What an odd problem this is

[Magpie]

We didn't have grass in our back yard when the kids were small either. They used to go outside and roll in the mud, and I'd have to hose them off before they came in. It made their dad a bit twitchy (he doesn't like mess), but I didn't mind.

I miss those days! They're teenagers now, and when they go out it's not to hang around the house anymore. They're always going somewhere else. And there's lots of grass in our backyard now.

Sounds like a terrific family!

As far as roughhousing making real men (mentioned in another response)... My son hates all the roughhousing that goes on in school and between boys. He's far from a sissy, and he's a popular kid with lots of friends, but he's never understood why hitting each other is supposed to be "fun". We've had lots of talks about it, but I really don't have an answer for him and interestingly - neither does his dad. Maybe it's in the genes. Hitting them doesn't make them want to play, it makes them want to kill.

 

[Colleen27]

You should point them in my direction (the family with the boys, not the snobby neighbors). They'd fit in well around here!

We still have lawn, sort of, and it is kept cut/weed whacked for what little good that does, but we also have the 12yo-built creations and the dog's "fetch" tracks where the grass has worn away and the bikes in various states of completion around the yard. Oh, and the nice round dead spots in the lawn from the 2yo's kiddie pool and bounce house. Fortunately, we live in a small town where that kind of kid-play is normal so neither of the neighbors who share our fence take issue with any of it.

 

[KAMLEM]

It's an absolute disgrace! She should be sitting inside - playing video games - chatting with friends online - updating her status on a Facebook page - sulking in the yard while she chats it up on a cell phone or sends 100 text messages in a day to say, "Hey"....

Guess what, some kids actually do both. And you know what, quite often they send more than 100 texts yet they still spend hours outside with their friends. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

 

[babyrich]

I am the youngest of 3 girls and I am 43. When I was real young, we used to build go carts out of whatever we could find. Than we would race them and they would fall apart. We got scrapes and bruises. When I got just a little older and we moved into an apartment complex, we used to be out in the early morning and home at dinner. The complex had one bike that someone left behind. One of the kids would take it out in the morning, drop it where they were done using it and whoever used it last would put it away in the laundry area. Those were such great times. We would have contests and build forts.

I think parents who allow their children to go wild once in a while will find they turn into well-rounded, adventurous adults. Who do not have health issues, who are not obese.

Let them play!

 

[C.Ann]

Guess what, some kids actually do both. And you know what, quite often they send more than 100 texts yet they still spend hours outside with their friends. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Taken out of context - without the wink after it - looks pretty bad doesn't it?

I've already apologized on another thread in regards to this post - and explained why my posting might not be coming out quite like I mean it today.. If you come across that thread, you'll find not one, but two apologies there..

 

[yoopermom]

My favorite DC has two DD, 13 and 10, who are *never* expected to entertain themselves *ever*. Since childhood she has entertained them constantly. It's just exhausting! When we go camping with them my DS and his BF leave our camper at dawn and return at dark. They don't call unless it's a 911 situation (which it never has been, thank God). Meanwhile DC's DDs never leave their campsite and look to their mom for every bit of fun.

Sad, really. Imagination, anyone?

Terri

 

[drag n' fly]

You should of seen the look on my 3 kids faces yesterday when I told them I had to take my swimming lessons at the lake when I was a kid. The youngest (ds7) was mortified he said "Mom you must of froze to death", the second (dd14) said "oh mah gawd bugs and stuff ewww" and ds16 said "you had the best childhood ever Mom I wish I could have taken my lessons at the lake

My back yard is full. Half made bike ramps, airsoft pellets, trampoline (with no safety netting and no pad) popsicle wrappers and dog crap. It is a yard filled with love lol

As long as you keep the front tidy it shouldnt matter too much what the back looks like as long as it does look like a episode of hoarders

Some people have far too much time on their hands....sounds like a bunch o' happy boys to me OP

 

[minkydog]

My DS24 used to spend, literally, hours each day digging for "jewels." We live in north Georgia--you can't dig one shovelful of dirt without hitting quartz and amethyst. I still have baggies of "diamonds" down in the basement. We had holes all over the backyard, some of which are still evident. He had a little friend who loved to come over to our house because I would let the boys make forts, dig holes, hammer nails into boards and break geodes open(jewels, remember?) When his mother found out, she was horrified. Then she was angry and declared that her little snowflake was no longer allowed to come to my house. Why? Because Mr. Snowflake might get his sneakers dirty. Oh, and she didn't like the way my son's nails looked. Good riddance if you ask me.