WTF happened?

Those days mothers stayed home, sent the kids outside to play and work off some energy.... kids were also fed better and if need be they knew they would find mom in or near the house if she was needed.

Now; Kids are awakened early in the morning, dressed and taken to daycare. Depending on how well that daycare is ran they may or may not spend much time outside. Some daycares get government subsidies food... not going there but the food triangle has changed. Only to be picked up by a tired mom who has to go home, feed her family and other chores at home while trying to maintain a relationship with her children in those few hours before bedtime.

I find it somewhat interesting that the ones I know who carted their children off to daycare daily are the same ones wanting to spend time with their grandchildren, but their children live too far away so it's only short visits.

Driving by an Amish community or household, the yard usually has several children out playing... summer or winter.

Yesterday I was coming out of just visiting a friend in Trenton Missouri .. smallish 'big' rural town. An 'outdoor' grubby faced, well played and rolled in dirt little kid, about 8 yo I'd say, had just got off his big wheel behind my van. Standing there he surprised me by saying 'hi' or something. I turned around and noticing he was barefoot standing on gravel at the edge of the asphalt street .. good hot summer day .. said 'you must have tough feet' .. he looked down and said 'yea!' and hopped on his big wheel and off he went to catch up with looked like his older sister.

I'd bet they didn't go in til supper and out all day!

Actually ... I think he was closer to 5 or 6!