I think it is the exact opposite of what you just said. When we were younger things didn't make sense which allowed us to feel and do what we wanted without thinking as much. Now that we are older we have that time to think things over, just like how you described above. And love is just a term or title people use or put over something to explain higher feelings for someone. You can have feelings for someone and not love them. I have had feeling for someone I dated but didn't love, In fact I don't think I have ever been in love at all. I think that is because love is build on the idea of the individual who believe he/she are in love. You just explain what your idea of love is in your post.

And yes on a lighter note it does suck to grow up!