Thoughts on growing up

Looking at pictures of my son today has got me thinking what it means to grow up and the heavy price we must pay as part of growing up. Looking at my son, he doesn’t care if his cloth is of a particular brand, he is happy as long they keep him warm. When we get in the car to take him some where, he doesn’t care if that car is a BMW or an old cab. As long as he gets to look out the window and see the trees pass by, he is happy. He doesn’t care whether he has the most expensive toys in the world, he is perfectly happy playing with a piece of paper. He doesn’t really care where he goes or what he does, he is happy as long as he is spending time with people who loves him and cares about him. He is not picky about the food that he eats, he is happy as long as he is well fed. He doesn’t care if you are a millionair or a cleaning maid, as long as you are willing to show him a smile he will smile back at you. At a young age, he loves music, and it makes very little difference whether that music comes from an old hand held radio or a set of five figure stereo system. As a parent I am a bit saddened to think that some where along the way of growing up, he would lose all of that. He would start putting a value judgement on certain symbols and items. He would start putting people in categories and treat them differently. He would start being picky about his food. Worse of all he would start letting the outside world dictate what he should enjoy and how much to enjoy it. He would join this rat race that we call a life and start selling his soul and his innocence one small piece at a time to keep up with the Jones. As a parent watching him grow up, I feel so conflicted, part of me honesty wishes that he can stay a baby forever. But then again, I don’t know much, please share with me what you think, as you watch your child grow up.