Is childhood the happiest time in your life?

Today I will write about an question I heard on the news; Is childhood the happiest time in your life?
Well I will put forward two chains of thought on why it may or may not be. Firstly this will depend on individuals, some may have had a hard upbringing which would not provide a level playing field. While others may be ill in adulthood, for this article I will take this bias out and take a average life with no serious medical issues or external problems. The last thing that will heavily influence is the relationship within your family and with and between your parents. A marital split as most know can be catastrophic on a child’s mind, I am using the model of an average family with parents staying together to allow a "normal" (used vaguely) to take place.


Why childhood could be the best time; As a child you have less responsibility, less pressure from work. No bills to pay, you have that freedom within the home. Your body is also in a better state, though still developing you don't get the aches and pains that I forever hear adults talking about. School life is going to be an important factor in your memories of childhood, a good school life free from bullies and having a close group of friends always helps. A benefits of being a child from a physiological view could be answered by asking the question is ignorance bliss? As a child you are ignorant to most things, not understanding there true meaning, sometimes this may make us happier because you might not what to know these things. On the other hand not knowing them may make you life more difficult and challenging.
Reasons why childhood may not be the best time; As you get older the pressure increases, bills start coming in and you have less free time until you are retiring. But the advantages you do have over your childhood is freedom of choice, you can go out into town or to visit a friend without getting permission (Unless you still live with your parents at 40!). With the life experience behind you unknown circumstances come up far less often and everyday decisions are intuitive and less stressful in dealing with them. Relationships will be more solid as children go through more friends that hot dinners quite often.
So if childhood isn't the best time when is? Is it a time in between old(er) age and childhood? For many it is, those who study at university often claim it was the best time in their life. Others will feel there life keeps getting better the older they get, or there life reached the peak which isn't a good mindset to have as you may end up looking back all the time and it can be quite depressing that you will never have that life again. To sum up you only get one shot at living your life at each stage and each will have its different challenges to overcome and its enjoyable memories that will stay with you. No one will have the same experience though life and everyone’s journey is unique, life is what you make it.