When my two elder children were small, we lived on the edge of Knole Park in Kent, and our regular walk was through the park. There was a fallen tree stump, and we would have a picnic sitting on that stump, pretending it was a car, with the children taking it in turns to "drive", using a forked twig as a "key". Then we used to walk down the hill, and the children took it in turns to jump off these steps; the higher, the better.
Yesterday, my daughter took her own three there on a trip down memory lane, and they too took turns jumping off these steps (Geoffrey the dog could only reach step 2. He has very short legs!). My - and my daughter's - memories are of a time many years ago, but it's nice to know the steps are still there (although the tree stump is long gone. Sigh).
Those are lovely memories, Frances, and I love the way your daughter is making new memories at the same place with her own children.
ReplyDeleteShe told me she felt quite weepy, and yet she was only very small at the time. Isn't nostalgia a funny thing?
DeleteTrees and tree stumps, stairs and steps were all great places for adventures when I was young. I'm glad your children had the same kind of opportunity, and now your daughter is passing it on. It isn't necessary for 21st century children to spend all their time playing with 21st century toys, is it? My youngest brother's children are 11 and 9, and have been raised on outdoor fun with very little TV and no computer games. They are bright, happy, intelligent, resourceful, artistic children.
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Kay, you are so right. And I'm really glad my kids were brought up mainly before all this gadgetry (although I've recently found out that two of my sons made a hole in a parking lot with a home made bomb, and another shot his brother in the head with a gat gun!).
DeleteWonderful memories - and a gorgeous fun picture of new memories being made! x
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that your daughter is able to repeat her own experiences with her children. Sometimes 'going back' is not a good idea as things so often change. I remember some great big stepping stones in Encliffe Park in Sheffield and when I visited a few years ago, I couldn't believe they were still there.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Maggie, although so many trees came down in the storm of 1987 that much of the park is totally changed, sadly.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it seem odd to see our children do things with their children that we use to do with them? I mean, really, have THAT many years gone by? I had to laugh at your comment about recently learning about some of the things your sons did when they were kids. I can relate. Not sure I WANT to know those old secrets, though.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I think I agree about the old secrets! But by the time the last two were at their most....adventurous, I think I was too weary to check up on them!
DeleteSweet memories being passed down to the younger generation....totally priceless.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Virginia!
ReplyDeleteBeing brought up in the wilds of the Outer Hebrides you would think that my children were always out in the open air doing outdoorsy things but on the whole Son One was into computers (The Sinclair for starters) at a very early age and later made it his career. Son Two waited until his thirties to indulge in every extreme sport that a parent can only wonder at and (if a person with religious faith) pray doesn't exact it's toll.
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