The Cement Truck and Other Fun Things I Learned From My Grandmother

Well, today, as I drove my oldest daughter to performing arts camp, I saw it, the cement mixer truck.  I told my kids, "You better be good, because in that truck are all the bad children that have been picked up along the way.  The driver's name is Barnabas."  That was how my grandmother got all of us kids to be quiet in the car when she was driving us around town!  My kids were laughing hysterically.  What else did your grandmother tell you, my children asked.  I thought about it and as I thought about all of the costly activities that we afford our children, I thought about all of the inexpensive, low or no cost activities that my brother and sister and I did with my grandmother and mother.

I recall my first library book, Anne of Green Gables.  I went with my grandmother to the Plainfield public library and picked out this book, while my grandmother picked out her books.  Then, we took our books home and I sat under the tree and read that book over and over again.  Then, there were all of the local parades that we waited for each year.  There wasn't a Wii or an X-box, an IPOD  or 200 channels to choose from, just family to hang out with and friends to talk to.  I also remember riding my bike with my close friends and not worrying about being abducted by some crazed maniac!

Oh, the sporting activities, my brother and sister and I did the traditional things, cheerleading, football, gymnastics, and baseball.  My children, soccer, karate, gymnastics, cheerleading, swimming and dance.  Of course not all at the same time, but some of it was at the same time and some was at the same time as drama, piano, children's choir, girl scouts and percussion ensemble!  My question here, is do we now over schedule our children and why do we do this?  I understand my logic.  Part of my believe is that the world has become so much more complicated than the world I initially described.  Complicated and competitive.  I wonder, if our children, my children are to compete, how important is it for them to gain exposure to a great deal at a young age and begin perfecting that skill at an older age?

Ok, back to nostalgia!  The simpler life that I believe I enjoyed was one that, while uncomplicated by stuff, still, had its share of difficulties, as I am sure many of your lives did also.  But, as for the uncomplicated days spent with my grandmother, making tents during raining days, sitting in her small house, with no air condition on hot summer days, as she made fudge.  Picking mulberries from the mulberry tree and pretending to make wine for our pretend church communion.  Those were some good times!

I hope I am making some uncomplicated moments and memories for my children, in the midst of all of our over scheduled and hectic days!  Today for fun, we made a money tree at Steak and Shake!  While waiting at the drive thru, we took pennies and placed them carefully on the leaves of the bushes that lined the drive thru!  Now, that was fun!