I have been spending some time reflecting on how kids are so honest when asked a question. I like to watch some YouTube videos from time to time. I spend more time than I should, at times. The other day I came across a video of a mother talking to her young daughter as they were returning from a hike. She asked her daughter what her favorite part of the hike was and her daughter, without turning around, said: walking back to the car. The mother started laughing without saying another word. This was hilarious because the little girl was being totally honest.
My mother told me about one time, when I was young, and someone said that I was cute and looked just like my mother. I piped up and said, “I’m don’t look like my mother, I’m look like my dad!” I guess that this showed that I looked up to my dad and wanted to be just like him. My mother was the one that I spent most of my time with as a kid. She set the rules for me, and she was also the enforcer. When I would do something bad, she would send me to fetch the yard stick from the closet. I would have to listen to the story of how her dad would make her get a switch from the willow tree, so she could get a spanking for doing something wrong. I must have been on a losing streak because on my next trip to the proverbial woodshed I was determined to show her. I had, in my nonlogical mind, decided that I would show her by not crying when I got the deserved punishment. About halfway through my punishment, I realized that my plan was not working because the longer I held out the longer the spanking. So much for showing her a thing or two.
My dad never spanked me; he would give lectures. He required me to look him in the eyes when he was talking and if I looked away, he would poke me in the chest with his index finger and tell me again. In all reality, I believe that the yard stick was better than the lecture; it took less time. To this day I can’t stand anyone poking me in the chest. I've always had total love for both of my parents, and I turned out okay because of them.
Some of my fondest memories are of when we would sit in the living room on Saturday night listening to the radio shows that preceded television. Roy Rogers, Sargent Preston of the Yukon and Gunsmoke were some of my favorites. There were also Fibber McGee and Molly, Duffy’s Tavern, The Life of Riley and Gang Busters to name a few. My mom would pop some popcorn for snacking. These were the simpler times that I remember fondly.
With all the technology that we have today, it makes it hard to just be a kid anymore. I know that we can’t turn back the clock, but if we give kids the opportunity, they might spend time outdoors playing on their own and not be all-consumed by cell phones, tablets or video games. I remember when my tablet was called “Big Chief” and you practiced writing cursive with a #2 pencil and making capital and lower-case letters. That paper was pretty crude, and I swear that you could almost see the wood grain in it.
Until next time: In today’s world it is too easy to get your kids involved in organized functions when they should be out exploring on their own. It’s hard to do that with the things that are going on in today’s world. Taking the family to a state park or one of our many parks is one way to connect with nature. Going for a hike and seeing animals, flowers, trees, and birds is a great way for a family to enjoy time together. Having a picnic at one of our many area parks can also be extremely rewarding.
Please show our support for the troops that are serving our country today. These service men and women are making that sacrifice, so that we may have the many freedoms that we enjoy today.