"All of us
have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first time. And we go
back to those moments and think, 'This is when I became myself.'" Rita Dove
I grew up in the
country. My mom was a stay at home mom,
but as children my brother and I were expected to go outside to play, regardless
of the weather. Summer was a favorite
time of year as we built a home in local groves of trees. We were given the
materials to make lunches and lemonade. Adult support was minimal. We were allowed to access the needed resources,
including blanket, chairs, books, dishes or tools that could be safely used. Mom
checked up on us regularly as she went about her daily routine. We always knew that she was nearby.
While living in our
ground house amongst the trees and grass, we complete routine chores of cooking
and cleaning and taking care of the animals.
We made creatures from the mud, branches and grass. Although we were too young, our imaginations
created mansions in the trees. There was never a concern about us becoming too
dirty or making too much noise. We
played from early morning until supper.
We went to bed planning the next day’s events. For one week per year, we
also welcomed our cousins to stay with us.
Thirty years later, we continue
to giggle with delight when we talk about the gallons of soap water (lemonade) that
we made and consumed.
When I came across this photo, I felt that it embraces the experience that I was fortunate enough to
have as a child.
Tell me and I
forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand." - Chinese proverb
