As a child, I envied boarding students. How did it feel, having so much access to your beverages, and being able to scoop whatever quantity at whatever time, without fear of being caught? For the records, I envied you guys a lot because access to beverages was regulated in my house. You couldn’t scoop a handful of milk or Milo just because. So, it must have been so good, having that at a very young age, right?
Childhood was very funny because how is it that sleeping early seemed like an actual punishment back then, but as an adult, I now adore the very act of sleeping. It even feels like a blessing everytime I get the opportunity to sleep early. It’s crazy because many of the things that seemed like punishments at that time, are pleasures I now indulge in, as a grown woman.
After my junior secondary school, I remember telling my dad one fateful day, that I wanted to go to a boarding school for the rest of my secondary schooling. I told him that I wanted to start learning independence at my young age. Thankfully, my dad saw through my lies and just told me that I should remind him in a week’s time. I never did. The thing is, I was scolded twice that fateful day, and I thought life away from them would absolutely be better.
Aside going to boarding school, I also contemplated running away from home quite a number of times. I thought of running away in the middle of the night, using the back door, I thought of putting essentials into my school bag and running away from school. You know why i never carried out these plans? I just couldn’t stand the thought of going hungry. I love to eat, and there’s always food at home so why should I stress myself, hawking satchel water because the only money I had saved was 200 naira, before running from home. Yeah no, I’m fine where I am.
My thought processes as a child was really funny. I also remember getting admission into the university, the enthusiasm to live without my parents, and the fact that no one would stop me from licking as much powdered milk as I wanted. Guess who ended up running home at the slightest hint of a holiday? Me. I got the access to those beverages I craved so much and I just couldn’t. The idea of taking tea seemed like stress to me, so I only drank tea on extremely cold days.
I wished to run away from home on days I was reprimanded as a child, but adult me finds every opportunity I get, to return back home. Primarily because there’s always love and food at home.
Thanks for reading.
Image above was taken by me.