Along CR 203, in one of those housing 'communities', there are three kids who play outside all the time. Let's face it, we don't often see 'free range' kids messing around outside in today's world. Times have changed and leaving kids 'unsupervised' is perceived as negligent parenting; something ill fated or criminal might happen! Truly, what are the chances?
But the sight of these kids delights me; I feel 'freedom'. I sense imagination. I imagine peace and contentment and the joy of an unscheduled life.
I do have a gentle memory stashed away of me at about 5 or 6 years old... I did not want to walk that walk in the pouring rain. No tolerant and over-protective parenting there..."Here's an umbrella, wear your red rubber boots (with sandwich bags on your feet / Jan. 3, 2017 entry) enjoy the sound of the raindrops as you walk. Think fairies dancing above you." A wet walk it was, no protection and shelter from the rain with mommy driving me to school.
Watching the kids on my drive home is a treat. They are horses, they are warriors, they are happy. It reminds me of my own play time. In my younger years play was not having a friend over to play video games or to watch a movie. It was not being shuttled to music, gymnastics or a sporting practice. It was not an organized play date.
What was it?
- playing in the rain (of course once I started that long ago rainy walk to school I DID hear the fairies dancing above me?)
- climbing a tree
- playing jacks
- a neighborhood game of kick-the-can
- Chinese jump rope was huge... as was double Dutch
- getting dirty
- pick up kick ball games
- 'camping out' in the back yard
- building a tree fort (though in retrospect I am most grateful that I knew NOTHING about building at that point as my father knew nothing as well and it was a 2 story, rickety castle!)
We had free reign of an entire development. The only 'rule' was to be able to hear your parent call you in. When I was little every household had their own 'call'. One mom whistled with her fingers in her teeth, one just had an awesome whistle tune, one rang a school bell, one used cymbals.... my parents??? blew a fog horn.