A literary memoir of childhood winters in 1980s Poland, where deep snow transformed ordinary streets into magical landscapes, sledging became an adventure, and the warmth of family made every cold day unforgettable.
Our park became more than a playground—it became a classroom without walls. In this chapter of The Childhood We Never Thought to Miss, I revisit childhood walks through 1980s Łódź, where leaves, rain, seasons and simple acts of kindness quietly taught lessons that have stayed with me for a lifetime.
Every afternoon our courtyard became a kingdom where imagination ruled. The iconic trzepak (carpet-beating frame) turned into a pirate ship, games of gra w gumę (elastic jumping game) echoed with laughter, and the nearby park became a world of secret hideaways, towering trees and unforgettable adventures. This chapter looks back at the freedom, friendships and simple joys of growing up in 1980s Poland—memories that continue to live quietly in the places we once called home.
Childhood didn’t end when we left my grandparents’ village—it simply changed its scenery. From magical visits to Baltona and recording songs from the radio to racing down staircases for a few extra minutes outside, these are the everyday moments that quietly became the memories I treasure most.
In Part 3 of The Childhood We Never Thought to Miss, I return to the fields, books, little hiding places and quiet acts of love that surrounded my childhood. Only now do I understand that the greatest gift I received was not what I owned, but the certainty that I was loved without ever having to question it.
What began as a simple thought about children’s independence unexpectedly became a journey back to my own childhood. Inspired by The Children of Noisy Village (Dzieci z Bullerbyn), this personal essay explores a time when freedom, trust and responsibility were woven naturally into everyday life, long before anyone thought to teach them.
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