From rope games (Suzi) to Roblox: Childhood Then and Now

A tale of two childhoods

There was a time when childhood meant scraped knees, barefoot adventures, and endless games made from whatever we found outside. I remember the neighborhood boys, turning old, worn-out socks into a ball and chasing it across the dusty field as if it were gold, their laughter louder than the game itself. Those of us who grew up in the late 90s and early 20s lived in both worlds, we chased each other through fields, built our own toys, and invented games with rope and chalk. But we also slipped tiny gaming consoles into our pockets, just beginning to taste the rise of technology.

We were the last generation to fully live in nature before screens became our constant companions. We didn’t wait for our parents to fix our toys; we figured it out ourselves, often failing, trying again, and learning through trial and error. That spirit, imaginative, curious, resilient, shaped us in ways that screens alone cannot.

Today, childhood looks different. Kids are often indoors, surrounded by devices. They’re handed toys instead of building them. The freedom to fail, to try again, to learn by doing it’s fading. And that’s what I want to bring back through storytelling.

Modern parenting often places children in a bubble where every game, toy, or challenge is handed to them with praise that says, “You’re the best” or “Everything is perfect.” While encouragement is important, this constant reassurance can create a false picture of life. The truth is that life is not always smooth or easy. When children grow up without learning how to face small setbacks, they are unprepared for reality. Failure, mistakes, and challenges are not enemies to avoid, they are steppingstones that build resilience, wisdom, and strength. Without them, kids miss the chance to grow into capable and grounded adults.

I remember a time during a school exam when I felt completely stuck. In that moment, I whispered a prayer to God, asking if this could all be just a dream and that I might wake up years later, with everything behind me. I thought of Jonah in the Bible, who slept under the tree and woke up after many years to a new beginning. But life isn’t like that. As I’ve grown, I’ve faced challenges far greater than a school exam, and I’ve realized that difficulties never truly disappear. Life doesn’t get easier; instead, we become stronger, more prepared, and more resilient. That’s the way life works.

My publishing journey is about reviving those lessons of resilience, curiosity, and imagination. Through children’s books, I want kids today to experience the adventure and wonder we once knew. At the same time, I write for adults, stories from my travels, my struggles, and the countless lessons that shaped me. Because growth doesn’t stop at childhood; every stage of life brings new questions, new mistakes, and new wisdom.

I believe stories are more than entertainment. They’re reminders of who we are, bridges between generations, and guides for the uncertain moments of life. By sharing them, I hope to inspire children to be bold explorers of life and help adults rediscover the wonder they still carry within.

This is more than publishing. It’s a mission: to keep alive the spirit of real childhood, the courage to fail, and the imagination to dream again.

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