Childhood: Not the Pure, Wholesome Wonderland You Think It Is

 

Ah, childhood—the golden age of innocence, where love is pure, play is carefree, and hate is always taught by some mustache-twirling adult villain. Right? Wrong.

Let’s be honest: glamorizing childhood is dangerous. Why? Because it erases the chaotic little sociopaths many of us were back then. Think about it—babies aren’t born holding hands, singing Kumbaya. They come out screaming, demanding things, and occasionally biting their fellow tiny humans just to see what happens. They’re scientists of the social world, conducting experiments like, “What will happen if I bite Timmy? Oh, he cries? Let’s do it again!”

From an early age, kids notice differences and make snap decisions. This isn’t some learned prejudice—it’s raw, unfiltered human nature. "That kid’s hair is different. Should I touch it or run? Their lunch smells weird. Should I ask for some or yell, ‘Ewwww!’?" Love and hate are just two sides of the same messy, exploratory coin.

The Problem with the "Love is Natural, Hate is Taught" Narrative

This feel-good slogan sounds lovely in Instagram posts with pastel fonts, but it oversimplifies human emotion. It paints this idyllic picture of childhood where everyone is naturally kind and generous until some adult corrupts them. But where does that leave the kid who pushed you off the swing in third grade just because they wanted to watch you cry? Spoiler: they weren’t coached by an evil overlord. They were testing the waters of cause and effect.

It’s like calling kids “blank slates.” Sure, they’re blank, but that doesn’t mean they only write sonnets and paint rainbows. Some scribble chaos all over the page, and that’s natural too.

The Truth About Tiny Humans

Glamorizing childhood makes us forget just how dangerous it is to assume kids are inherently "good." Kids are curious, unpredictable, and often selfish, and that’s not a bad thing—it’s a developmental thing. They’re learning. They’re figuring out how the world works, and sometimes, that learning involves testing their capacity to love, hate, or occasionally dump sand on your head.

By pretending childhood is this pristine utopia, we risk ignoring the very real challenges of teaching empathy, kindness, and self-control. Those things don’t magically emerge. They’re cultivated—and often through trial and error (and tears).

Childhood: The Real Takeaway

The next time you hear someone romanticizing childhood, remind them that for every heartwarming “kids are so pure” moment, there’s a story about the time little Johnny stuck a crayon up his nose and blamed his sibling. Childhood isn’t just laughter and sunshine; it’s messy, raw, and often hilarious—but also a reflection of the complexity of human nature.

Let’s stop pretending kids are naturally angelic, and start acknowledging that childhood is where the seeds of both kindness and cruelty take root. Love and hate? Both natural. Both inevitable. Both hilariously chaotic in their origins.

Childhood isn’t a golden age—it’s an experimental lab where we figure out how to be human. Let’s treat it that way, with the honesty (and humor) it deserves.

And hey, while you’re wrangling your little experimenters, why not treat them (and yourself) to something sweet? Never miss a Monday ☀️ because they just got sweeter with Clean Juice’s FREE kids smoothies! 🎉🥤

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Because sometimes, even little agents of chaos deserve a treat. 🥤✨

Turning Pantry Leftovers into Magic: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (with a Twist!)

Let’s talk about those pantry items you swore you’d use but forgot about. For me, it was a massive 40 oz jar of peanut butter (a gift from someone who clearly thought I live on PB&Js) and a bag of rolled oats that I once believed would fuel a lifetime of oatmeal breakfasts. Spoiler alert: I’m over oatmeal.

For weeks, these two stared me down every time I opened the pantry, daring me to use them. But instead of feeling guilty, I saw an opportunity. After some creative problem-solving and a quick inventory check, I rolled up my sleeves and whipped up something delicious: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies.

But I didn’t stop there—this time, I added a few unexpected tweaks to make the most of every last drop of peanut butter and create a no-waste masterpiece.

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The Recipe: Pantry-Clearing Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 40 oz peanut butter (about 5 cups)
• 2.5 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour + ½ cup corn flour
• 1 cup honey
• 4 tablespoons chia seeds + 10 tablespoons water (chia "eggs")
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• Optional: ½ teaspoon salt and mix-ins like chocolate chips, raisins, or nuts

The Secret Hack:

Once the peanut butter jar was nearly empty, I poured in some Silk plant-based milk, gave it a good shake, and created peanut butter milk. Not only did this clean out the jar, but it also made a creamy drink that paired perfectly with the cookies!

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Instructions:

1. Prepare the chia eggs: Mix chia seeds with water in a small bowl and let sit for about 5 minutes until it forms a gel.
2. Preheat oven: Set it to 325°F.
3. Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together peanut butter, honey, chia eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Add dry ingredients: Gradually mix in oats, flour mixture, baking soda, and salt (if using). If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more flour; if it’s too dry, add a splash of water or milk.
5. Shape cookies: Scoop dough onto lined baking sheets, flatten slightly with a fork or your fingers, and space them evenly.
6. Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
7. Enjoy or freeze: This recipe makes 50–60 cookies, so you can store extras in the freezer for future cravings!

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Freezing Instructions:

For Dough:

• Scoop individual cookie portions onto a baking sheet.
• Freeze until solid, about 1–2 hours.
• Once frozen, transfer the cookie dough portions to a freezer-safe bag or container.
• To bake from frozen, place the dough directly on a baking sheet and bake at 325°F for 12–14 minutes. No need to thaw!

For Baked Cookies:

• Once cookies have cooled completely, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper.
• To enjoy later, let them thaw at room temperature, or warm them in the microwave for 10–15 seconds.

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Why Food Waste Matters

Did you know that Americans throw away up to 40% of the food we produce? That’s over 119 billion pounds of food each year! Letting food go to waste doesn’t just hurt your wallet—it also contributes to methane emissions in landfills, a significant factor in climate change.

By repurposing leftover pantry staples like peanut butter and oats into cookies, I gave those ingredients a second life. And thanks to the creative addition of peanut butter milk, not even the jar went to waste.

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The Results: Delicious and Resourceful

These cookies turned out perfectly chewy with a rich, nutty flavor. The honey adds a natural sweetness, the chia seeds bring a subtle crunch, and the flours lend the perfect balance of softness and structure. Plus, the added touch of corn flour gives them a unique texture that I absolutely love.

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Final Thoughts

This experiment reminded me that with a little creativity, forgotten ingredients can be transformed into something meaningful—and delicious. The next time you’re eyeing neglected pantry items, don’t toss them. Shake things up (literally, in the case of the peanut butter milk), challenge yourself, and enjoy the results.

If you try this recipe—or have your own pantry-clearing ideas—I’d love to hear about them. Let’s make our kitchens (and the world) a little greener, one cookie at a time!