Citizen Journal: Grandson is building memories of his own

It brings me joy to watch and be part of my grandson’s formative years. Ryan is entering first grade at Moran Prairie Elementary School, where he’ll make new friends and learn the fundamentals of growing up. He’ll also be involved with sports and learn the importance of sharing.

It does my heart good to watch my grandson being a little boy. He plays on a local soccer league, swims like a fish and learned quickly how to ride his bike without training wheels. One of his favorite things to do is play with his video games and watch movies on his tablet, which in this day and age is very popular. Although I have mixed feelings when it comes to video games, I realize that this is a different generation and it’s one of many issues that today’s generation has become accustomed to.

When I look back on my own childhood, the toys and games that I played with were less sophisticated and didn’t require batteries or electricity. Every generation is different and I believe that it’s a good thing, because every generation brings a different prospective on life.

My own childhood was mostly playing outdoors unless it was raining. As I write this, I can’t help but to think of my own childhood in the 1950s and the ’60s when imagination was the key to unlocking adventure and excitement.

I grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The city streets and the stoop were my backyard.

I remember when Dad surprised me with an English Raleigh bicycle which I rode all around the neighborhood along with doing errands for Mom. When I wasn’t riding my bike, I was playing street games – tag, jacks, hide and seek, marbles, pickup sticks, hopscotch, jumping rope, volleyball, handball, sidewalk roller skating (with the key) or riding my scooter.

My grandson will have his own generation to look back on, and he, too, will take pride. I suspect that even video games that he plays with today will seem ancient and out of touch.

Life doesn’t stand still. As I come to a close, I do so with this reminder: no matter what the age, be it year or decade, we all take pride and responsibility for our actions whether yesteryear or even in the present.

Ryan will be starting first grade and for him, he will be setting the tone for his “back in the day” memories.