When I was a Child...

When I was a child...

Being a child once again is something I have always wished for because of the beautiful memories I keep flashing back to. There is a window in my kitchen that leads to the next neighbour's apartment and it makes me view the happenings at the other end. When my neighbour's children come around, either to wash their clothes, brush their teeth, play around or make their food and how the big sister would be watching and giving orders, I am always beaming with a smile at their activities especially reminding me of how I used to be in that position years ago. I want to be a child again.

Childhood memories are fun and filled with nostalgic experiences. I remember when I was at a very young age and also in my primary school years, one thing I always did then was to look after my siblings as if I am their parents ( then, we were just 3 with our parents) My mom was a businesswoman who sold nylons. At that time, I always stood by her to watch how she cut the nylons with her machine and ensured we did not move closer as it was risky for young children.

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Since we were 3 and the next after my big sis who left us to live with grandma immediately after her weaning stopped, the big sister role shifted to me and it was my responsibility to watch after the little ones and make sure they were around the house and not be far away. Whenever mom was going out for her business, she would instruct me on what to do, and food to prepare so my siblings wouldn't go hungry. It was at that period that mom taught me how to prepare food and I started with preparing white rice until I graduated to cooking soup and frying stew for rice and other meals.

I was being monitored in the kitchen even though it took me a long while to know the quantity of salt to add to meals. When I got to know the quantity of salt to add without adding much of it and with no correction, it was an achievement for me as a child then and other children of my age got to hear of it. I became a mother and father to my siblings whenever our parents weren't around and they were always not bothered when they were leaving trusting that with them with me, they have nothing to worry about.

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There was a time when Mom and Dad went on a journey and were sceptical about me taking care of them without any trouble. They put us under the care of a neighbour who was close to my mom and I would say that the largest part of the care was done by me because she (the neighbour) got busy with her own life thereby not remembering she had a responsibility on us. My younger brother who was very little then also cooperated that he didn't cry not seeing his parents but kept calm, played with his friends and watched the TV when there was a power supply. The house was organised that day as I made sure everywhere was intact, and things kept at their rightful position while creating space for passageway.

When they arrived, Mom was impressed that there was no issue at home, nothing got spoilt and Michael (my younger brother) didn't cause any problem. My Dad appreciated my effort by giving us what they bought for us. If it was the other way round, things could have been different, their reactions wouldn't be palatable thereby making me fail in performing my duty.

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Back to the present and watching these kids through the kitchen window being organised with the elder one ensuring everywhere was intact and looking good, giving instructions to her younger siblings on what to do and not to do, this takes me back to how it was when I was their age and how the quality to look after my siblings have grown with me. I make sure to keep in touch with them knowing how valuable they are to me and watching them grow into amazing beings gives me the intense joy within.

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_{Both images are mine}