A lot has happened lately that has stirred up quite a few old memories and emotions. I look back on my childhood years, and I'm envious of the carefree, bubbly little girl I once was (even if I did only have one front tooth until I was about 8). So much has got me thinking about how much I miss my happy, memorable childhood, and I can't help but regret the times that I was so ungrateful for how great everything was back then.
When I sit down and start writing my personal statement drafts and my CV, the section that always seems to get me is 'hobbies and interests'. It must make me seem like the most boring, uninteresting person, because I struggle to think of a single thing to write. And then I think back to everything I used to enjoy as a child; my own company would never fail to keep me amused and I loved playing in my room, pretending to be a teacher and give lessons to my teddy's and dolls. I would line them all up on the floor, and stick a laminated sheet on my wall which I used as the whiteboard. I could sit for hours playing that game, and I love that after so many years and a change of heart on career aspirations several times, I've found myself taking that piece of my childhood with me as I head onto the next stage of my life.
Although I was quite happy being on my own, I adored the company of my cousins and the other kids around the neighbourhood. I was one of 23 Grandchildren on my Mum's side (although the number is decreasing rapidly, but we'll save that story for another day) and we all lived very close to each other, so company and entertainment was never far away. We'd play giant games of tag with at least 20 kids at a time, and run all the way around the neighbourhood until the street lights came on. We had den making competitions, whether it be in one of our garages, a cupboard or even a bush, and we used to put on shows for all of our parents and make instruments out of the stuff we found in the back of our kitchen cupboards. If we wanted money, we had to earn it, and we'd work as a team doing chores for the family or setting up cake and ice cream stalls. When it was hot, we'd pull a hose pipe onto the street and everyone, old or young, would come and join a huge water fight. Then when all of this was done, we loved nothing more than all trying to squash into my Nan's living room and finding a spot on the floor to eat our chips at the weekend.
 |
| No pool? No problem. |
 |
| What tends to happen when you get another brother instead of a sister |
Fast-forward to now, and my hobbies and interests include "laying in bed watching Netflix with a tub of Ben and Jerry's with the occasional face-time to one of my friends" - what a blast. What's worse it to see the attitudes of many of the children of the current generation; it's not rare to see a child screaming and shouting at their parents because they didn't get the X-Box game they wanted, and it's not rare to see Toddlers using IPad's and IPhone's before they've even learnt to talk properly. It does really sadden me to see how so many people have lost sight of what's important. It can't be possible to look back on your childhood when you're an adult and think "Wow! I had so many great memories spending hours on end playing games on my IPhone as a child!" - it sounds crazy!
As I approach adulthood myself, I am so thankful that I can look back on happy, worthwhile memories and be proud of my childhood. Although I probably don't take advantage of life as much now as I once did, I want to be sure to make the youngsters I come across, now and in the future, have a childhood as good as mine, without technology and without the competition to have the best and the newest stuff. And who knows, maybe as I do this, my adulthood will be just as fun, and I can look back in 10/20 years time and be envious of the life and experiences I have now.
 |
| Shout-out to Pokemon cards - those bad boys were the best! |
What are your best memories from your childhood?
