The Childhood
It was a rainy season. Christopher sat by the window, watching raindrops race each other down the glass. He turned to his mom, who was knitting a colourful scarf on the sofa.
"Mom," Christopher asked, "what was your childhood like?"
His mom paused and put down her knitting. She patted the sofa beside her, and Christopher scampered over, eager to hear the story.
"My childhood was very different from yours, Christopher," his mom began. "Back then, we didn't spend much time looking at phones or screens. Instead, we looked at each other’s eyes when we talked. It was like everyone had a special sparkle in their eyes that you could only see if you really paid attention."
Christopher’s eyes widened with curiosity. "What did you do if you didn't have phones?"
His mom chuckled softly. "Oh, we did so many fun things! We played outside every day. I remember running through fields of wildflowers with my friends, feeling the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair. We played games like tag, hide-and-seek, and hopscotch. It was wonderful because we were never lonely; we always had each other."
Christopher imagined himself running through fields of flowers, laughing with his friends. "Did you have meals together like we do?"
"Yes, we did," his mom replied, her eyes twinkling with fond memories. "Dinner time was special. We sat around the table, talking and sharing stories about our day. There were no distractions, just the sound of laughter and the smell of delicious food. It was a time when we felt connected and happy."
"Wow," Christopher said softly. "It sounds so nice and peaceful. What else was different?"
"Life was slower," his mom explained. "We didn't chase after popularity or try to be the most liked. We read books and let our imaginations take us to faraway places. Each weekend, we met with family and friends. Sometimes we had picnics in the park or visited grandparents. Those moments were filled with love and joy."
Christopher snuggled closer to his mom, his heart warmed by the stories. "I wish I could have seen it."
Her mom hugged him tightly. "I feel so happy and grateful to have had such a childhood, Christopher. Those experiences taught me the value of connection, love, and meaningful moments. And I want the same for you and our family."
Christopher looked up at his mom with a bright smile. "Can we live like that too, Mom?"
"Yes, we can," his mom said, her eyes shining with determination. "We can put away our phones more often, spend time playing outside, and have more family meals. The important thing is to cherish the moments we have together and live meaningfully, just like I did when I was your age."
The boy beamed. "Can we start now? Maybe we can play a game together after dinner?"
"Of course," his mom said, kissing his head. "Let's make some new, wonderful memories together."
And so Christopher played games, read books, and spent precious time with family and friends. And Christopher learned that the most important thing was not the gadgets or the rush, but the love and laughter shared with the people he cared about most.
