The Memories of Childhood

As the first stage of my life, childhood years were the most fun and memorable time in my life. As a kid, I was loved and cared for by parents and others, there were lots of play and fun times with other kids and I had no worries, no stress, and was free from the filth of life. The happy memories collected as a child became a lifelong memory that always gives me a delighted feeling and brings a smile to my face at the thought of it.

As one jumps at the opportunity of reminiscing on childhood memories to brighten my sad day, I was glad to stumble upon the @bmjc98 writing challenge that she called "When I was a kid". One where participants share ten facts about them as a kid, a way of getting to know each other more.

Though I left out the childhood part, I have shared a lot about myself in this post.

Without further ado, I'll share more about myself with these 10 facts about me as a child.

Grandma and I were close When I was a child

Decades ago my people believed in the reincarnation of dead loved ones, some still do. I was believed to be a reincarnate of my paternal grandfather. I wasn't the first male grandchild born into the family, so sometimes I wonder the criteria they used to determine such. Though they said I'm the first dark grandson that has some of his physical attributes.

Well, whatever their reason, this earned me a special place in grandma's heart. I became her favorite grandson. Who wouldn't love a child that has been presumed to be a reincarnate of the love of her life? I liked her too and was always around her. Even after my dad took us with him to the city, I was allowed to visit her as often as possible.

I was about 12 years old when she died. Then, I was preparing for a school examination. My parents and guardian in school decided not to inform me of her death till after the exams, also I wasn't allowed to attend her burial. I was furious no one mentioned it to me and I cried for days as I couldn't attend her wedding to say farewell.

Traveling became my hobby as a child

We traveled a lot when I was a child. Also, the secondary school I attended was in a faraway state, about a 9-hour drive from my parent's state of residence. So I got to travel to and fro my parent's state of residence during vacations -at least thrice a year. In general, I made such long journeys more than five times a year. I grew to like traveling and it became one of my few hobbies. So, I always looked forward to school breaks/vacations and festive periods especially Christmas when the family traveled home to celebrate the festivity with extended family, relatives, and friends back at home.

I was much loved as a child

As a child, my gentle demeanor and kindness won the heart of my family and relatives. I was the most likable among the kids in the family. Most of my cousins were stubborn and troublesome. Those are not good traits people desire in kids. I was also brilliant and always came home with the first position in the class. The teachers liked me and often use me as a reference when reprimanding other pupils. Of course, I wasn't the perfect kid, I had my flaws too, but my strong attributes overshadowed the flaws.

I was Allergic to a lot of food as a Child

Well, to be honest, it wasn't an allergy, I probably didn't like eating most food. First off, I didn't like eating vegetables. Whenever they are added to my meal, I spent the first few minutes picking them out from my plate. My worst vegetable was an onion. As mentioned earlier, I pick out the veggies, but sometimes miss some of them, so whenever I chew an onion, I often throw up. So mum stopped adding onion to my dish, but she ensured I tried other veggies. So, whenever she dishes my meal containing veggies, she took me into her room, I sat next to my veggie-filled meal for several minutes without taking a bite. Next, she brought out a cane she hides under the bed and threatened to flog me if I don't eat the food. And she did flog on whenever I didn't eat. With time I got to like veggies and started eating all the food I didn't eat earlier. Today, I'm glad my mum forced me to eat, now I can't eat most native meals.

My Dream was to Become a Doctor

My dad was a Doctor and my mum a nurse, so I grew up surrounded by medical practitioners. My dad was my favorite person, so it didn't come as a surprise when my answer to the "what do you want to become in the future?" question was always, "Doctor". When I was 12, mum quit her job to have more time for us, and dad opened a pharmacy next to our apartment for her. So I spent most days of my vacation at the pharmacy. I watched as she dresses wounds, listened when she talks with customers who explained their symptoms to her, and also noted the drugs she administered. All this buoyed my dream of becoming a medical doctor and I was intrigued about the human body system. I often read some of the medical books in dad's home library. I was fondly called the " Young Doctor" as a kid. But nature had a different plan for me.

When I was a child, I was a better Catholic

I loved everything about the catholic church. Thanks to being born in a strong catholic family that produced Priests and Nuns. We prayed the rosary every day, we attended catechism classes where we were taught the catholic doctrines and I also joined the altar servers. Though I loved the church and had a strong passion for its doctor, I wasn't more catholic than the pope. But this love and passion for the church are gradually fading away with age. Can I still find that childhood passion for the catholic church? I will get to find out someday.

I liked Priests and Wished to be one

As aforementioned, we had a priest and nuns in the family and they come to visit whenever they can. I was also an altar. boy, so I get to spend some time with the Parish priest. I admired their lifestyle and wished to join the priesthood. But this thought faded away with age. It wasn't my thing after all.

I Was Brilliant as a Kid

Academically, I was good - an enviable role model to my peers and a reference to my teachers. I can't remember a session I didn't take first in Primary school. Oh, I remember, it was when we moved to join dad in the city, it took me two terms to adapt and I picked up the top spot in the third. I was so good that I didn't come last in one term that I failed to take the school exams, perhaps the pupil that came last was very bad. But when I moved higher, I seem to lose focus as well as the top spot in class. I was above average but not the best anymore.

Mathematics was my Favorite Subject

In my days, a lot of pupils and students were filled with dread at the mention of mathematics, but somehow it was my favorite subject and I excelled at it. Sometimes teachers call me to another class to solve math problems the class found hard. Also, my friends meet me when exams approach to explain some topics, and I always loved helping.

Take me too

When a new kid is born, the older kid gets less attention. We are four children from our parents. But my younger brother and I grew up without the last two as they came much later when we weren't kids anymore. So I had only a sibling as a kid. As the first child and the more mature one, my mum often took my brother out for events and vacations to visit dad in the city, while I was left back at home in grandma's care. Though I loved being with grandma but envied my brother, I wished to be taken along too. Initially, I cried for hours whenever I'm left behind, but I got used to it. Well, even though I envied my little brother, I didn't love him any less. I always missed him and looked forward to the return of my first friend and brother.

We didn't have most of the gadgets and techs presently available, but my childhood was fun and there is no day I envied the kids of now. My kid days were way better.

@Jane and @Princessbusayo may want to share their childhood memories with us.