When I Grow Up: A Look Back at Childhood Career Dreams

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Almost every child has dreams of what they’d like to be when they grow up, I certainly did. What did you want to be, and is that the job you have now?

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As a child I spent a lot of time in and out of the doctor’s and hospitals, so I think it was only inevitable that at some point I’d desire to work in the medical profession somehow. I dreamt of being a nurse, even at a young age I realised that this probably wasn’t a realistic career path for me, but even so it was one I hoped to attain.

Later on having grown beyond this and taken on board that this wasn’t going to happen, I turned my aim towards working with young children in someway, I wasn’t sure what in form this job would take, and was advised that this would never be possible due to my disability. On this, I am delighted to say, I proved the nay sayers wrong.

In the end I did indeed work with young children for over ten years, as a Nursey School Assistant. I helped them with their reading, writing, crafts, and also to build their computer skills. Along the way I also hope I taught them other life skills such as empathy, tolerance, sharing, listening, and understanding everyone is different but of equal value/importance.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com
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Things we did, but kids now don’t understand.

We grew up with adverts on every channel except bbc, with no way of fast forwarding them.

We learnt to tell the time using an analogue clock, and in roman numerals too. A lot of children either can’t, or struggle to read either of these. They are used to having digital clocks everywhere.

We used to go to the video rental shop, or the library and hire a video or DVD for the week. Now people just stream them online.

More families used to cook from scratch together, and pass on these skills. Maybe they’d have a takeaway on a Friday. Now there are microwave meals, and fast food deliveries any day of the week – even Sunday.

We grew up with pretty much everything being shut on a Sunday, now you can do loads of things on a Sunday as places and shops are open.

We used to take empty drink bottles and returned them, for a few pennies, or a discount on the reply drink.

Go the Way Your Blood Beats

What books do you want to read?

I am going to have to be patient as the book I want to read won’t be released until July this year.

This book is written by someone I knew, but haven’t seen for years. It will I think be very interesting.

Go the Way Your Blood Beats by Emmett de Monterey (Author) 

Summary
A BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL MEMOIR OF GROWING UP GAY AND DISABLED IN 1980S LONDON – AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW https://amzn.to/3YOTYna (Amazon Affiliate link, I may earn a little if you make a purchase)

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Lilt.

I have just read that the deliciousness that is Lilt, is to be no longer – well, not under that name anyway.

Apparently it will now be replaced with Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit. To be honest I’m not sure how I feel about this. I didn’t drink Lilt that often, but it’s a familiar thing from my childhood disappearing.

I always regarded it as a Summertime drink with it’s delicate flavour, and refreshing it tasted.

Bye bye old friend.