5 Differences Between New Year's Eve As A Kid Vs. A 20-Something

Let's be honest: After Christmas, the only thing on everyone's minds are the sales and New Years' Eve.

While New Year's Eve is an exciting night, there is so much effort that goes into the night, even if it’s just a low-key night with friends.

Here are five differences of ringing in the New Year as a child, vs. as a 20-something:

As a child: You tried to stay awake to see the ball drop.

The goal was to stay awake until midnight and see the famous ball drop.

You and your siblings, friends or cousins would take turns trying to keep everyone awake, so you could prove to the adults that you were old enough to stay up.

As a 20-something: You try to survive until midnight.

Trying to make sure that you don’t crash before midnight is hard when you’re downing shots from 8 pm.

You don’t want to be that friend who is blamed for the year because you didn’t get to stay until midnight, since you passed out or puked and got kicked out of the club.

You won’t live that down for at least a year. 

As a child: Your plans were already set.

It was simple; everyone was either coming to your house, or you were going to someone’s house with your parents.

There was no worrying or stressing about plans because they were already made for you.

As a 20-something: “What are we doing for NYE?”

Don’t you wish you were a kid again?

The question of what you’re doing for New Year's is a constant.

You swear this has to be the best night ever. I mean, it is the start of a new year.

Somehow though, you always let your NYE plans slip until after Christmas, and then you scramble to figure out a fun way to ring in the New Year.

As a child: Your outfits were simple.

Throw on a pair of jeans, and a simple tee and if you were feeling real fancy, you wore some nice pants with a cute top.

It’s not like you were going anywhere other than the living room.

Those pictures were definitely not going to be posted anywhere anyway.

As a 20-something: Your outfits are complex as f*ck.

The text message that every single girl is sending to her friends: “Am I dressing fancy or ratchet?”

Outfits for NYE are complex, and it can take a week to even decide on what to wear. Worse is if you leave it to the last minute, and are scrambling on New Years Eve.

Do you have to dress for two occasions? Do you have to dress fancy? Is it low-key?

These pictures will be on Facebook forever, the last thing you want to do is start the New Year thinking, “Why did I wear that?”

As a child: Your NYE kiss means family.

When midnight hit, it meant tons of kisses from your family members and lots of “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” It was easy, and you probably didn’t know what a New Year's kiss even was.

As a 20-something: Your NYE kiss is a question of who?

If you’re in a relationship and you’re spending New Year's with your significant other, obviously he or she will be your midnight kiss.

What gets complicated is when you’re “just seeing” someone; do you spend NYE with that person? Is it okay if you kiss someone else on NYE?

If you’re single, and have no intention to kiss anyone, it gets awkward during the countdown.

Do you just kiss a stranger? You never know what can happen.

As a child: You had no expectations.

The routine was ultimately the same every single year, there was nothing to expect.

The only thing you looked forward to was probably the food, being able to stay up late and that sip of alcohol your parents let you have once you got a bit older.

As a 20-something: You have high expectations.

We have been conditioned to think NYE should be an epic night (I blame you Zac Efron, and the movie "New Year’s Eve").

You probably either had your NYE plans set a month or two ago, or you’re trying to figure out the best plan possible at the last minute.

You don't want to be alone on New Year's Eve because you left it to the last possible minute and look at everyone else’s Snapchat showing they’re at the hottest clubs.

What's worst thing about not having plans? Seeing everyone’s Instagram photos the next day.

Whether you’ve been planning for weeks or just figuring it out, you always have high expectations. More often than not, you’re let down.