Playing in Puddles
earthmothergypsy
A few days ago, I looked out to see my 6yr old dd playing in a puddle
in our drive-way. I chuckled to myself, because this activity would
have not been allowed to me growing up. I think we probably all
heard our parents tell us to get out of or stay out of the puddles.
Okay, I know in the past it wasn't safe to play in a puddle in the
city due to sanitation issues and disease-and even today it could be
questionable-even on a farm in the country where animals free range
there is a question of disease. But here on our little farm in the
middle of the woods, my kids can play in the puddles and learn. :)
My 2 yr olds dd saw her sister outside playing in the puddles and of
course wanted outside to play too. So, I put on her sweater (no
shoes) and sent her out the door. Off she was to go play in the
puddles along side her sister. They played and played -or should I
say, they learned and learned, ;) until it was just too cold to
play anymore.
As I sat watching this, I got to thinking about how great it is to
let my children learn so freely. This kind of learning they couldn't
get in any classroom setting. It is so innocent, this
play/learning.
It also made me think about my own raising. How when I was growing
up "playing in puddles" wouldn't have been allowed, but how now the
same parents-now turned grandparents, would allow their grandkids to
play in puddles. Why the difference? Well, honestly, our parents
were acting as they were taught to act. It was automatic to them,
just as it can be with us if we aren't on guard. The difference
comes from age and wisdom actually. It comes from a place where they
are looking with hindsight and have come to see that what they once
thought was a bad thing, really isn't.
My younger kids have a benefit of being born later in our lives.
They get the benefit of having parents that have that hindsight
already and know how important it is not to stifle a child's freedom
to learn hands on. Even if it does mean getting soaking wet and
muddy playing in a puddle. :)
~Amanda
in our drive-way. I chuckled to myself, because this activity would
have not been allowed to me growing up. I think we probably all
heard our parents tell us to get out of or stay out of the puddles.
Okay, I know in the past it wasn't safe to play in a puddle in the
city due to sanitation issues and disease-and even today it could be
questionable-even on a farm in the country where animals free range
there is a question of disease. But here on our little farm in the
middle of the woods, my kids can play in the puddles and learn. :)
My 2 yr olds dd saw her sister outside playing in the puddles and of
course wanted outside to play too. So, I put on her sweater (no
shoes) and sent her out the door. Off she was to go play in the
puddles along side her sister. They played and played -or should I
say, they learned and learned, ;) until it was just too cold to
play anymore.
As I sat watching this, I got to thinking about how great it is to
let my children learn so freely. This kind of learning they couldn't
get in any classroom setting. It is so innocent, this
play/learning.
It also made me think about my own raising. How when I was growing
up "playing in puddles" wouldn't have been allowed, but how now the
same parents-now turned grandparents, would allow their grandkids to
play in puddles. Why the difference? Well, honestly, our parents
were acting as they were taught to act. It was automatic to them,
just as it can be with us if we aren't on guard. The difference
comes from age and wisdom actually. It comes from a place where they
are looking with hindsight and have come to see that what they once
thought was a bad thing, really isn't.
My younger kids have a benefit of being born later in our lives.
They get the benefit of having parents that have that hindsight
already and know how important it is not to stifle a child's freedom
to learn hands on. Even if it does mean getting soaking wet and
muddy playing in a puddle. :)
~Amanda
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/27/2004 1:38:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
earthmothergypsy@... writes:
So, I put on her sweater (no
shoes) and sent her out the door. Off she was to go play in the
puddles along side her sister. They played and played -or should I
say, they learned and learned, ;) until it was just too cold to
play anymore.
<<<
Nice story , Amanda----but where in the world do you live that you're
putting sweaters on in June? Our goal each day now is to see how cool we can stay!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
earthmothergypsy@... writes:
So, I put on her sweater (no
shoes) and sent her out the door. Off she was to go play in the
puddles along side her sister. They played and played -or should I
say, they learned and learned, ;) until it was just too cold to
play anymore.
<<<
Nice story , Amanda----but where in the world do you live that you're
putting sweaters on in June? Our goal each day now is to see how cool we can stay!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
TreeGoddess
Here in Michigan it was chilly in the evening yesterday.
-Tracy-
-Tracy-
On Jun 27, 2004, at 1:54 PM, kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
> Nice story , Amanda----but where in the world do you live that you're
> putting sweaters on in June?
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/27/2004 2:00:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
treegoddess@... writes:
Here in Michigan it was chilly in the evening yesterday.
-Tracy-
<<<<
I'm greeeen!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
treegoddess@... writes:
Here in Michigan it was chilly in the evening yesterday.
-Tracy-
<<<<
I'm greeeen!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn Coburn
<<<Okay, I know in the past it wasn't safe to play in a puddle in the
city due to sanitation issues and disease-and even today it could be
questionable-even on a farm in the country where animals free range
there is a question of disease.>>>
I spent part of my childhood in Hong Kong during the mid-sixties. It may be
different now. Then it seemed to be one of the filthiest cities on earth,
and full of poverty. We had to boil all water before drinking, there was
garbage in the streets, wild smells, people expectorated constantly, there
were lots of stray dogs and we were always finding newborn kittens in the
streets that had ringworm. People really did hang their laundry out on
bamboo poles over the streets, which would then drip. Children were warned
not to pick up anything they saw in the street even if it looked like a toy
- because it was possible that it was a bomb, or so we were told.
It never occurs to me that anywhere else that I lived since is remotely
dirty by comparison - not Sydney, Brisbane, Tahiti, even Los Angeles. Jayn
and I do lots of puddle jumping.
Robyn L. Coburn
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city due to sanitation issues and disease-and even today it could be
questionable-even on a farm in the country where animals free range
there is a question of disease.>>>
I spent part of my childhood in Hong Kong during the mid-sixties. It may be
different now. Then it seemed to be one of the filthiest cities on earth,
and full of poverty. We had to boil all water before drinking, there was
garbage in the streets, wild smells, people expectorated constantly, there
were lots of stray dogs and we were always finding newborn kittens in the
streets that had ringworm. People really did hang their laundry out on
bamboo poles over the streets, which would then drip. Children were warned
not to pick up anything they saw in the street even if it looked like a toy
- because it was possible that it was a bomb, or so we were told.
It never occurs to me that anywhere else that I lived since is remotely
dirty by comparison - not Sydney, Brisbane, Tahiti, even Los Angeles. Jayn
and I do lots of puddle jumping.
Robyn L. Coburn
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.707 / Virus Database: 463 - Release Date: 6/15/2004
Wendy E
We live in southern California near the beach and sweaters are
required here in June too!
--- In [email protected], TreeGoddess
<treegoddess@c...> wrote:
required here in June too!
--- In [email protected], TreeGoddess
<treegoddess@c...> wrote:
> Here in Michigan it was chilly in the evening yesterday.you're
> -Tracy-
>
> On Jun 27, 2004, at 1:54 PM, kbcdlovejo@a... wrote:
>
> > Nice story , Amanda----but where in the world do you live that
> > putting sweaters on in June?
Christine Evenson
We so look forward to spring time up here because of the puddles! Our sons
love to put on their rubber boots and splash in all the snow melting in the
spring sun. Too cold to go barefoot!
love to put on their rubber boots and splash in all the snow melting in the
spring sun. Too cold to go barefoot!
Wendy E
make your own puddles!!!!! WE did this yesterday in our backyard!
Tons of muddy fun.....buckets and bubbles at to to the mix too!
--- In [email protected], "Christine Evenson"
<damselfly@m...> wrote:
Tons of muddy fun.....buckets and bubbles at to to the mix too!
--- In [email protected], "Christine Evenson"
<damselfly@m...> wrote:
> We so look forward to spring time up here because of the puddles!Our sons
> love to put on their rubber boots and splash in all the snowmelting in the
> spring sun. Too cold to go barefoot!
Michelle
I would be in heaven with this weather. We take off all we can to stay cool in the 100+ temperatures.
Michelle
Wendy E <mommytoluc@...> wrote:
We live in southern California near the beach and sweaters are
required here in June too!
--- In [email protected], TreeGoddess
<treegoddess@c...> wrote:
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Michelle
Wendy E <mommytoluc@...> wrote:
We live in southern California near the beach and sweaters are
required here in June too!
--- In [email protected], TreeGoddess
<treegoddess@c...> wrote:
> Here in Michigan it was chilly in the evening yesterday.you're
> -Tracy-
>
> On Jun 27, 2004, at 1:54 PM, kbcdlovejo@a... wrote:
>
> > Nice story , Amanda----but where in the world do you live that
> > putting sweaters on in June?Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
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earthmothergypsy
<where in the world do you live that you're putting sweaters on in
June?>
We are in northern MN and we are having one of the coldest summers on
record this year. :)
~Amanda
June?>
We are in northern MN and we are having one of the coldest summers on
record this year. :)
~Amanda
[email protected]
Quoting Robyn Coburn <dezigna@...>:
description it doesn't sound like it's changed much. We live in Asia and pass
through there from time to time. No bombs anymore as far as I know though.
Blessings,
Jamye
> <<<Okay, I know in the past it wasn't safe to play in a puddle in theWell, I didn't see HK in the sixties so I can't really compare, but from your
> city due to sanitation issues and disease-and even today it could be
> questionable-even on a farm in the country where animals free range
> there is a question of disease.>>>
>
> I spent part of my childhood in Hong Kong during the mid-sixties. It may be
> different now. Then it seemed to be one of the filthiest cities on earth,
> and full of poverty. We had to boil all water before drinking, there was
> garbage in the streets, wild smells, people expectorated constantly, there
> were lots of stray dogs and we were always finding newborn kittens in the
> streets that had ringworm. People really did hang their laundry out on
> bamboo poles over the streets, which would then drip. Children were warned
> not to pick up anything they saw in the street even if it looked like a toy
> - because it was possible that it was a bomb, or so we were told.
description it doesn't sound like it's changed much. We live in Asia and pass
through there from time to time. No bombs anymore as far as I know though.
Blessings,
Jamye