My first day at school.

I remember it clearly. The tension was too much. I couldn't sleep the night before. Was the bag packed - yes ? Were the shoes polished - yes ? Did I have the socks ready - yes ? Uniform - yes ? Hmmm should go back to sleep. But I just couldn't. Its the first day of school. How will the school be ? Will there be nice new friends to make ? What if no one likes me !! Will the teacher be good ? How will the settling in go ? Oh dear its already morning. Maybe its not such a good idea after all. We were all ready in time. Yes the whole family was coming after all its the first day. I squeezed dad's hand. He smiled reassuringly. We reached school. Hmmm everyone seems nice enough. Here comes the head teacher. Oh she seems nice, she even smiled at me. Phew ... time to make some new friends. Ok I am not disliked. Phew. Time to go to class. Oh the teacher is nice too. She smiled and talked sweetly to me. I look at dad and say I like school. I take my son's hand and say 'Ok sonny boy I will be right here waiting for you. Go ahead and enjoy.'. When he went smiling inside, I went and joined the moms I had just made friends with.

Present ... and past

Its Xmas time we have 2 birthday parties to attend. I am frantically running around the shops searching for some presents to buy. What do you buy a kid who has the latest electronic gadgets to play around with. Do you get him another game to play on the computer or the latest wii game ? I was confused. Was still worrying about it when I started to think about my childhood. What did I play with when I was a kid ? I didn't have a computer till I started my first job and our old television could never have connected to a video player let alone a playstation or a Wii. My childhood was filled with sunny days spent running around the building with an army of kids. Sunburnt and hot we used be out there climbing trees and scraping our knees. We hired out cycles and rode around the neighbourhood shouting and screaming. We used to look forward to school holidays because they meant long days filled with excitement and fun. The building backyard transformed into a place of adventure with a new story formed in our minds everyday. Even my older sister and her friends used to to join in our games of 'Teacher Teacher' and 'Home Home'. The stairs became hideouts in 'Hide and Seek'. Lagori and Cricket and 'Dog and the Bone' were staple games. We had imagination and thats all we needed. I am sure we had toys but don't remember sitting home playing with them. Parents weren't worried about sending us out and neighbours were just extension of family. I used to spend hours in their house before amma pulled me away kicking and screaming.
Kids just don't have that kind of fun now. Maybe back home they do, but out here when I see my son all alone I feel a twinge of guilt. On a cold winters day we go to the park and its deserted. Where are all the children ? I hardly know my neighbours. A hurried hi before the bye. Are we so busy we have no time for the simple things in life ? What kind of life will my son and kids like him lead ? Will they ever know the pure simple joy of childhood or will their childhoods be consumed by the Wiis and XBoxes ?
Time to wake up and do my shopping. Bought a construction toy for the birthday boy something his dad could help with. Hope they have a nice time.