Zaklina Maca Miljkovic
Once upon a time, there were children who knew how to play on the street. The only thing they needed was each other. Some toy was preferable, but not necessary. Because, they had each other. Siblings and cousins, neighbors and friends, all sort of people available at every moment in life. And that life was rich….
For the short time I was the only child, my best friend was a dog. And a cat. And a bunch of pigeons. But, it was a short period, less than two years. A person can tell little about herself/himself at that time, I suppose. The only certain thing was that I really loved animals. And that remain the only constant through my life.
My days as the only child have gone in the glance of an eye, when my sister was born and two years after, we got a baby brother. Meanwhile, my aunt got married and gave birth to a chubby girl. In English, that’s a cousin, but in Serbian, that’s sister, too. We recognize only brothers and sisters (from aunts and uncles) as the nearest kin.
And that was it – our little gang was complete! No one of us were alone both in good and, well….. not that good actions.
Like, when we moved the whole tomato greens from the place our granny planted them.
That was educational- we’ve learnt that:
1. tomatoes are very resilient plants and
2. we should never interfere in businesses of grown-ups.
Still, most of the time we were pretty bearable, minding our business and playing our games. Mostly outside.
Even when we had to be in the house, we were never bored. Besides board games and reading (!), we used to perform concerts and comedy plays. Our favorite genre were comedies and by the time, we became quite skillful on that.
Our parents and grandparents used to reward our effort (or payed our silence) by sweets or some money. No wonder we had performances every evening. 😀
I assume that childhood was gone by the wind. Today’s kids barely lift they eyes from mobiles, or laptops. And I don’t blame only technology. We are not so joyful and careless, as our parent were. They use every moment to celebrate something and to be with friends and families. Now I understand that they celebrated life the way it was. We haven’t invented problems, lack of money, economy crises, and other bad things that happen in life. Our parents had these problems, too. Still, they were happier than we are today.
A wise man said: what your thoughts are alike, that’s what your life’s alike. And everything is said in that one sentence….
Enjoyed all the pictures. I have been posting some of my childhood photos as well. I treasure them!
Happy times. 🙂 Some of the people from the photos are no longer with us, so this is the way to treasure everlasting memory. 🙂
Childhood is that time
Childhood is that time we had, and our kids have.
You’re right. Everyone’s childhood is special in its own way. 🙂
…you go nice and cute throwback pictures…you were all adorable in the photos…nice blog 🙂
Thanks 🙂 These were times of pure innocence and joy 🙂
Haha yeah and now u age gracefully…and that’s the real thing 🙂
Oh, thanks for the word “gracefully” 🙂
Very much welcome too 🙂
Thank you for sharing the story of your childhood. It was very interesting.
You’re welcome 🙂 I would like to read stories about other people’s childhood, because it’s interesting to see what marked us for life.
That is true since our childhood stories are interesting.
Everyone’s childhood stories are interesting, one way, or another 🙂
That is true since life is interesting with the ups and downs we all go through.
My childhood was pretty much like yours, I have so good memories 🙂
I am glad we had great memories on that times…. 🙂
I had no many photos, but borrow them from my family members, scanned and treasure them. It’s because I tried to make a family tree, on the genebase.com. I said “try” because I’m still struggling with some unknown ancestors.
It is a different world. If we consider what was, it always comprises what will be. Was becomes will be and that is the path.
We were outside as children. People disappeared and we didn’t really notice as much. Now, it is all over the national news. The change is signficant.
You’re right. We have a saying: Svako vreme, ima svoje breme (Every epoch has its burden). There bad and good in everything, but we tend to remember good things better, as we get older.
As our children will someday fondly remember the now. It is the path from childhood to becoming an adult, as much teh things we remember as anything.
Our children enjoy their childhood as much as we enjoyed ours. We haven’t known for better as they don’t know for any better way, now. We had our games as they have theirs and that’s basically the same.
Each generation has their own challenge to face, very true
As I noted previously: svako vreme, ima svoje breme. 🙂 Another Serbian proverb for you. 😉
I already picked up on that one. Damn good motto…
Looking back at the childhood years is the best memories I have. Being a child was a gift that every adult had, care nothing to almost everything but on how to escape in the afternoon nap and just being scolded for being lazy to go to school.Lol! Reminiscing those memories makes me feel nostalgic as of this moment
Those were times…. 🙂 But we would feel unfulfilled living that kind of life now. Everything comes in a good time.
I was in this kind of childhood too! And I wrote the same observation as you did in a guest post I did for a blogger-pal. He asked me to write how change affects today’s family. And yes, that difference in childhood alone is a huge, glaring fact. Love this and I envy that you still have photos.
I had no many photos, but borrow them from my family members, scanned and treasure them. It’s because I tried to make a family tree, on the genebase.com. I said “try” because I’m still struggling with some unknown ancestors.
Oh that is a good project but a bloody one so I say goodluck. I hope you will be able to finish it.
There’s no way to finish it. I should listen to my grandfather better, when he told me stories about his ancestors.
I seem to be in the minority, as I enjoy adulthood much more than I did being a child…
You’re the lucky one 🙂
I didn’t like being told what to do or what I couldn’t do. Making my own decisions and taking responsibility for my actions is very gratifying
Strong mind is a rare gift 🙂
That’s very kind of you to say
I grew up in the late 1960s and early 70s in a town where bullies ruled. I stood my ground and got beat up pretty bad a few times. I like being an adult better too.
It’s quite understanding. Your childhood wasn’t easy and you rushed into adulthood. I was born in 1969. and grew in a quiet neighborhood that was full of girls of all ages. We had no bullies and everything was great, until early ’90’s when both political and economic state in country went really bad.
Oh yeah, don’t even get me started on bullies… Back in the day, they didn’t just hurt your feelings
I suppose your body was hurt as much as your feelings. But strong characters erase from pain.
* emerge Obviously it’s enough staring at the screen, for today 😀
The times and changes that follow always have two sides indeed. Perhaps the same one is about touch; we used to touch the hands of relatives and friends in our childhood, now we touch the button or touchscreen. My current failure is less sure to make sure you are a girl with braided hair on the left! I think that’s what match with said of the wise man. Ha! Anyway, you have a beautiful childhood, Zaklina.
Yes, that’s me 🙂 The wise man is right again 🙂
Well… Creative women who live far away there also ?ften say the same thing…
So, she is not that wise, I suppose….. 😉
Hmmm… how do you know?
Nice post! Nice pictures!
Thanks 🙂 We were so beautiful kids. Unfortunately, we grew up 😀
What great memories from your childhood. I was the youngest and now it is only me left. ut I also have great memories. Thankful you have these old photographs, they are priceless.
You;re right. The older we are the more appreciate our memories. Old photographs are witnesses of times long gone….
Absolutely. I have been gong through memory lane and old photographs myself.
I do it often. There are more and more dear people that I cant find only there.
This is one smart mother. Unfortunately, she is one in thousands.
This time of our childhood was a golden moment. I wonder if my grandchildren are now my childhood if they will enjoy it. I am grateful to my daughter-in-law for giving her the tablets only on Saturdays and Sundays. And for being in the park every night, to play with the other kids.