- Childhood memories are golden times many millennials cherish to date
- Everyone has a different story of what childhood was like and moments that are nostalgic
- TheRadar spoke to 5 millennials about their childhood memories, moments they miss and would love to relive
If wishes were horses, what childhood memory would you relive? Every day, as we grow older, pangs of nostalgia always hit hard to remind us of memories we once cherished.
Whether it is running naked, splattering water and smiling ear to ear as we play in the rain, golden childhood memories are forever archived in our hearts.
For our throwback series this week, TheRadar spoke to five (5) Millennials who reflected on their childhood memories, and lessons adulthood has not given them. They also touched on childhood memories they would like to relive if they could go back in time.
For these mmillennials, childhood is a blend of bittersweet moments and it mostly holds golden experiences that adulthood is yet to give them. If wishes were horses, they would ride these childhood nostalgic memories to reality again.
Check out the thoughts of these millennials; Funminiyi Akinrinade (28), Michael BestMan (28), Elvis Obiajulu (33), Terrence Warebeb (30), and Maryjane Ezenwa (30), on childhood memories.
Do you ever miss your childhood?
BESTMAN: “Yes. I do miss my childhood days. Just some weeks ago, I took a stroll to a public primary school and watched the kids do their thing after school: playing football, shouting endlessly, and full of spirit. Seeing them, I felt this sharp, stark reminder that I'm no longer them. I'm aging. &, that scares me.”
FUNMINIYI: “Yeah, I miss my childhood days. Sometimes, I wish I could turn back the hand of time.”
TERRENCE: “I can’t really say I miss it; my childhood doesn’t come with the fondest memories. Maybe it’s my teenage days that I find fond, and I don’t really miss ‘em.”
MARYJANE: “Childhood days are more like a special time I often want to go back to.”
ELVIS: “Definitely, I do miss my childhood days. There was a certain freedom, a lack of responsibility that allowed me to fully live in the moment. There was also a purity in the way I experienced the world, without the weight of adult expectations or the pressure to always be productive.”
What is the one thing childhood offered you that you haven't found in adulthood?
BESTMAN: “One thing my childhood offered that I haven't found in adulthood is the ability to wander without being worried about too many expectations if you're growing or failing. Childhood, for me, was a time when I wasn't too pressured about the things beyond me. Childhood gave me peace of mind. It is something I haven't really found growing up. Because, as an adult, you're constantly haunted by expectations. You rest a bit, it seems you are not productive. You do too much, it seems you get so little for your efforts. So yeaaah, I think that's it. Childhood is peace. Adulthood is a constant web of war, and you have to keep fighting to stay sane.”
FUNMINIYI: “Childhood offered me financial dependency. I could ask Mum for money for literally anything. Who do I ask for money as an adult?”
ELVIS: “The sense of carefree wonder is the one thing. As a child, every day felt like an adventure. I had the ability to explore without worrying about consequences or obligations. Adulthood, with its constant responsibilities, has a way of pulling me out of that innocent space where anything seemed possible.”
MARYJANE: “Childhood offered me the freedom to express myself. For instance, I remember when I was little you know, the only child before my siblings came, my mum could literally ask me what I wanted to eat before going to school, and then I usually say anything that I want to eat.”
Magic wand in your hand, what nostalgic memories would you like to relive and why?
BESTMAN: “I miss having to constantly disturb my mum that I am hungry or that I need more: with a round plate in front of me, my legs akimbo around it, and I litter the floor. It was a period my mum cooked rather than buying. My dad was also a chef, and since I was their first child at the time, I was fed. I would love to bring back games where we used paper, buttons, and covers of pens to play soccer; I miss the one where we used bottle corks (canta) and buttons or the wheel from a cassette to play soccer on the ground. Then, there's the casual wrestling, the kite we fly, the rubber bands we stole, the tyres we drove naked, and the things we invented by intuition. I miss them. God. I will love to conjure the times I loved to draw. I used to take the covers of the animation series my dad bought, and I tried to make them. It was bad. I was good with some. But generally, it is a core memory I will love to see replay before me.”
FUNMINIYI: “I would like to bring back the days of innocence and endless happiness. One memory is when a family friend and I played Daddy and Mummy. I missed that. Also, I missed the days when all I had to do was read and wash plates.”
ELVIS: “There was something magical about those endless hours spent outside with friends. No phones, no distractions, just pure fun. I miss the simplicity of that time. As a kid, the anticipation of holidays like Christmas, New Year, and, most importantly, traditional festivals was electric. The feeling of innocence made everything exciting—we weren’t scared of being poisoned, so we would eat from house to house, and at the end, we’d loudly announce our departure so they’d give us some money. These memories remind me of a time when life was full of wonder and joy without the complexities of adult life.”
MARYJANE: “When I am asked to make a choice of what I want, it will be provided, especially when I pass my examination. Lack of worry: during childhood, you never want to worry about tomorrow. Family gatherings during festive periods, especially the Christmas period, where I got to visit relatives and give money or gifts. These experiences bring lasting memories and happiness that bring a sense of belonging.”
TERRENCE: “My birthdays as a child and how my mom celebrated it for me. I’d go to my grandma’s house in Iba to spend the time. There, I got to play and be treated like a child. As you’d expect, I always wished we didn’t resume school.That brings me to the third break time. I was a very brilliant child, so I needed to read a little to excel in academic tests. This meant that I always played whenever the chance availed itself. That time was break time for me.”
Throwback Thursday: 10 nostalgic Nigerian TV series only millennials would remember
There are so many things to reminisce about Nigeria, especially with the challenging times we are currently in which spurred TheRadar’s previous report.
TheRadar took a trip down memory lane to highlight some of the old and classic favourite Television series in Nigeria in the 90s and early 2000s.
