You know what’s great about getting older? We have gained enough wisdom to appreciate those things which may have slid by in our mad rush to become adults.
Napping for instance. Is there anything more delicious than a quick half hour on the couch when there is nobody else around? Knowing there is something more constructive you could be doing with your time but just rolling over and snuggling a wee bit deeper into the cushions. At least until the dog comes over to see what he is missing out on and sticks a cold wet nose in your face. Hot doggy breath is the ultimate alarm clock.
And what about vegetables? Now in fairness not everyone hated their veggies as a child, nor did we all grow into a love affair with them as adults. But, by and large, most of us grew to not only enjoy their crunchy goodness but to crave them on a daily basis. Except for parsnips. They may look like carrots but are nature’s joke on us all.
Then we have school. Now at the risk of being labelled as a nerd, I enjoyed school. Parts of it, anyways, as I was never the biggest fan of math. But I still could not wait to be done with it when I hit Grade 12. The drudgery of classes day after day. Homework on weekends. Studying for exams when there were so many things I would rather be doing. Nowadays, point me in the direction of a classroom and I will be the first one in my chair.
The biggest one though is just how great it was being a kid. Playing outside until the streetlights came on. Taking off for the day with nothing more than my bike and a peanut butter sandwich to keep me company. Summer vacation. Sleepovers with friends. Sunday night dinner with the family. Stealing peas from the garden. Putting a worm down my sister’s shirt (she did not have a sense of humour). Sure, there were chores and expectations but looking back I can’t complain.
As I watched my kids and now my grandkids grow up I’ve wondered if they will have similar thoughts as they travel the road of adulthood. My son and I laughed about it one time. He said now he is a parent in his own right he has a new appreciation for all those times I told him to just enjoy being a child and let the future look after itself.
I enjoy the adult me and where I am at in my life. But every now and then I go back and visit that young girl with a new appreciation for what she had.
fiona.grisswell@100milefreepress.net
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