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Playdates

Can't they just "hang out?"

by Trish K  |  1161 views  |  1 comment  |        Rate this now! 

"And do what?"(Angelina's mom was officially not "getting me".)

"Ummmm, maybe ride bikes?"

"Angelina's bike is in the shop."

"Well, it doesn't have to be that...they can just ..you know hang out together, climb a tree or something."

"Climb a tree?" (Yes I had officially lost my audience)

"Well, maybe some crafts?" (Oops, I did it, classic blunder volunteering to be involved with the kids while they play.)

"Angelina is pretty busy today, she just came home from swimming lessons and has gymnastics early in the morning."

"Well (sheepishly), perhaps another time."

"Yes, let's schedule something." (I my whole life is scheduled!!!)

I work full-time so I know how tightly I need to schedule something to find balance, but what's going on here? Are we so over-scheduled that we have lost our imaginations, don't kids just know how to play? By the end of last summer the kids in the hood (mine included) asked me a dozen times during the weekends what to do. Where is the fun in just hanging out, climbing trees, riding bikes?

I fear I sound like my dad, but when we were young, we would leave and play in the morning with our friends, come home for lunch, play again (outside) and then after flashlight tag my dad would whistle us home.

Is it me?

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1 comment so far...

  • Ugh, maybe you could have posted this when I had more time? Tee hee, this kills me. I remember just going out and knocking on a door. Kids in our neighborhood knew they could just come play in our yard and eventually we'd come out. I really hope my kids grow up in a more relaxed atmosphere like we did and not completely scheduled. But how do we get to that? Wanna schedule a playdate and talk about it?!!?

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 2nd November 2007

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