I had no idea when I was a child but for some inexplicable reason the topics of play resembled the history of my ancestors! Pretending I was sailing a ship on the ocean mimicked what my Owston and Hinderwell ancestors did for a living. Then I loved to play ‘cowboy’ and that tied back to all of my ancestors that were farmers, yeomen and husbandmen.
Many were the hours I spent playing that I was some notable figure in history like King Henry 8th or that I was a WW2 soldier or pilot in the battle of Britain. Mother was a big positive influence to be patriotic and loyal to the Monarchy of England for that’s how she was raised. The loyalty part worked its way through as I have ancestors who were United Empire Loyalists!
So, does seeing history through the eyes of a child bring it full circle later on in one’s life? Maybe a skill or interest from your past or childhood has its roots with what your ancestors did for a living?
