Our Playgrounds Were Death Traps

Where to begin: The see-saws that we would pile on one end and crash to the ground? The monkey bars that we would climb on top of and hang upside down from until someone got a broken arm or a concussion (which happened hourly)? Maybe that metal spinning merry-go-round thing that you would rev up and jump on and off of until you passed out or puked?

No wait, I know, the swings. Yes, I know you can still find swings, but in those days, it seemed everyone had a swing set and they were rarely up to code, or should I say, in the ground. My set was in the ground, well three of the legs anyway. It was a bit rusted and it creaked when you put more than a pound of weight on it, but it was most fun when you were high enough that the one not so stable leg would lift out of the ground up past the edge of the grass and bang back into the ground as you swung forward with a thud. I bet you remember that feeling. And it never dawned on anyone to fix it, hmmm?

We Were Lost for a Good Portion of the Day

We used to run around the neighborhood for hours making forts in people’s hollowed bushes, trying to re-hammer rusty nails into makeshift signs and licking honey suckle, and probably any other plant that smelled yummy. We used to hike into the woods and try to jump streams or catch frogs or caterpillars, and burn ants with magnifying glasses. If I don’t know where my kids are and can’t reach them, they are by my definition, lost—and a call to 911 may be in order.

P.S. My kids get to enjoy wilderness too, well certainly not alone and it’s not really wilderness, so much as our fenced in yard. Oh, and if they so much as look at a frog they have to wash their hands after. That’s still fun though, right? A little?

You’re 7 Years Old—It’s Time to Fend For Yourself

I was a latchkey kid. My parents were divorced. My mom worked until 5 and I was supposed to get myself home from school, maybe have a snack, watch some TV, do my homework and be responsible for an hour or two. Sometimes my mom had me go to my neighbor’s for extra company. Their grandfather was always home and always asleep or maybe comatose. The older brother used to tell me and his younger brother that we’d have to stare at the wall while he watched MTV or he’d punch us. Dang it, I was finally getting MTV and still it was nothing more than a radio (the irony). Also, this is why my kids aren’t allowed to stay home alone or with someone other than me until they’re 30.

You’re 12 Years Old—It’s Time to Fend for Others

I may have even started babysitting at 10. Once I knew the number to 911, my name was passed around to most of the neighborhood parents, who were quick to run out of the house and leave their little ones with a 6^th grader. They were probably at key parties (too cliche?). Well, they were somewhere important because I certainly wasn’t qualified to watch anyone but myself, even that was iffy. This is why my babysitters have all been over 30; it’s also why I avoid the lure of key parties.

Sunblock, What’s That?

I remember spraying on yummy pina colada smelling oils or basking in that Orange Gelee by Bain De Soleil. Well, except when we traveled to Florida, then it was sunblock for us, yep Coppertone with SPF 4! Just like in the ad where the puppy pulls down the little girl’s bikini bottoms. If it was good enough for her …

Of course, we never reapplied and I’m pretty sure we would spend all 12 hours of daylight jumping in the waves. The next 12 hours were spent sucking in the fumes from a Solarcaine haze and wincing every time we so much as twitched. I’m still paying for those days … in dermatologist bills, and Botox.

Nowadays, by the time I’m finished slathering my kids in SPF 2000 sun block, they may have only 15 minutes of time before the sun goes down, but it’s 15 minutes of pure fun. Well, supervised, overprotected—pure fun.

I could go on and on, yes I think the next heading would be Helmets What Are They? But I drive carpool this week and I like to get there early so they don’t have to wait too long … who knows what they’ll get into?