Another great post PW...
Thanks.
Loved this line...
Organised hockey, for David, consisted of two main activities: sitting, watching, waiting, and hoping for a chance to play; and once on the ice, sitting, watching, and hoping for a chance to get up.
Caught me off guard and I laughed out loud... fortunately I am home today... 1/2 telecommute and 1/2 time off... off the clock now.
Your story brought to mind two things. One of the mothers I work with was ranting because she feels obligated to get involved in community volunteer activities in order to ensure that her children get to play on the local soccer teams. Seems if you are an active parent you can whine your kid's way onto a team no matter how untalented the child is. They will bump kids with ability in order to appease the community doers...
Unbelievable.
Our neighborhood had 10 acres of wooded parkland that is owned by the Association. There were two ponds and a swamp adjacent to each other. The main pond was used for "figure skating." Hockey was reserved for the center pond. The swamp was filled with tall brush. During one of the droughts the fathers went in and cleared paths through it. When it filled up again, it became a great maze to skate through.
The main pond had a three-sided wood shack with a ramp that led down to the ice. There was an old pot-bellied stove in there that always had a good hot fire going. We could change into our skates in there and warm up if we were too cold. To this day, I do not remember who tended it... the fathers must have taken turns though I don't remember ever seeing an adult in the area.
The most work that was involved was clearing snow... though that could backfire when it wasn't done right... no hoses nearby to smooth the ice. It could get pretty ragged.
Lots of unsupervised fun. Feel sorry for these kids whose lives are micromanaged by their egomaniacal parents.
I agree with you and th...
we began discussing how today’s kids rarely experience the freedom that was commonplace for us. As you’ve observed, freedom, responsibility, and learning are Siamese triplets. Our mistakes broadened our experiences. Nature is a stern teacher, but her lessons last a lifetime. Sometimes, the most innocent activities form lifetime attitudes.
Tremedously well put.
fifties.ksquared.kid
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