By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Ask kids what they want for Christmas, and the lists roll off their tongues. Ask them what they hope for in the new year … well, that takes some serious pondering.
With 2023 just a couple days away, questions were posed to children spending some time at the Wood County District Public Library during their holiday breaks from school. Some came for an action-packed storytime. Some came in search of good reads to take home. And some came for Legos and computer games.
When asked to reflect on the past year, the children mostly gave 2022 high marks. And most had no difficulties identifying highlights in their young lives.
“I was most excited about getting my ears pierced,” said Sylvia Beskid, 9, of Bowling Green. “It hurt really bad – but only for a second.”
Her younger sister, Lucy Beskid, 7, also got her ears pierced, but it was the end of COVID restrictions that made her year. “I liked it because we actually got to go to school,” she said.
Their friends, sisters Annie Lawrie, 9, and Emmeline Lawrie, 6, also enjoyed the lifting of restrictions.
“I had a good year because it wasn’t online school – and I got a good teacher,” Annie said.
“I’m most excited that I got to see lots of family,” Emmeline said.
The girls have some high hopes for 2023.
“I hope the new year brings more joy and peace to the world,” Sylvia said.
“Since everyone’s getting sick, I hope for less sickness,” Annie said. “I hope that we have a good year and nothing really bad happens.”
“I’m excited about meeting new friends” and avoiding the flu and COVID, Emmeline said.
And Lucy, well she is anxiously awaiting the day she can replace the starter studs in her ears. “I’m looking forward to getting new earrings in,” she said.
Aleister Cohen, 8, from Texas, was visiting the library during his Christmas break at his grandparents. His mom (Deborah Frater Cohen) grew up in Bowling Green and his parents met at Bowling Green State University and became “Falcon Flames.”
Aleister stopped working on the computer long enough to list off his hopes for 2023.
First, “I’d like to have subjects be more interesting in school,” he said.
Next, Aleister is hoping 2023 will be the year he learns to ride a bike and tie his shoes.
And as for the bigger picture, “I’d like for the world to be more happy,” he said.
Evelyn Fessenden, 8, of Portage, also ranked 2022 as an above average year.
“It’s been an awesome year,” she said. Among the highlights were spending more time with family.
Evelyn did have one wish for her world next year. “Next Halloween, I’m hoping my sister won’t be sick again.”
But she also talked about bigger changes that could greatly improve 2023 for everyone. Evelyn recalled how she recently made a difference in a classmate’s life. “He said he didn’t believe in himself. I told him I believed in him.”
If only everyone could do that next year.
“I’m hoping that everyone will be changed and will be good to each other, and not mean and bad,” Evelyn said.
As he played with Legos at the library, Alistair Blakeman, 6, of Bowling Green, assessed the past year.
“It was hard-ish,” he said, not able to quite pinpoint why.
But Alistair has some big plans for 2023. He is expecting the arrival of a new baby cousin, and just learned to read. He’s hoping for some exciting experiments in his science class, and he’s plotting to improve his skills at Mario Kart – so he can show up his older siblings.
After finding the novel she was searching for at the library, Maura Desmond, 14, of Bowling Green, reflected on a good past year with friends, family, and community.
“I just want everything to stay the same,” she said.
But Maura also would like to see people be more generous toward those less fortunate. “We need to help people suffering from poverty,” she said.
Sisters Tessa and Elsie Swartz, of McClure, took a break from playing on computers to talk about the passing of one year and arrival of the next.
“I just liked it,” Tessa, 7, said about 2022. She couldn’t quite define why. “Hmmmm, that’s a hard thing.”
She is hoping to continue improving her dance skills next year. She performed in “The Nutcracker” this year, and dreams of earning the roles of the Mouse Queen or Masha when she gets older.
Elsie, 5, is looking forward to working on her art skills in the new year. “Any kind of art,” she said.
And she also dreams of traveling.
“I want to go see the sea,” Elsie said. “I never saw it before.”
