What I Learned While On Vacation

While I was on vacation, I realized:
• I can be a stay-at-home mom.
Sometimes I wonder if that is what I really want or if I am one of those people who only want what she can’t have. But after staying home for two weeks, one week just hanging out and the second camping, I realize I could do this full time.

• One never tires of swinging.
I think my son and I were on the swing for at least a hour several times a day. My guy likes to go high – by himself (on a regular swing) or with mommy or daddy. We went to several parks my first week off and the swings were always his favourite part.

• Exploring the world.
While camping, my mom told me to just let my guy explore the world. She said it’s amazing to let kids go off ‘by themselves’, to see what they do when they don’t think we are watching.
Mom, of course, was right.
I can see why kids disappear. My guy headed straight for the forest behind the trailer and picked up sticks, gathered leaves and went further and further away.
He also left several times, giant bag in hand, to go for a car ride. In that case, he would say ‘bye’, blow kisses, come back for real kisses and hugs and head toward the car, or sit in the grass and play.
It was amazing.
There isn’t as much opportunity to let him head off by himself where we live, however, he did go exploring at neighbour’s property this week.

• Time flies when you are having fun.
My mom also said a vacation wouldn’t be as fun if you were off all the time.
I have to disagree. When I was off for a year’s maternity leave, I still enjoyed last’s year camping vacation.

On a different note, I heard on the radio today the head of Google was saying in the future he could see today’s teens having to change their names because they revealed way too much on facebook and other social media sites.
It’s an interesting point and one everyone – not just teens – should keep in mind.

Unneighbourly Conduct

I was quite disgusted about a recent event on my street.

Our street is private. Each homeowner pays dues for the upkeep of the boat launches, grass cutting in the parks and access to an outdoor tennis court. According to the property association, you must pay these dues in order to use the lake access, the park and, where this story is going, the playground equipment.

There are not a lot of children on our street any more. Most of the “kids” are now heading off to university and there are only a couple of younger children on the street. Our poor little guy will have to drive into town to meet friends.

I meet these wonderful couple, O and VB, and their 10-month-old son P, who have rented a cottage on the street behind us. It was OB who told me that my son is old enough to use the baby swing, and he loves it. The B family often bike or walk to the swings so P can enjoy the swinging sensation.

Apparently someone on our street has a problem with that.

On the weekend, an older woman came up to the B family and told them they can’t come onto our street and use the swings. Apparently, she said she pays for these services and as the B family does not, they are not welcome.

What!

First off, she alone does not pay for these services, everyone has paid his share. Perhaps, and only perhaps, if there was a lineup of children looking to use the swing, then maybe then this horrible woman could tell a baby he wasn’t allowed on. OB told me the woman sat there and waited for them to leave. As you can imagine, OB felt dreadful for her little guy.

This young family is looking at buying a house in the neighbourhood. We are small area of only a few streets. Regardless of which street one calls home, we are all neighbours and this is not how we treat our neighbours. This woman should be ashamed of herself.

I am disgusted by her behaviour and horrified for the B family.
As a resident of this street, I welcome the B family to keep on swinging.