Kids’ fickle nostalgia a reminder of growing up

Because I Said So column for The Commercial Appeal

Feb. 2, 2012

Aging is bittersweet, isn’t it? There’s the bitter: the aching joints and forgetfulness and … something else. And there’s the sweet: not needing anyone’s permission to eat ice cream for dinner while watching television in bed.

I have recently spent some evenings doing just that while catching up on last season’s episodes of “Sherlock” on PBS.

My oldest son has been eating meat and vegetables for dinner, and watching the “Masterpiece” series as well. He’s also read some of the Arthur Conan Doyle novels and short stories. I’ve read them all, and Sherlock Holmes, one of the great literary characters, is a fascinating subject for us to discuss.

In the past, my kids and I have had other interesting characters to discuss as their interests — near-obsessions with each at any given time — ranged from Dora to Big Bird to Caillou to Clifford the Big Red Dog.

While watching these shows in a seemingly infinite loop, first day-to-day as they aired, then on VHS, DVD and, finally, streaming through Netflix, can be trying on a parent, there is a certain melancholy that comes with leaving them behind, with flipping that switch on childhood … (read more)