This post is written in conjunction with the 30 Days of Writing, a blog challenge devised by Nicky and Mike at “We Work For Cheese.” I’ll be participating throughout the month of June. If interested, you can see my post with the details of the challenge.
Please note that some of these posts will be serious, some will be normal, and some will be an attempt at humor. This one has me being stumped!
I truly only remember one “babysitter” while I was growing up.
I’m sure there were probably more. But for the most part, I remember one. (I actually have a photo of me and her, but I have to save it for my Snapshot Saturday feature — it’s too bad this theme wasn’t on a Saturday!)
Outside of that, when I was in the age where I could go out and run around — but still being too young to be free to roam — my brothers often got sacked with the chore of watching me. My brothers are 11 months apart and I’m a bit behind them. So, they were old enough to watch me. Of course, I was the little brother. When they did “big kid” things, I usually wasn’t invited along.
When I was younger (7-8 etc.), my brothers often got sacked with having to watch me.
Still, they were normal big brothers. In other words, they could torture me but others couldn’t.
I remember one time when I was maybe 7 or 8 and one kid had been pestering me quite a bit. See, he didn’t quite like my brothers. And I’m quite sure the feeling was mutual. However, he knew he couldn’t take them, so he did the next best thing. He tormented me and my friends.
One day, in a parking lot near home, me and some friends were jumping our bikes. Well, this fella comes along and starts pestering us. To be “funny,” as I went over a jump, he threw a stick toward my front wheel. The stick got caught in the spokes and I went flying. Being so close to home, I just took off running and bawling my head off. My friends stayed there and started swearing at him and keeping out of his range.
My brothers were home at that point.
After sniffling and stumbling through the story, they grabbed me and off we went to the park area. (Remember, my bike was still there). Said bully was there and tried, of course to make excuses. My brothers cornered him and didn’t do one thing. They told me to hit him. Not that the punch or slap of a 7-8 year old is going to hurt someone closer to his teenage years, but I did as I was told. Several times over. A couple of kicks.
Again, I don’t think these were leaving any mark. It’s not like the kid was taking a beating.
But my brothers told him it wouldn’t be slugging me back.
So I did what my brother told me to do. Finally, they “allowed” the kid to leave.
Of course I was all proud. My brothers had stuck up for me and I got to “take down” an older kids as some friends watched on. It was quite humorous. The kid never bothered me again, which was also nice.
Beyond that, the babysitter became the outdoors. Once I was at an age where me and my friends were allowed to roam, we rode bikes, played ball, went swimming and whatever else we could do. It was at a time when you weren’t as worried about who was out there. We were a small rural area and my dad was the top cop in the village, so it was usually quite safe.
I only remember a few times when we were not allowed to roam on our own. One was when a convicted child molester/murderer was sent to our town via parole (it was his second or third stop since being released). That didn’t last long as my father made sure the word was out and soon enough this creep was chased off. He landed in a nearby town for a few days before being relocated to Rochester, where he, in turn, murdered 11 prostitutes. (A 12th is credited to him, but he wasn’t convicted on that one).
Once me and friends were old enough to roam, the outdoors became our babysitters. (I am in blue).
When I was growing up, it’s the lone time I ever remember not being able to roam free.
You don’t see that as much anymore. Sure, kids in their teens will wander and do whatever. But most kids who are in the younger age can’t just set out on their bikes with friends for a day of adventure. We used to do a lot of things, too. Not just ride around in the street near home. We’d wander all over the village. We’d go swimming in the river or the pool. We’d play ball all over. It never stopped. We’d explore.
We were kids and the outdoors kept us in check.
No need for video games or television or computers. The outdoors was all we needed. (Though, in inclement weather, being inside was important…)
And, if it was something of importance, my father — as the cop — always had a good idea where we were. So did the parents of some of the others. We thought we roamed free, but somebody always seemed to be around if needed.
So the babysitters were there, in a way.
In the end, I did have some “traditional” babysitters growing up, but the outdoors was often “the babysitter,” which I think was a helpful tool in growing.
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My dad was SFPD for over 25 years. I doubt he was any more protective than anybody else though. I ran pretty free as a kid, coming home when night fell, and for meals. The streets were our playground.
If you check out my post today, I think it might make you wish you had more babysitters like my niece.
Linda Medrano recently posted..The Babysitter – Day 10
I love knowing how free people ran as kids. It’s unfortunate it’s not the same so much anymore.
I will be checking your post soon (as well as everyone else’s from the weekend) as I catch up on all the challenge posts! 😀
P.J. recently posted..Train coming
Beyond that, the babysitter became the outdoors- We were kids and the outdoors kept us in check.” Ah yes. How wonderful. That is what I allowed my sons to do , especially since they went in at least groups of two. Gave me lots of freedom and I think, the necessary freedom to grow up. I wish more children had this today.
The freedom to grow up — so true. So true!
Ironic to have this post come out today. Today, at least for those of us in the northeast, was one of the first “scorchers” of the summer. I had two children dragging around in the humid yard begging for “something to do”. The babysitter for the day–the great outdoors– was not entertainment enough. There were bikes and toys and balls and even neighborhood kids; much more altogether than when I was growing up in this very neighborhood. I never seemed to have enough hours in the day. Luckily Dad(me) was able to open a few doors of adventure and creative inspiration.
Perhaps over the next few weekends, my little angels will be pushing the buttons on the great outdoors instead!
I don’t think kids are as inventive as in the past. I could entertain myself as much as when I was with friends. Be it hopping around the local creek or pretending to be a big-league pitcher as I threw a tennis ball against the steps. As the world continues to develop and advance, I think you see less and less of some things. It’s unfortunate, too.
What I find interesting is the difference in my two boys. John, the oldest, can spend hours entertaining himself doing anything. Will, on the other hand, goes insane if you tell him no video games, etc. and can’t stand having to make something up. I hate that neither of them have the freedom we had growing up.
Totally nuts how things can be different between brothers. I loved creating things in my mind. My childhood didn’t need things kids have nowadays. I had toy guns and some action figures and would create towns in driveways with matchbox cars. Childhood was awesome. So much better than high school.
I remember those days well. Free to roam the neighbourhood with my friends. Not having to worry about going too far. Those were the days. I’d never have allowed my children the same freedom when they were growing up!
nonamedufus recently posted..30 Days of Writing – #10 – The Babysitter
I loved roaming the neighborhood and the village and am glad it was part of my life growing up! 😀
Yup, Mother Nature was an awesome babysitter. It’s a shame that those days are gone. Nice post, P.J. and I love the pics of little P.J. Too cute! 🙂
Nicky recently posted..No, It’s Not Rocket Science
I don’t think those days are fully gone, but they are disappearing. 🙁 As for little P.J., I wish I was still skinny! 😀