Go. Out. Side.

As a child, skinned knees were a calling card, dirty hands meant a good day's play and streetlights were our curfews. Some of the greatest memories I have with my friends as a child are playing imaginative games outside. Games like Power Rangers, cops & robbers, house, hide & seek, and flashlight tag. These were the agenda items of a good after-school session or better yet, an awesome Saturday. My parents were (and are) engaged, attentive and safety-minded yet I don't remember them standing outside while we played in the cul-de-sac once we could ride our bikes independently. I don't remember it having to be a family event every time we wanted to "go play with our friends."

Yet now as a parent, my children don't have those memories.

Maybe it's because they're not old enough. Maybe it's because I'm overprotective <-- Highly Probable. Maybe it's because our neighborhoods aren't as safe as we supposed they were before. Not once has another child come to knock on our door to ask my kids to play. It's all been pre-arranged, pre-planned or texted between the moms. No wonder kids have lost their spontaneity and ability to play imaginatively. It isn't their fault either. We, as parents have made things this way. I don't go to Target nowadays without fearing that someone would want to take my children for black market sales or human trafficking. (Thanks media) In all honesty, if they saw how my kids behaved on the regular they'd probably give them right back. But I still worry.

So I made a change. Slight, but a change nonetheless and everyone is a little off-kilter about it. It was supposed to be 81* and sunny. We did not have school, dance or other activities before lunchtime. We have a fenced, locked yard, a pit bull, a playset, and a playhouse. The rule for the day is "Go. Out. And. Play. " I don't need to "see" you unless you're starving or bleeding. (I put "see" in quotations because I can physically see and hear them from where I sit. I'm no monster but I am a worrier.)

Whaddyaknow. 8 minutes later, Bubba is bleeding. Tis only a flesh wound (bonus points if you got that classic reference). A slight scrape from a stick. A quick clean and bandaid and we're all good. It was really great for them. They played until snack. Came in for a quick snack and bathroom break then it was right back outside until lunch. The baby took a nap. I kept tabs on everyone and got to do some work. Since they did so well outside during the morning, we went back out to play with the neighbors after naps and quiet time.

This is what spring should be. This is how kids make friends, earn their showers and sleep really well at night. The iPads were at 90-something-% when I plugged them in. That's how I know it was a good day!

Be Great,

M