tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197156043159436567.post8381687070085104852..comments2023-09-17T08:20:40.655-05:00Comments on The Good Life: Book review part 1DramaMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096848455574408194noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197156043159436567.post-80433569226909450202008-07-05T09:22:00.000-05:002008-07-05T09:22:00.000-05:00Growing up in suburbia West Bend I did not have a ...Growing up in suburbia West Bend I did not have a lot of nature hike experiences, but here are some that I do remember mostly in our back yard and behind the house in the park...<BR/>1. We cought june bugs and made them swim in old ice cream pails and walk on sticks.<BR/>2.My sister stepped on ground bees when we were kids, so we decided to stick birthday candles down their holes and light them. Unfortunatly my mom found out we played with fire and took us to the local fire department. The chief showed us pictures of burned children who played with fire. After that we limited our pyro behaviors to campfires...<BR/>3. I remember my sister playing in the creek at the park behind our house (after mom told her not to)and she cut her foot. She told mom she was walking on the neighbor's grass. She needed stiches...the wound became infected and gushed blood and debris in our bathtub. My mom was in nursing school then and wanted to see the MD stich up her foot-she nearly passed out (I could not watch either).<BR/>4. My younger sister ate wild berries and my mom make her puke in the kitchen with syrup if ipecac. Yup it makes you yack...<BR/>5. We went fishing at our friend's down the road and as I was threading a worm on the hook, I had the fishing pole between my legs. A big dog ran behind me and the hook went through my right thumb! I was bleeding everywhere and my dad cut the line and took me to the cottage where he pulled out the hook...ouch!<BR/>There are some more, but those are most memorable.Zippyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837987323447099545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197156043159436567.post-80527218029240661272008-06-29T22:25:00.000-05:002008-06-29T22:25:00.000-05:00Last Child is a tough read, I think, because it is...Last Child is a tough read, I think, because it is so important as a parent and it holds up a mirror of stuff that is hard to look at.<BR/><BR/>We have made a concerted effort to take our children on hikes and out in nature more. Still, it is as you say an outdoor museum. I think the yard is the best bet and, Joyce, is right. I guess I need to give my kids a place to just dig and do whatever. It is hard to let go of appearances but where else can we connect them with nature.<BR/><BR/>We do do picnics and sometimes just take a blanket outside and look up at the clouds or watch the bees in the clover or find ladybugs in the raised beds. Still, my suburban yard is so tame. I need to let loose a little more with standards.Green Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197156043159436567.post-49100479179750132322008-06-29T16:08:00.000-05:002008-06-29T16:08:00.000-05:00I think you are right on target with the over-busy...I think you are right on target with the over-busyness of kids. Looking back I din't have any "activities" until tird grade, and then it was just piano lessons and Girl Scouts. We had lots of time to play. Raising my own children and living in town, we just made up our minds that the backyard was their space, and if they dug holes or built forts out of old lumber, then that was okay. It could (and does) all look better someday when they were older.Joycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10463831506588682774noreply@blogger.com