It is great to be young

If I had the power, I believe I may be tempted to remain a child forever.  We used to hear statements it is great to be young when growing up. 

I did not really comprehend one anybody would wish to be like me, a small boy and not wish to be an adult like my Dad.  Those were the days that the family did not sit around a dining table and your Dad’s meal was set up on a small table at a particular spot in the hall. 

When I observed the amount of meat that were given to my Dad and what was given to me, l definitely wanted to grow up quickly to also become an adult.  Therefore to hear some adults occasionally declare that it is great to be young, was something I could not understand. 

My reasoning was that, adults were enjoying a lot of benefits and so for any adult to even consider the possibility

When I grew up however, I have come to appreciate that saying that indeed, it is great to be young.  Growing up as a child, all l looked up to was the next day to come as I go to bed.  When I woke up, l had no worries about what I would eat before going to school. 

Where the next meal was going to come from was not my concern. All l had to do was to make sure that I go to school, study hard and pass my exams and ensure that I am within the first three, in my class.  There was no worrying about school fees, changing of school uniforms or clothes in general, something I cannot run from now as an adult. 

I now have to provide for some people now and I can now fully understand my Dad’s comment that it is great to be young.

Christmas time was a very interesting and exciting time as a child because new clothes were provided for me and my siblings.  I recall one Christmas period when I was provided with a suit.  It was a memorable occasion in my life as it was the first time I wore a suit. 

I felt very proud wearing the suit and with my new shoes to match, I felt great walking with my friends as we moved from place to place.  When a new academic term begins I always looked forward to having a new school uniform.  How much it was going to cost or how it was going to be provided was not my concern at all.  It was taken for granted that I will get a new uniform at all cost. 

I always had a good night’s sleep with the exception of those days that I was suffering from malaria and I had quite a number of such malaria attacks.

Recently my last born jokingly said “Daddy, do not think that I am not going to take money from you when I grow up oh. Even when I get married and have children, do not think you will be free. I will still collect money from you because you are my father”. 

I burst into laughter and said “It is great to be young”.  At the moment, her needs are provided by me and until she completes school and starts working, I will continue to provide for her needs.  There have been moments that I wish I were a child once again. 

I recall an incident involving my little girlie as I affectionately call my last born, when she pushed a piece of chalk into her nostril and we had to take her to the hospital, and wondering how it was going to come out. While her mother and I were worried at the hospital, she did not seem bothered and in that moment I wished I was a child. When the nurses finally got it out, I was so relieved and she was just smiling, obviously not worried as I was.  Indeed, it is great to be young.

NB:  ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’