Well, I might have tossed out a few of those words, completely re-written the title and sat in class thinking of ways I could better use my time.
The actual class was put on by the local child care union (Yes. I belong to a Union. Do not screw with me. We have trains. Or is that Union Pacific? I forget.). There is actually a list of really fun-sounding classes that teach providers different methods that can be
Let's pause here for a moment. Take a look out my window. What do you see?
Well, this might not be exactly what it looks like outside now, since I don't actually live in an area where trucks are that color yellow.
We don't go outside a whole lot here because we are California natives. This is what we're used to:
Okay, fine. I lived 4 hours from the beach in California.
This is more like it, only more real and less cartoon.
Where was I? Oh, yeah. I'm supposed to haul 5 kids outside to play in the freezing wind and rain. Let me just get my boots. Not.
Don't get me wrong. I have no problem bundling the kids up in their puddle boots, rain coats and mittens and sending them out to play. I don't want to go out there.
I was optimistic about the class today, seeing as how these are people who have lived in the Northwest for years (I assume) and I hoped to gather some pretty awesome ideas.
Check out my list of suggestions from these PNW Natives:
- It's cold.
Cool. Check out my suggestion:
- BUNDLE THEM THE EFF UP.
Seriously? I've been spending the winter wishing I was more creative and all the others had to say was "it's cold out there."
The instructor had a what do you call it... mission? desire for sanity? similar to mine. Kids need to be outside. Forget the television and computer screens. Make them use their imaginations.
I'm going to stop right here, because my anti-technology rant is long, unpleasant and makes Elle want to rip her phone charger out of the wall and whip me with it. All you need to know is that I am not a fan of the constant texting, cell phones constantly ringing (in the middle of class, lady with the Scottie Dog shirt!) and people's faces sucked into any kind of screen ALL THE DANG TIME.
The only real thing I enjoyed was making a list of things I used to do outside as a kid. I'd like share them with you (in case many of you happen to be those parents that let their kids watch tons of television. This way, you can fix that and you won't need to be subjected to my lecture).
- Making tunnels through the tall grass and having hiding places where Elle couldn't find me
- Picnics in the woods on a huge rock over by my grandma's house
- Playing in the three-story tree house my dad built. An owl and a hornet nest lived in the top floor, so no one ever went up there unless my older brother dares us to.
- Picking blackberries for hours with my siblings and friends. Coming back with purple-stains on our fingers and no berries in the bucket
- Playing in the sprinkler with wild abandon
- Spraying Elle in the face with the hose with wild abandon
- Having a car wash for our bikes
- Playing in the Swamps of Sadness (from the Never Ending Story) down the dirt road and in the woods by our house
- Stealing a baby chick from the neighbor's farm, leaving $3 in unrolled pennies on their doorstep and trying to convince my mom that one of our hens' eggs had hatched in the night. Having my mom call my bluff and having to return it (Brother, you know you were the mastermind in that. I don't care what crap you told Mumsie).
- My dad taking all 6 of us kids to countless streams, rivers and lakes to get us out of our mom's hair for just a blooming minute. Camping with our cousins and having nerd fashion shows.
I promise not to make fun of you (unless you're related to me. We all own rights to every ridiculous thing any of us has ever done).
4 comments:
I was going to add in a few memories, excepting that I realized you're not trying to teach your readers how to torment their siblings. Most of what we did involved familial terrorism. But that's what makes us so close now! (That and the revenge that each and every one of us is planning revenge on the others. Just waiting for the opportune moment..)-I- clearly remember wandering the river when we were locked out of the house after breakfast and told not to come back in until dark. Those were different days, the days when 8 and 10 year olds were able to safely wander the streets and forests of even small towns without the fear or abduction. OH! Remember tubing down the river? And fishing off the bridge on First Ave? And stealing the car to learn how to dr--. I mean, remember when we received permission to borrow mom's car and you taught me and Rica to drive? Legally? Not in the Diversion Dam? Good times.
Most of my favorite memories involve -----xxxx-----!!-----//-----???REDACTED\\
Definitely some of the best times were summer as a kid when we'd disappear soon after we got up and come crawling back at dinner time with ripped jeans, tired feet and all laughed out. Building forts (and rebuilding them after the siblings destroyed them) going around town hunting up parts for a go-cart we'd never build. Even the days where we didn't get into too much mischief, laying in the hammock and reading a whole book in a day. Taking off into the woods near Nathan's house with a BB gun to hunt birds even though a mountain lion had been seen in the area. Too many good times to list.
I maintain, since no one was ever caught red handed in the Fort Demonlition Incident, it never happened.
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