THE LAST OF THE REAL CHILDHOOD By: Charmaine Gumbs

THE LAST OF THE REAL CHILDHOOD

I feel like if I could turn back the hands of time o would go back to when I was a

child, where my imagination knows no limit, and with every new day brought a new

adventure. It is the time of laughter in the air friendship are formed over the simplest of

joys where the world is one enormous playground waiting too be explored.

As a child we see things differently we see the world to be a beautiful place

looking through the lens of innocence. Where we believe in magic, superheroes and

that anything can happen. Growing up we played with our siblings, the neighbors and

our classmates when we at school. We played so many games like cops and robbers,

cowboys and Indians, hopscotch, kick ball, softball, baseball, skating, skateboarding,

hanging out in the park going to the beach. We were the last of the generation where

we were safe to go play where our parents were not afraid for us, safe to go by the

neighbor's house. Last of the generation where we had to be home before the

streetlights come on.

We in the times were children are not safe to be outside playing and if they were

this a new generation where they do not come outside their entertainment is inside on

their electronic devices. I remember as a child our parents had to call us inside or we

were found and made to come inside, the new generation you have to fight with them to

go outside.

When we were in school, we had recess and lunch where we get to enjoy the

love of being outside playing and enjoying being children before had to go back in class

and begin or continue our lessons. Then we had Physical education class where we

played kick ball softball and learn different sports. That was helpful cause it kept us

physically fit. My generation we were not overweight. During the summer you would see

a group of children riding their bikes to the park or to the beach. If not, we would go to

the movie theatre and watch a action movie.

We were the last of many having a two parent household, majority of children in

our times we were coming home to two parents. In this time most of the homes are

made up of single parents home. The hugs or parents, laughing with your siblings and

the stories my father often told us before we go to bed. These are the movements

where not only created a sense of security but also family traditions, holiday

celebrations these fond memories that will stay with us forever.

Then here comes the transition period whereas our childhood fades as it is

replaced by the responsibility as we transition into adulthood. The imaginary world we

created as children we turn it into real-life dreams and aspirations. Even though we

grow older a piece of that childhood remains with us, from time to time we reflect on

those carefree days, the innocence of our first friendships and the simple joys of life that

made us smile. Then we come back to the reality that we are no longer children but

adult with responsibilities that sometimes keep us from living life until that inner child

somehow surface and the adult in us begin to live life.