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Childhood Summers Hold a Special Place In My Heart
Playing dress up, listening to stories, enjoying mangoes
As school wrapped up the academic year, the relief and joy of yet another milestone year were palpable. Exams done, report cards issued. Now all that was left was three months of freedom. At least that is what it felt like.
I was always a little shy to admit I missed that daily routine of getting dressed and heading out to school, but summer routines were also delightful. Childhood was an era when everything was exciting for curious minds.
At home, school uniforms would be washed, pressed and stored in a trunk for the new academic year. Growth spurts were taken into account and new purchases were budgeted accordingly.
My mom, who taught in the same school I went to (she also went to the same school and had the same teachers as I did), was pretty strict with the holiday routine. Wake up as usual — no concession there — breakfast, shower, and holiday homework allotted by her. Usually this was math, science, handwriting, reading a story, and answering questions — oh, she came up with all kinds of creative stuff.
And no, technology was not even a twinkle in its papa’s eye. It was imagination, adored dusty libraries…