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@Jane

Not All Candies Are Sweet

July 30, 2021 When we think of candies, we always choose the sweet ones. As sweet as our childhood memories. As sweet as our indelible joyful memories. As sweet as our mother's kiss. As sweet as our father's caring touch. As sweet as our laughter and joys, and sweet bully moments. And if we could turn back the hands of time, we always wish to go back to the past where what we only do is eat, sleep, and play. No worries, no pains, just sweets. While reading different stories about their childhood memories, mine was flashing back too. Those memories are unforgettable and worth keeping and sweet just like candies. And their stories are mostly sweet memories - experience this and that, do this and that, eat this and that, play this and that - happy things that we all did in our childhood life. The usual childhood memories. We always choose the sweet flavor of candies and our life is like candy. However, not all are sweet because sometimes it's sour. There are even times that it's bitter, mint, and salty. Our life also has different flavors too just like candies. ***And not all the time are sweet, just like not all candies are sweet.***

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/422916221228961592/ We all have sweet memories that are worth sharing. However, we also have the sour and bitter ones that we can share as well because they are part of our childhood life and the puzzles of memories won't be completed without them. Those are the real indelible memories. We may have all experience playing in the rain, playing hide and seek, sucking the nectar of Santan flower, chasing butterflies, dragonflies, and catching fireflies with our palm, making paper boats and sailing them off on the stream, acting like a weirdo, or copying our favorite hero characters, or dressing like our favorite superstars, singing as if we have golden voices even if we only have bronze voices, we did all of these things, and we do not care at all. ***Related Article: Le Me Be A Kid Again, No Sweats Just Sweets*** https://read.cash/@Jane/let-me-be-a-kid-again-no-sweats-just-sweets-2074f9f1 Mostly are sweets, the greatest pleasure, and happiness. But what were your bitter and sour memories? Just like many of us here, I wasn't born with a silver spoon as well, yet, I can say that our current life situation is different from when we were younger. At least, not sinking too deeply in the mud, but not rising high up the ground. Still have ups and downs, sunny and stormy days, with sweets, sour, and bitter phases of life. Because that is life, full of obstacles, and full of flavors. **When I was a kid, I used to wake up at 5 am** Most of the kids are coiling underneath their blankets until their mothers call them for breakfast. They can even sleep until midday took over the morning. Although there were times that I experienced that as well, but only during school vacations and special holidays. When I was a kid, I used to wake up at 5 in the morning to do the morning tasks during school days. We don't even have an alarm, but my eyes automatically wake up once I heard the crowing sound of our neighbor's rooster, and my body will perform its duty. Since I was the eldest daughter, I was always tasked to cook rice in the morning (*and mom will cook the viand*), then packed some for our lunch which will be eaten in school, so we don't need to go back home at noon, because our school where quite far from home. Sometimes we do not have rice at home in the morning. So I will go to the nearest store to buy some, even if my eyes were not fully awake yet. My neighbor sometimes teased me, "*are you still sleeping?*" Because I was like sleepwalking on my way to the store. And since we do not have a water connection yet, after cooking rice, I always fetched water from the near waterwheel so I can bathe, and bring a half pail of water (*of course, the full pail was heavy, lol*) to the house to use for washing dishes. When I was a kid, I can't take afternoon naps I have read different stories and some said that they do not like taking afternoon naps. Seriously? When I was a kid, I always wanted to take afternoon naps but I can not. There were days that I can play, but there were days that I was tasked to babysit my younger siblings as my mother was busy with the house chores. As the eldest daughter, I was always tasked to help her with whatever things to do at home. So at a young age, I learned to become responsible and think like an adult. I even envy those who can take their afternoon naps, because even during weekends which were supposed to be my rest days as well, I can not take a full rest as I need to help my mother doing house chores, washing clothes, and taking care of my little siblings. So instead of lying on my bed and taking my nap, I was holding a baby bottle and singing a lullaby for my little sibling, until we both fall asleep 🤣. That was occasional though. I also can't go on outings with my friends because I was always tasked to babysit my little siblings on weekends. When I was a kid, I woke up in the middle of the night You may think I was dreaming that I woke up in the middle of the night, but no, it's not about dreaming. Almost every year that we have a baby at home, and it's a usual episode that a baby will wake up and cry in the middle of the night to ask for milk or if the baby has discomforts. If I am a babysitter at day, I was also a babysitter at night. Sometimes she needs rest as well, so I will do the task for her. I was always like an assistant to my mother and the second mother of my little siblings. That may be the reason why I did not grow as tall as my older brothers 😅. They were sleeping pretty while I was nursing our baby. When I was a kid, I was bullied in school and our village I have shared my childhood stories here before and I have mentioned that I was bullied when I was a kid. Ever since I was young, I was introverted, shy, with low self-esteem, the typical kid that bullies want to bully. I was weak as well that I can't fight back that's why they want to piss me off. But fortunately, I gained friends in school and they became my defender. But there was a kid though in our village who liked blocking my way and taking my food and my money. A fat ugly kid called Dominic (*she's a girl),* as cruel as Lavinia in Princess Sarah's story. She's living next to the store where we usually buy food. Every time we want to pass by their house, she will block our way and says "*give me your money, or else you can't pass through* *the way.*" In my mind, I was cursing her for being bitch. Sometimes, she will just gonna grab the food in my hand without asking permission. We never become friends even until we grow up. But her sisters were good to me. When I was a kid, my parent's were always absent during my recognitions and graduations Parents are always excited for this annual event to happen, the end of the school year, so they can receive the medals of their kids on the stage. In contrary to my experiences. My father was always away to work, my mother was always busy taking care of my siblings, so I wasn't really that excited when it comes to recognition and graduation because I know that they won't come. Even during parent meetings, my mother was nowhere to be found. The only years that my mother attended my recognition was when I was in Primary one and two, but the rest, her shadow was always nowhere to be found. And graduations should be attended by parents, but who was escorting me? It was my mother's sister. From primary to secondary, this became normal to me. But I didn't actually care because I understand their situation. She was busy at home while my father was always busy at work. But at least, during my College graduation, both of my parents were there to show their support. Better late than never as the saying goes. Maybe they have waited for the final graduation. I was really happy to see them around that day as I thought I will be marching on the hall alone. Their many years of absences have been compensated. **When I was a kid, I witnessed a horrible scene** If you have read my article My Father Was A Monster, we have a strict soldier father. Every time he's at home, we're like birds inside a cage. We were not allowed to play outside, and we were only told to study or do house chores. Whoever will break his rules will receive a big and painful leash. The most horrifying moment I had witnessed was when my two eldest brothers were placed inside the rice sacks, and hanged them upside down after giving them painful strikes using his leather belt because they disobeyed him. Those painful moments of my brothers and corporal punishments by my father were engraved in our minds and won't be forgotten until we grow old. https://read.cash/@Jane/my-father-was-a-monster-8ba185f0 And because of his iron fist and corporal punishments, we hated our father for a long time even until we grow up and became response individuals. But because we are getting old and he's getting old as well, he changed for good and so we just let the time heal all painful wounds and ignore all painful memories implanted by him. At the end of the day, he's still our father and the reason why we are in this world. When I was a kid, my family sometimes starved for having no food on our plates We have a big family and it was too tough for my mom to budget my father's *not-so-big* salary. Sometimes, my mother will borrow money from her sisters so we can buy food. But sometimes, they don't have extra money to lend us, so we have no choice but to go to our relative's store to borrow rice or anything to eat. Have you experienced eating a piece of bread for dinner? For several times we experienced this since bread was cheaper than rice and no need for viand. Sometimes, we just let breakfast passed and just eat lunch and dinner. And sometimes, our food was just so little and wasn't enough to sustain the hunger. But it was better than having an empty stomach. Honestly, I sometimes blamed my parents for putting us in a terrible condition. If they only had good family planning, we won't suffer from hunger and other misfortune. ***But life just happens, and we can't prevent misfortunes to enter our lives. So I just let unfortunate things pass by and continue to pursue things, to lift us from being stuck in the mud.*** ***And my worst memories were shared here*** ***Freedom: Spilling The Beans And Letting Go Of My Darkest Past******.*** https://read.cash/@Jane/freedom-spilling-the-beans-and-letting-go-of-my-darkest-past-e1ca9b41 You might be thinking that I don't have colorful and sweet childhood memories, of course, I had, just like many of us here. I did enjoy bathing in the rain and the river, climbing up the trees, chasing and catching insects, hide and seek, exploring and trying new things out, and more games, and disgusting yet funny memories when I was a kid. These flashbacks are made not to let your mood down, but to let us face the reality that, not all candies are sweet, not all days are colorful, and not all episodes of our life are like fantasies. Because at the end of the day, we need to return to reality and face the polluted environment, toxic people, and the chaotic world. However, we can make all the bitter and sour days sweet if we know how to embrace them positively, and view negative things from different perspectives. Not all days are sweet like candies, but every moment is memorable and worth keeping. It's just a matter of which chest you want to store them, and how you will retrieve them back, positively or negatively. I'm not sure though if this is acceptable as an entry for @bmjc98 ***When I Was A Kid*** challenge for her giveaway. But I'm not into getting the price but sharing this story of mine. Many shared their sweet stories but only a few shared their bitter and sour stories, so I did mine. You too can write and share your stories. Many eyes are willing to read here 😁. Thanks for reading and happy writing. Checked it! (Don't mind the wrong grammar, lol)

Lead image from https://bluewavedentistry.com/the-surprising-effects-of-sour-candy-on-your-teeth/

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