Simple Summers Long Ago

     Give me back those simple summers with fireflies and the smell of burning leaves.  Those fun filled carefree days when everyday was special and no day was planned, when you would run free all day not knowing the need to worry.  Meeting your buddies (the gang) at one of the neighborhood hangouts.  You could spend all day outdoors running from place to place, doing everything and nothing.  Days were filled with endless sunshine, it never seemed to rain, at least not enough to remember.  Nothing mattered more than the daily adventures with friends.  We lived unscheduled lives which some may say lead to unproductive lives but I say it led to adventure and creativity.

     We socialized without constant supervision, making our own decisions, building relationships with others, making mistakes and learning.  Our decisions were small but satisfying and our failures had consequences.  We learned to share our penny candy and soda without the worry of germs (cooties, which has a less threatening sound). The only worries we had were the ones we manufactured in our active little brains.  This hasn't changed but today, kids are also now bombarded with worries from adults.

     Today it seems to rain constantly on kids, not the typical wet rain but the rain of information on schedules, germs, strangers, technology and achievements.  While these are worthy concerns, there may be something worthwhile in having a schedule and technology free day with your child to see them make small personal achievements without the direction from an adult or Google.  "Just Saying...."