This week, I made sure not to pass Mondaylisticles series from “The Good Life” – Stasha. Go and check it out, it is a lot of fun.
For this week, the challenge is to come up with a list about: “10 things from my childhood I wish my baby could do”. So, here is my list:
1. Regular Sunday visit to grandparents. When I was a child, a visit to my grandma was done every Sunday. You might think church, but no, visit to grandma. It built a routine and somehow we caught up with our relatives as well — lots of playtime with our cousins too, which I think that was great for mama.
2. Play outside with her neighbor friends. Because of my home country, it’s commonly given permission to play with your neighbor friends at all time (of course be back to the house for our meals). Somehow I see that was the way as kids we blew steam to a point of being fit -soccer, baseball, Simon said, bicycle around the neighborhood, etc..- and ready for bed time with out putting any fight about it. Of course, there is a downsize to it, but like with anything else parents’ supervision is key.
3. Dance, dance and just dance. Anywhere I used to go there was music and with that a chance to dance – of course, sometimes against my will *giggles*. However, that was the best dancing lessons of my life, those that came from an invitation from my uncles or when dragged by my own cousins. Rithm gets passed on generation by generation and even better for free.
4. More “live” less “virtual”. Somehow the poor economy enriches someone’s soul more than in a rich country sometimes. When I was a kid, there was always the “get together” it forced someone to network and be less shy in social situations. Living in poverty allowed me to appreciate live events, real contact with real face to face people. Now, this doesn’t mean I won’t allow technology usage but I do want her to live both worlds and give it the worth each one deserves in her life.
5. Affordable and accessible playtime. Remember the old days when you used to play with tangible stuff – cards, domino, board games, etc… ? or even the free ones, Simon says, soccer, baseball, etc..? All that was at my fingertips when I was a kid and I sure did play them all. Where I live now, I have to pay in order to enroll the little one to experience this and on top of that I need to commute, not very appealing for a tired parent.
6. X-mas and New Years. Ok, I hear it, there is celebration on these two holidays. But, let me explain why they are on my list. Christmas starts a month in advance back home. There is a ritual or a tradition called “Posada” and it basically means you visit houses -mostly family and friends- prior to Christmas and have a small parade and pray before the feast of food and music. Because of the amount of houses you visit, this tradition has been extended from T-15 to sometimes T-30. Christmas started for us on the day of the 24th at my grandmas, everybody stayed overnight there which you might picture 8 children in a mattress and others on the floor. Aunts and uncles talking and having a good time in the patio, cooking or drinking. Next day, open up of gifts and more food. The 25th we used to continue the celebration with the other side of the family. So much fun!
New Years, Oh My! Fireworks, pinata, food and dance and of course, the family gathered again. Family reunion, smell of the charcoal burning in everybody’s patios, and fashion parade to welcome the new year are always on my memory.
For this two items, there is not much to comment with my husband’s family in Canada. There is just not much of any of the above. Sad (for us of course).
7. Pool time. I have fond memories of my mom taking us for swimming classes when I was a child. Me and my brother in a bus all the way across town to go to this pool that was big and not much people in it. The weather was perfect for this. A country with a 6 month – at least- summer temperature calls for water immersion somewhere. Well, sadly, this part I can’t do in Vancouver. Two weeks is for real summer when you can get in a pool without feeling chilly from the neck up. And indoors, well, not the same feeling. A house with a pool will never make it in my list here. A pool was always a highlight in my summer time as a child.
8. Watch better and safer TV. I don’t care what others might say, but I let my baby watch TV. We both are addicted to CBC Kids and in my opinion their program is one of the best. I also appreciate that SHE can have her own time while MOMMY does her own stuff. And that leads to a happier and better mommy. That being said, I struggle with the idea of what is next. What other shows other than this would be suitable and appropriate when older. Of course, she will be engaged in other things and school, but there is always a window where there might be the need of other stuff than Disney collection. At least when I was a kid there was – and bad stuff too, but mom did not see it *giggles*.
9. Listen to better music. Have you heard the music lately? I mean, before there was explicit material but less. Or a more subtle message that needed to be decoded. I remember those music groups formed by 18 yr olds and still singing about butterflies and homework, or boyfriends and late night phone calls. But, I hope at least hear better lyrics, background music (not synthesizer) more compisition behind. I just hope.
10. I can’t think – nor have the time to think since baby calls for mamma -of a tenth point. Do you have one point for this list?
Linking up with “Mondaylisticles”
