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(Okay, that was odd: I posted this whole entry and only the title showed up.)
We totally need to get outside more. Unfortunately we don't live within walking distance of anything--or at least, not without walking on major roads with no sidewalks. :( American kids these days have so much less freedom than I did as a kid--and less than kids today in other countries have. Don't touch the water fountain, there might be germs; don't swing so high, you might fall off; don't play in the yard alone, someone might snatch you; don't right your bike because we've built the road for cars only. Etc. I'm not even a kid and sometimes I feel claustrophobic. It seems like kids are all scheduled all summer long, and there isn't any time left for plain healthy free play time. Whatever happened to spontaneous fun? We did go to the park today for a picnic, and there was almost no one there. Okay, it was the hotter part of the day, true, but it was a bit sad. We conveniently overlooked the sign saying not to play in the water (please--put a creek through the middle of the park and tell people not to touch it?!) and the kids at least got to experience nature for a bit. And accidentally on purpose fall in. (Note: Ozark creeks and streams are great for kids--they are rocky on the bottom, so it's all water and no mud, plus you can see whatever er, things might be in the water before they get you.)
Tonight: watermelon on the back lawn. Happy summer!
ETA: I just found this article and realize I am not alone in my sad perplexity.
We totally need to get outside more. Unfortunately we don't live within walking distance of anything--or at least, not without walking on major roads with no sidewalks. :( American kids these days have so much less freedom than I did as a kid--and less than kids today in other countries have. Don't touch the water fountain, there might be germs; don't swing so high, you might fall off; don't play in the yard alone, someone might snatch you; don't right your bike because we've built the road for cars only. Etc. I'm not even a kid and sometimes I feel claustrophobic. It seems like kids are all scheduled all summer long, and there isn't any time left for plain healthy free play time. Whatever happened to spontaneous fun? We did go to the park today for a picnic, and there was almost no one there. Okay, it was the hotter part of the day, true, but it was a bit sad. We conveniently overlooked the sign saying not to play in the water (please--put a creek through the middle of the park and tell people not to touch it?!) and the kids at least got to experience nature for a bit. And accidentally on purpose fall in. (Note: Ozark creeks and streams are great for kids--they are rocky on the bottom, so it's all water and no mud, plus you can see whatever er, things might be in the water before they get you.)
Tonight: watermelon on the back lawn. Happy summer!
ETA: I just found this article and realize I am not alone in my sad perplexity.
