i consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a time and neighborhood where childhood was a reality.  

 i was able to safely walk to elementry school (for those of you familiar with the san fernando valley- i walked up ventura blvd and down laurelcanyon - busy streets even back then.) we were out of the house by 9am on weekends- grabbing a p& j sandwich at a friends house- rarely back before dark.  some of us had a few structured commitments-dance class, horseback riding lessons, catechism - but for the most part we entertained ourselves. roller skating, skateboarding, riding bikes, walking to the neighborhood park, walking up to the blvd to go shopping, marathon sessions of trading our beloved barbies & damm dolls. during the summer, sometimes the whole neighborhood, ages ranging from 8-17 would have epic games of hide & go seek or kick the can, lasting far into the night.

it wasn’t  a perfect childhood-i don’t know if there is such a thing, but we were allowed and expected to be children.  obviously in this day and age, many of those freedoms we had are not safe or realistic anymore.  (my sister has been a kindergarten teacher for over 20 years in the los angeles area-they stories she could tell would break even the hardest of heart’s.)

my kids are grown, but i remember many agonizing decisions and choices i made as a parent-some for the right reasons -some for the wrong reasons.

i am thankful that my relationship with my kids is a loving & strong one- i am happy to say i like them as “grown-up’s”- and even more importantly they like me!  

peace & happy thanksgiving