Maybe it’s just me feeling old, but I can’t help but think kids are growing up faster than ever before. I’m constantly seeing second graders with iPhones, 13-year-olds rocking designer bags and little boys who use more hair gel than DJ Pauly D. I mean, maybe it’s just because the 90s were a VERY different time, but I can’t help but feel like kids today are growing up a little too quickly. That being said, their parents aren’t doing much to help either. Aside from spoiling them and letting them have Facebook profiles by age 11, some parents go as far as to buy their kids inappropriate and sometimes offensive clothing that definitely sends the wrong message.

Check out some of the surprisingly BEST-SELLING children’s items we found:

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Would you ever buy any of these for your child? Do you think kids nowadays are growing up too fast?

And sometimes amidst classes and internships and jobs and scrounging around our kitchens for something to eat before our 6-hour library run we all have a pang of longing for that time in our lives. The days when we could sleep all day and not feel guilty that we missed a lecture, a study group and a day’s worth of quality homework progress. And then wake up, have mom make us a snack and drive us to the movies (where she’ll buy the ticket).

But while we do have a ton of responsibility now that we are “grown ups,” we also have a ton of new privileges now that the parentals aren’t breathing down our necks. And let me tell you – I’d trade in my Barbie Jeep for my curfew-less existence any day.

We can eat ice cream for breakfast
Far gone are the days of mom force-feeding us spinach and carrots, taunting us with the fact that we aren’t going to get that scrumptious brownie if we don’t finish all of our dinner. If I want to eat a bag of chips and chocolate cake for lunch, then I’m going to and there’s no one to stop me. Major plus for the grown ups.

We can live in a pigsty
When you played with your toys your mom would inevitably come in screaming that it looked like a tornado had ran through the room. Then she counted down from ten as you jumped into action picking up all of our Barbies and Beanie Babies. Not anymore. Want to toss your jeans over there? Done. That empty cereal bowl on the couch? Totally fine. (That is…until she comes to visit.)

We can do whatever we want, when we want to
As a kid you basically have someone telling you what to do at all times of the day. You go to school from 8-3, have a snack while you watch some cartoons, do your homework, have dinner and are in bed by 9 pm, sharp. There is really very little room for negotiation and when you tried, you’d only end up getting yelled at later when your mom came into your room and saw you playing with your stuffed animals on the floor. Now we have the freedom to decide what we want to do and when we want to do it. If we want dinner at midnight, we can. If we want to go to bed at 3 am, we can. Even if it’s at someone else’s house.

We can pick out our own clothes
I will never forget the embarrassment that was picture day when my mom made me wear a Mickey Mouse turtleneck and a pair of overalls. That picture still sits above the TV in my parents’ living room and it is a constant reminder of how good it is to decide on my own fashion fate these days. Oh you think that zebra print v-neck is cute, mom? Get it for yourself. I’m all about this low-cut LBD…and you can’t stop me!

We don’t believe ridiculous lies
Yes, Santa and the Easter bunny are awesome, but it’s also ridiculous that anyone would believe a fat man in a red suit jumps down every chimney in the world in one night. Or that TV rots our brains. Or that bread crust will make our hair curly. As grown ups, we are enlightened on the big joke that all the adults have been playing on us and make up some lies of our own (“Yeah mom, I’m just staying in this weekend to study for the big exam! What? No, that’s just the TV. Yeah, I’m watching ESPN’s National Beer Pong Championship.”)

We can ride shotgun
How much did it suck to always be strapped in the backseat missing all the scenery and stimulating conversation in the front seat? Yeah, waving to those fools behind you from the back of a station wagon was fun, but now you get radio control/to your destination without wanting to barf.

We can swear
When you utter your first forbidden four-letter word, the room becomes silent. Before your parents freak out. They don’t want to be known as the couple that has the kid who curses. You’ll never be invited to play dates with that filthy mouth! Now when you let some profanities slip, it really isn’t that big of a shocker. And even if it is, what can your parents really do about it?

Before he left, The Hoff made this prediction/menacing threat:

“He is going to steal the hearts of every American watching the show.”

That prophecy came to fruition during last night’s two-hour Vegas episode. The judges whittled the 113 acts down to 60, and on Thursday they’ll cut 20 more before the pool of contestants is set for the live episodes.

David upped his game and with two minor additions that made it impossible for the judges to send him packing; a little tuxedo, and an alliance with the youngest contestant in the competition, Kaitlyn Maher. Separate they are just two cute little kids, but put them together (holding hands no less!) and the viewing public is powerless. The two little ones beat out individuals three times their age (in their own age bracket no less) and both moved on to the semi-final round. But were we surprised? Voting them off would be like putting Milo & Otis to sleep.

So David is safe for another day. My guess is that his next performance will be a duet with a basket of yellow-lab puppies or newborn babies. Can he be stopped?

[Photo: CBSNews.com]