Looking Back ~
By dizneywolf
@dizneywolf (73)
United States
August 28, 2008 4:58pm CST
When I was a child - there were no game boys, no internet, no hanging out watching t.v. - we were to be outside, being self entertaining in a fashion deemed "acceptable".
We also spent a whole lot of time at my grandparents house. They were wonderful people & my brother and I loved them dearly - but as energetic youngsters - there were times when we just plain got on their last nerve !
My Grandmother, being the sly, creative woman she was, had a "fix" for that.
She would ever so casually start a conversation with my Grandfather about losing her 4-leaf clover. How much she missed the "luck" it brought her, how different their lives might be if they still had it - and ohhhh soooo mildly wonder aloud if she may ever find another one...
Yes - of course you've guessed ! My brother and I were always anxious to please them - and would just about be falling over each other on our way to the yard to find one !
We would be out there for HOURS ! Combing through nearly every blade of grass to find that very special 4-leaf clover...
I can laugh myself silly remembering Grams ploy for solitude - we were occupied, outside, in a perfectly "acceptable" manner - and she knew EXACTLY where we were every minute !
Would love to hear how others were kept out of mischief as energetic youngsters ~
2 people like this
4 responses
@suruchi86 (1873)
• India
29 Aug 08
Yes our parents and grandparents have devised so many ways to keep us children involved and at the same time remain near them through employing so many ways and tactics. One of them was, they started a game of filling puzzles or crossword or some kind of question answer session and some special prize was also kept for the winner. So we children were always eager to participate to grab that special prize.
But now a days things have changed a lot. Now children don't have time for this kind of activities and they remain glued to TV or internet etc.
@dizneywolf (73)
• United States
29 Aug 08
Hey - that's another great idea - ! Will have to remember that one for when my nephews visit. The two older ones enjoy various kinds of puzzles and adding a special prize to the mix will certainly get the younger boy involved !
The middle boy (10) will spend hour after hour playing on-line video games - pretty much to the exclusion of everything else in the world - I can't help but wonder what kind of memories he'll have of his childhood -.
Thanks for sharing !
@suruchi86 (1873)
• India
30 Aug 08
Playing video games for hours is not good for health, but today's kids are so addicted. My elder son (7 years) is also very addicted to TV and video games. I have to force him out of the house daily for playing in the park, which is necessary for his physical development.
@dizneywolf (73)
• United States
30 Aug 08
I agree with you Suruchi86 - playing the video games for hours on end can't be good for a childs health. Nice to know that there are still parents who want to see their chldren involved in a more outdoor and active lifestyle.
I can see some merit in the playing of video games - development of a sense of focus, eye/hand coordination & in some games, development of creative thinking. I just can't get my head around the fact that so many youngsters spend so very much of their time in a "stationary" activity rather than some good old fashion romping !
@Shawchert (1094)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Oh that's a hard one, as I have grown up in the "Technology" world although before the computers we did have the nintendo and television to keep us quiet, but when my mom wanted us out of the house, she would tell us to see if our dog butch still tried to catch water with the hose, and as we lived in Cali just about every day was summer, so we would always be out playing in the pool or park, or seeing if our dog could catch water (he loved trying to eat the water as it sprayed out of the hose) we climbed things and went different places... my parents were lenient but strict. So they kept a good eye on us. Ah... I miss being a kid sometimes.
1 person likes this
@Shawchert (1094)
• United States
30 Aug 08
That is sad and I do feel sorry that your nephew's aren't getting out as much, maybe you can be their fave aunt that takes them to museums and such lol. but yes a lot of parents are still very very responsible, my sisters sons for example, her oldest is 4 and he can play on the computer only for a little while but he loves being outside and doing things. I do the same with my son but he is a bit young for most out door activities as well as any technology lol.
@dizneywolf (73)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Ahhh ! I also had a dog that loved to try and catch water from a hose ! Thank you for the reminder of how much fun that little game was !
And - for reminding me that growing up in the "technology" world of today, doesn't necessarily mean an inactive lifestyle. To know that kids are still getting out and climbing things in the age of techno wizardry is all good -.
As for parents keeping a watchful eye on their young ones - I could only wish my brother were as active about my nephews. He's quite pleased if they spend all their time in front of the computer &/or the t.v. - he doesn't feel as if he has to actually pay attention to their activities then. And honestly - I think that's pretty sad -.
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
1 Sep 08
haha thats a good trick!i remember toad hunting and tadpole catching. chasing the racer snakes thru the yard, in vain far too fast lol! playing with the dogs and and tricking my little sister into either eating the dog food, or trying my famous mud pies! hahaha!
we had those old fashion metal tonka toys. the dump truck, little backhoe and sand box to play in..well not really a box, but since we live in the desert it was more a "sandy corner" of the yard.
i adopted lost chicks and even a fallen mockingbird or two. the bane of my property romping was a momma hen. boy she knew me on sight. she always laid a big clutch and was a good momma so she inevitably had a big number of chicks trailing her. and the ones that got stuck and lost i would find and raise..which grew into chickens that liked to be carried around (that didnt please my father much lol)
that momma hen would see me from yards away..and come straight for me! i remember running screaming my head off trying to get to the house before she caught up!dad found this whole thing hilarious and instead of protecting me i he watched and laughed his head off!! lol the turd!shoot, i think i was in my teens before a home video game system every came out!
@dizneywolf (73)
• United States
1 Sep 08
LMAO !
You kids had a great time ! Momma Hen and all ! I can just see your dad laughing as he watched you runnning from her....Ahhhh - the things that parents find funny huh ?
It does sound as tho you have some wonderful memories of childhood romping - & that is positively pricelss ! Have a wonderful day CinderInMySoul !
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
28 Aug 08
My how times are different. Kids today really miss out. I used to climb our backyard cherry tree with my sketchpad and notebook and I'd write and draw for hours. Or I would read.
When I was with my friends, we would go from one house to the next (of our friends), eating cheeries in my yard and green grapes, raspberries in another friend's yard, crab apples from a tree beside the road.
We had a huge yard and dandelions were always popping up. There were too many to pull, and no one used (poison) weed killer back then. My parents paid us 25 cents per paper grocery bag. And we thought we were rich when we each filled up 2 bags. 
1 person likes this
@dizneywolf (73)
• United States
29 Aug 08
Oh how true that the times are different - and I tend to agree that kids today miss out on some special memory making...
I can almost see the merry little band of young ones - traveling from one yard to the next, reaping natures bounty ! And - ohhh - the riches for those bags of dandelions !
We were sooo easily bought - but wasn't it wonderful ?!
