Loss of innocence means coming to understand that many childhood beliefs are not real, such as Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and stories where all dogs go to heaven. It also means facing difficult realities like death, bullies, taking on adult responsibilities too early, and realizing that the world is complex with imperfect people and institutions rather than black and white. However, losing innocence does not require losing courage or optimism about life.

1. Loss of Innocence Emil Pulido

2. Loss of Innocence: No more Santa Clause

3. Gone is the Tooth Fairy

4. Forget the stork that brought you!

5. Or wishing upon that star

6. Loss of innocence means knowing that not all dogs go to heaven

7. But that dogs really die, especially run over ones.

8. It means meeting bullies

9. Having to work too young

10. Taking on adult responsibilities too soon, like protecting a sibling

11. Realizing that life isn’t black or white

12. Losing innocence sometimes means losing faith in your parents

13. It may mean losing faith in your faith

14. It is realizing that the world is not perfect

15. Priests aren’t perfect

16. Dad isn’t perfect

17. Mom isn’t perfect either

18. So life is real

19. But it doesn’t mean you have to be a coward