In the spring the empty lots would be filled with sourgrass (in portuguese they are called azedas) and we picked them and chewed on the stem to taste the sour liquid it released.
Hi Susan - yes, childhood boredom! I grew up in a large family - we didn’t have a lot of money or space of our own. Mum & Dad loved us all but there was very little individual time with them, that came later after we left home. We spent quite a bit of time out at the park or on our bikes, disappearing for hours at a time. I loved the Miffy books by Dick Bruna and would display my drawings in frames on my own shelf in the bedroom, together with all the pebbles and stones I collected (which I spent hours varnishing and placing in boxes lined with little pieces of velvet) Innocent childhood pastimes! I know exactly what you mean about today’s youngsters - it’s sad to see groups of them coming into the library, not to explore the books as we did, but to just hang around causing disruption and playing music loudly on their phones, totally ignoring our pleas to behave and maybe start to discover what we have available to them - all for free. There are others, however who come in with their parents and it’s heartening to see the encouragement given to them - long may it last!
Hi Liz, we were lucky weren't we. To have the space to discover things. I love the story about your pebbles. Do you still have any? And I remember Miffy too, loved him!
It must be very difficult to deal with groups like that and it's such a shame that they disrupt things for others. And also, just as you say, they're missing out on so much. I wonder though if the fact that they're actually there, could be a sign they're actually a little curious?
I loved wild flowers when I was child. Picking them, drawing them and looking at the book by Mary Cicely Barker on flower fairies. This piece took me back to my own childhood. I do agree with you on today's children and overwhelm rather than boredom. Thank you for this interesting read.
Hi Patricia I remember the Flower Fairies books. They were magical. They are such lovely memories to have aren't they. I think our childhoods were blessed in many ways although we may not have appreciated it at the time. I was prepared to try and see what I could do whereas today, I wonder if children give up before they start with the idea that they won't be able to achieve what they see on the internet. There was so much joy for us in trying to have a go and very little to compare ourselves to.
In the spring the empty lots would be filled with sourgrass (in portuguese they are called azedas) and we picked them and chewed on the stem to taste the sour liquid it released.
That's a lovely memory. Was that time spent with friends, finding things to do?
Yes, good times with friends from the neighbourhood. We played outside and rode our bikes until our mothers called us for dinner.
It would be lovely to go back to those days sometimes.
Hi Susan - yes, childhood boredom! I grew up in a large family - we didn’t have a lot of money or space of our own. Mum & Dad loved us all but there was very little individual time with them, that came later after we left home. We spent quite a bit of time out at the park or on our bikes, disappearing for hours at a time. I loved the Miffy books by Dick Bruna and would display my drawings in frames on my own shelf in the bedroom, together with all the pebbles and stones I collected (which I spent hours varnishing and placing in boxes lined with little pieces of velvet) Innocent childhood pastimes! I know exactly what you mean about today’s youngsters - it’s sad to see groups of them coming into the library, not to explore the books as we did, but to just hang around causing disruption and playing music loudly on their phones, totally ignoring our pleas to behave and maybe start to discover what we have available to them - all for free. There are others, however who come in with their parents and it’s heartening to see the encouragement given to them - long may it last!
Hi Liz, we were lucky weren't we. To have the space to discover things. I love the story about your pebbles. Do you still have any? And I remember Miffy too, loved him!
It must be very difficult to deal with groups like that and it's such a shame that they disrupt things for others. And also, just as you say, they're missing out on so much. I wonder though if the fact that they're actually there, could be a sign they're actually a little curious?
Thanks for the chat Liz. Have a wonderful Sunday!
I loved wild flowers when I was child. Picking them, drawing them and looking at the book by Mary Cicely Barker on flower fairies. This piece took me back to my own childhood. I do agree with you on today's children and overwhelm rather than boredom. Thank you for this interesting read.
Hi Patricia I remember the Flower Fairies books. They were magical. They are such lovely memories to have aren't they. I think our childhoods were blessed in many ways although we may not have appreciated it at the time. I was prepared to try and see what I could do whereas today, I wonder if children give up before they start with the idea that they won't be able to achieve what they see on the internet. There was so much joy for us in trying to have a go and very little to compare ourselves to.
Thank you for sharing