WHAT WE CARRY

Childhood and Growing Up

A child remembers the smell of dinner, the sound of a familiar car, or the way adults spoke when they thought nobody was listening.

Some children helped care for family. Some were called strong. Some had room to play and some had responsibilities early. Many remember a mixture of things.

Growing up does not look the same in every home. A childhood can hold good memories alongside moments that were difficult to understand.

A grown person can tell the story of the child they were without having to fit into a label.

Some memories are sharp: the sound of a screen door, a favorite television show, the way a room looked in the afternoon. Others are pieces that only make sense years later.

Children also find ways to enjoy themselves, even in homes where adults have a lot to manage. A joke with a sibling, a game outside, or a song on the radio can belong in the story alongside everything else.