Posted: Jun 6, 08 6:29am
I love to recall my midwest upbringing and what fun summer was. Doing whatever you pleased from morning to evening. Screen doors slamming, mother's warning "If you slam that door one more time..." Staying outside with neighborhood playmates 'til after dark while your parents watched TV after dinner. Long bike rides exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods. Metal roller skates with leather straps which constantly broke and the eternally lost skate key. Overnights during the week with a best friend. We went to bed late and stayed awake talking and laughing. Woke late, took our time getting up and enjoyed the warm summer days that held endless possibilities of total freedom. If it rained we read, played cards or went to the movies. Everyone gathered at the community pool and made new friends. It was a well earned respite from the 9 month school year. You learned the value of rest and relaxation.
Not so for my grandchildren. They are so busy this summer that there isn't a week free for them to come to visit me in California. They are scheduled for sports, volunteer work and summer 'get ahead' classes and don't have a break during the entire year.
Do you think kids have too much structure now? Is that why people are taking less and less vacations?
