Going Home
Nothing like a trip back to your childhood hometown to re-spark the magic of your youth and give your soul a face-lift.
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| Little Italy, NYC |
I grew up in New York. Born in Brooklyn, my family moved to Long Island when I was just five years old. But one thing was consistent. I was always surrounded by a large, loving, Italian-American family and my childhood is filled with memories of family gatherings and unique cultural experiences - such as stomping on grapes grown in my backyard to help my grandfather make his own wine.
This week, while visiting my sister on the Island, we watched some old video footage (which a cousin converted to DVD) of my family - all 30 of us - crammed in the basement of my grandmother's Brooklyn home on Christmas Eve. We estimated that the footage must have been from the mid-80s.
It was wonderful to "see" my family again, back in the setting that was such a huge part of my childhood. My sons enjoyed seeing their aunts and me, as well as their grandparents, all of us 30 years younger. They even got to witness MY grandmother doing a brief sample of the chicken dance. Seeing her again brought tears to my eyes. These were good times.
While here, we were able to spend a few days in the city - which my sons endearingly call Manhattan. I enjoyed walking through Little Italy with my mom who would point out things she remembered from HER childhood. We did silly touristy things, like one of those harbor boat tours, and I took my mom down to the 911 Memorial and Museum - her first time back to that area. It was gut wrenching for her and for me, as it is every time I go down there. Of course, my sons partook in a Mr. Frostee ice-cream cone! Out on the Island, we even went strawberry picking in Wading River - something I did every season as a child.
One of the best parts of coming "home" is seeing old friends. There are those I've stayed in touch with all these decades and see regularly. Occasionally, I am able to squeeze in a visit with someone I haven't seen since high school (thank you social media) - which happened this time around. It always amazes me how people from childhood tend to stay a part of you even if you haven't seen them since you were kids. There is a certain connection to a time and place that doesn't diminish. I think the older one gets the more meaning these encounters have.
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| Strawberry picking - Lewin's Farm |
Tomorrow I plan on taking my sons to my old neighborhood to see the house and neighborhood I grew up in as well as my old schools. They've seen them before but were much younger and probably don't remember. A couple of years ago, my husband took our oldest son to his hometown and this July will be doing the same with our youngest. I think it is important that parents share their childhood with children whenever possible.
As much as I try to create childhood memories for my children that are as memorable as mine are, I often feel that I am failing in this regard. Times are different now, it is more difficult. Family is separated by hundreds of miles and rarely see each other. There seems to be less traditions. Who knows? Maybe when my sons are older they will look back and recall these days with the same fondness I feel about my past. Just because it is different than my childhood, doesn't mean it isn't as special.
How do you share your past with your children?
Read more of my blog here.
I miss New York sometimes .... sometimes lol
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing you can do about the way the world has been contaminated since the days of our childhood and the days of your children's all you can do is push the envelope and try to show them what it was like to wander the streets alone, and stay out all day until the sun goes down. People still find it hard to believe in this day and age and this sheltered world that I used to walk 30 or so blocks to go get a hot dog in Manhattan when I was a kid, or that I would get on two subways and a bus with another 12 year old friend to go see Mets games. I'm more shocked when I look back that the bleacher tickets were $1.50 lol
I saw kids that age walking around the city by themselves, so maybe things haven't changed in that department. I was only slightly older when I used to take the LIRR in to go shopping. Now, as an adult, I get all panicky! I've been suburbanized! :)
DeleteI haven't taken my kids to where I grew up, but I have taken them to where I spent summers, etc. Not that I didn't have good memories where I grew up, but my family isn't there anymore and most of my friends there are not the same people I grew up with. So we go to where my family is now, where I spent summers and vacations. We do the same for my wife's side. I do think it is great that you can do that though. I hope you have a wonderful time there. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome to see some of your childhood through your kids' eyes isn't it? Thanks for reading and commenting.
DeleteI'm glad you had a good trip, there is nothing like going back to your roots. Family and friends even old places to eat! I try to take my daughter to places around town and events or festivals we have. We still live in the city I grew up in but there is a lot we can do. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris. Took them to my old schools, too. Some things never change but other things were unrecognizable.
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