Forget Playdates...Send the Children Out to Play in the Neighborhood

  My childhood was not spent in a van with a McDonalds Happy Meal in hand.  After school, you did your homework, a chore, and then ran outside to play kick ball, dodge ball, or whatever other game was announced that day.  You played with the kids in the neighborhood.  The term "playdate" did not even exist.   At that time, there were no helicopter moms who agendized your day, nor agendized the kids who you "should be" hanging around.  You ran out the door quite happily, without a thought of anything.  You simply got to "BE."  Yet, the world has changed for children.  Nope, they are not granted the neighborhood experience of mere acceptance.  They are no longer made to learn how to deal with a kid on the block, who may not be someone they would choose to play a game with.  The parents, of the modern child, have taken away this important stepping stone in life.  Perhaps, the adults long for an environment where bruised knees and bruised hearts will cease.  As a mother, I understand that hope.  However, what we, as parents tend to forget, is that it was the broken heart, and the bruises, which made us who we are.  It was the neighborhood stadium, filled with struggle, perserverance, choices, and ultimate friendship which formed our character.  And we adults, no matter what, make decisions from those memories, both good and bad.  Wouldn't it be nice to give our kids a partial opportunity to do the same?  Just a little?