, but we aren't completely reliant on elders anymore. I mean, I would likely die in the streets without my parents, but I don't have diapers, I can make my own food, and the money I make I can keep. Y'know. But then, there are also setbacks. Most real jobs aren't open to us. babysiting [my main occupation-- 5 days/week for one family] pays less than minimum wage. I think in a few years I'll be in the middle of what I'll remember as the 'good old days,' but I'm no sure how good they'll be. Between Honors homework, an hour-and-a-half-one-way busride to school, school itself, studying and everything else [minor things, like sleep], I have virtually no social life when school's in session. I'm not alone on this, either-- many of my friends (who, of course, I only see in school) are under similar circumstances. I took a Newsweek stress test. Normal for my age was about 14 out of 40. 40 was, like, dead. Out of school, a seven-- no prob. In school, 25. That's not normal for any age group.
It seems my youth is spent preparing for my old age-- specifically college and, thus, a job. There is about one fun thing in my life.
So, if you're in my boat, or you were, tell me:
are these the best years?

Hoping someday I'll learn to be shorter-winded, but it's not likely,
Chris