Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: In and Out (04/30/09)
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TITLE: My Journey through childhood | Previous Challenge Entry
By debora spadafora
05/01/09 -
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Today I saw a child slumped in a doorway begging for a handout. Where is his family? Why is he here? what about his childhood?. Why am I so lucky? These are the questions I asked myself.
I miss my childhood but not for myself … more so for the children of today’s society. Being a child today means you have to overcome too many obstacles any child should be asked to. Childhood should be enjoyed to its fullest, it’s a right of passage. Childhood should be filled with happy memories like family picnics, camping, walks in the park with a friend or friends without fear of being abducted or worse yet, molested. Childhood should be peace of mind where the only thing you have to worry about is what to wear or who to invite to that birthday party. Childhood should not be one of grief or strife imposed on you my family or peers.
Yes, I miss my childhood. It was the happiest time of my life and I thank god every day when I see children who have not been as lucky as I have been. I grew up in a large family. There were eight of us and sometimes my Dad had to work two or three jobs to make ends meet and to give us the education he wanted to afford us. We did not have a television or computer or video games but we did have family fun and good friends to share in this fun. My Dad would rent movies and bring home a projector to give us a movie night with all our friends. It would be just like being in a cinema with Mom making the popcorn and treats for us to have at intermission time. It was a blast for all our friends. On weekends we would go camping with other family members and our friends and would share stories by the campfire. We had no worries, no fear. We never had to worry where the next meal was coming from or whether or not we would have a roof over our heads the very next day. Even though times were hard, our family would go to great lengths to ensure we didn’t bear the brunt of this hardship. Yes, we were lucky.
Yes, I miss my childhood. I am an adult now and it breaks my heart every time I see a child walking the streets begging for a handout or hear of a child who was just abducted or abused. I feel for these children because they are missing the best gift life has to offer…that of a safe, loving and happy childhood.
In every life there will be some level of hardship but do we have to compromise childhood for our children? Can we not find some way to make the two work together to ensure our children have a childhood they can one day look back on with happy memories? This is what childhood should be. There should be no regrets. They too should one day look back and say, “my childhood was a blast and yes I do indeed miss it”.
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I'm afraid the judges might find this very light on topic.
I share your concern for today's children. We grew up in more innocent times.