Thursday; May 21
When you think back on your childhood, what stands out to you? I am sure that each person will have their own remembrances; but two things immediately come to mind for me. The first one is security. I grew up in a family with two loving parents who dealt with day-to-day life with as little drama as possible. Sure, we had problems – some of them were extremely painful – but, our family was a safe haven for us. Religion, values and mutual support were the reliable foundations upon which we built our growth and development. The other thing that comes to mind were the carefree days when children could be children. We were allowed to explore, get dirty, take (limited) chances and enjoy the innocence of childhood. Were there expectations for our behavior – yes! Was there discipline when we stepped outside those expectations – oh yes! Yet, the pressures placed on us were reasonable and allowed for the failure that provided positive growth and development. Oh, by the wa