Childhood

I grew up in a small town but I am blessed with a vivid recollection of my childhood.

My dad owned a small family business and I grew up living in the shoplot. It was just a row of shoplots but I have many friends living there and we used to play together alot. Even at young age, we were given alot of freedom to venture on our own.

There was a 'mini' forest behind the row of shops and that was where we hang out alot. I remember that I like playing there the most. Besides being able to hide away from my mom, I get to see different kinds of plants and small animals such as squirrels, baby mices, stray puppies and even biawaks (monitor lizards).

Other than the 'mini' forest, alot of other interesting events take place outside of the shoplots too. For instance, on every Wednesday, we had night markets (pasar malam) along the shoplots. I get pretty excited over night markets as I get to buy my favourite kuih-muih. Kuih muih like putu mayam, putu piring, popiah goreng, currypuff and lots more. With my favourite kuih in a bag, I loafed around for hours until I'm tired.

There was also the Hungry Ghost festival. Celebrated by Chinese, they will prepare alot of food for prayers such as fruits, cakes, roast pigs, buns, coloured papers to burn and etc etc .. My friends and I helped out by burning candles, josssticks along the road until the 'mini' forest. We will play (yes, with the candles) from evening till late night (or until my mom starts looking for me.. hehe).

When I think of my childhood, I pity the children of todays. The only adventure they get is probably from PS2 or from the telly or from the books (Enid Blyton : The Faraway Land?).

It's not safe anymore for them to play out there, or to go to the washroom by themself (even at the age of 10), cycle on their own around the gated neighbourhood, stay at home alone with the maid, or ... go to the night market alone. Parents just can't keep them out of sight, even for a short while.

And, I'm worried for my son. I'm worried that I may turned into an over-protective parent. I am afraid to keep him out of sight. I can't and don't want to imagine what if bad things happen to him. I will probably not let him out cycle on his own even at the age of 12 (I started cycling at the age of 8, on the road). I won't let him have extra curricular activities as I might not be able to be there to pick him up everytime. And no, he can't walk to school even if school is just next door.

Things I get to do when I was little, I might not let Ivan go through. I cannot afford to let him fall. Even if that means, he might not learn how to stand on his one 2 feet.

I'm a paranoia in the making. *sigh*

My friends and I, we have a series of wonderful adventures written in our memories. And I wish my son and his friends could have a better series of their own. If only it's a safer place out there.