Thinking of going back in time when I was 5 gives me a high. It means an overly simple and happy life – no worries of what day of the week it is, how is my day going to look like, do I have time for a morning walk, what does my calendar say, what needs to be cooked today, what’s for breakfast, will the help at home come, are groceries stocked up, have the clothes come back from the launderette etc. etc. The list is endless and if I am 5 again, I don’t have to think about anything. What a relief!!
Thinking harder, it really would not be so simple. If I was 5, it would mean I have a lot of snack boxes in my bag but no one to ask me to eat. It would mean my bag weighs more than my body and my shoes are not as good as Ronny’s Nike ones. It would mean going to school and coming back to day-care till my mom and dad are back from work. It would mean a lot of cartoon channels to watch on TV but no friends to play “I spy” and “seven tiles” with. Summer and winter vacations would be boring as I will not be able to spent entire time with my parents. They both work and can’t take so many leaves. Not so much of a relief!
Thinking even harder, if I was 5, I would be confused. My mom showed me a video and asked me to not allow anyone other than her and dad to touch me. But granny does and even mom’s brother hugs me. Is that okay? My teacher also showed me a video and asked all of us to stay away from strangers. But there are so many strangers around me – can I talk to the school bus driver to take me home instead of day care? Can I share my chocolates with the new girl next door? The new guy in my bus seems good, can I talk to him? There are some songs which play loud in the car but when I sing the same at home, papa says these are not good words. So why does he play them on radio? I get a little pocket-money that I keep in my piggy bank but I am not allowed to step outside on my own and buy bourbon. What do I do with the money now? Not a relief at all!
Children today are exposed to so much more than what we were in our childhood. Life is really not as simple as it was before. The competition is so much more and there are so many reported cases of violence against children – physical, emotional and sexual. Children turn into teens even before they become teens. The world is different and not as safe as it used to be. Thinking about being given a chance to go back in time and be 5 again, I would actually say NO.
There are so many children today who face crime at such a young age for no fault of theirs. Let’s make the world a safer place for our children and for generations to come. This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.
Also linking this up to the week 3 of Write Tribe Pro Blogger – If I was 5 again.
happiness and food 
Nice with some message
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Thanks Chaitali! Coming from you, this means a lot! 🙂
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that’s a different take negative side of being a five year old again
My WOW post Back To The Future
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Yep! When I started thinking about the topic, the optimist in me rebelled 🙂 Hope you liked reading it!
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You’re spot on, Parul! It’s nice to romanticize things, but being a child is a lot more complicated these days, sadly!
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Thanks Corinne! Yes, it is a lot more complex. Our days were so different and simple.
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Very unique take on the prompt. So true…being a child today is so dangerous.
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It is Preeti! Bangalore had some horrible cases in the last couple of months and I feel so sorry.
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It’s so sad, isn’t it? Why has the world come to this that even 5 year olds’ are not safe!
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It is very sad! I am not a mother but I feel moms out there must be so scared for their little ones.
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Very thoughtful post, Parul.Today the children are facing so many evils from all sides. The result is their innocence is at stake.
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Thank you! Yes, you are right – their innocence is lost as such a young age that it is hard to accept. 😦
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nice!
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Thanks Sir! 🙂
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This is a wonderful post. Very thought-provoking. I liked how you went philosophical and practical instead of purely nostalgic. It isn’t easy being a kid in today’s world and you have captured that beautifully!
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Thank you Shailja! Appreciate you taking time to read the post:)
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reminds me of the following lines ..
Mujhko yakeen hai sach kehti theen
jo meri Ammi kehteen theen
Jab mere bachpan ke din the ..
CHAND PE PARIYAAN REHTEEN THEEN 🙂
sadly in the modern world.. for the kids its MAN who has stepped on to the MOON too 😦
I would love to go back to that time any day
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So true!
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It’s a brilliant and truly WoW post on issues that make children so unsafe nowadays. Loove the sensitive take how you’ve adapted childhood to the current state of moral degradation. Hope no child go through torture in the age of innocence.
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Thanks Vishal! Glad you stopped by to read the post.
I also hope and pray that no child ever has to go through what little children in India are recently going through – uncovered bore wells, electrocution, unmanned terraces and balconies, pedophile encounters, rape, thrashing by nannies and what not 😦
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It’s such a bad phase. I mean, our times life was simple but at least, there was not itna evil. Let’s hope!!
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Fingers, Toes,Hands and Legs – all crossed!
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Thought provoking, Parul. We are responsible for most of these confusions today’s kids go through, Only when each of us take the responsibility and play our part better, demons can be handled – I think so. Wonderfully done, Parul.. Thank you for stopping by at my space.. 🙂
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A great piece Parul! I think ‘bachpans’ across all generations have witnessed and experienced violence of all forms some if which you allude to. Unfortunately and sadly, violent and aggressive tendencies that we see all around us have found justifications in these childhood experiences. Those children who experience or witness violence are more likely to perpetrate when they grow up …..”Bachpan bachao”
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Totally agree Phupha. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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It certainly is a different world we live in than when I was 5. It would be bliss to go back and have my mom, dad, and grandparents alive again. But, if I did I wouldn’t have my kids…so no regrets! Kids today are definitely more advanced on all levels than I was at 5.
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That’s such a good one Kathy! 🙂
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True Parul. When I look at my toddler today, I worry and wonder what the world will look like to her 5 years, 10 years and 20 years from now. I compare to see how times have changed from my childhood days. Every time there is a new case of violence (any kind) anywhere in the world, especially in schools (like rapes and terrorist killings), I pray that my child never faces all those situations. That she is safe and lucky enough to live a good life. Only time will tell if times, indeed, will change? 😦 Nice post.
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Thank you! Yeah – all parents fear that!
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