Those were the days...

I had a thought the other day, and it was very random indeed. But I felt like it was blog-worthy. So here's my story:

I had the opportunity to be a mommy for three kids for five days ab0ut a week ago. The eldest son was 7 years old, then the younger daughters were 5 and 2 years of age. On one of the days, the oldest two children were at the Treehouse (which is a child drop-off and pick up place here in Yuma. You can drop your kids off for a few hours and they can just play and do crafts and then you are free to get stuff done or just relax or whatever. It's basically awesome.) from 8:00 a.m. til about 1:30 p.m., since their aunt is the co-owner and their cousins play there all the time with them. Anyway, they played with their cousins at the Treehouse for hours, came home and played games and stuff for a few more hours, and then their cousins came back that night around 8:00 and they immediately started playing with their toys and running around like maniacs outside and participating in other childish activities. I was kind of amazed. I began to analyze the situation. You see, these kids play with their cousins several times a week, usually, if not every day for even just a few minutes. They ran around at the Treehouse all morning that one day I was previously talking about, and they never stopped! And then when their cousins came over again that night they still had tons of fun just playing with toys and being outside! So much playing! So I began to think...

When did "playing" turn into "hanging out"? As a child, I remember going over to neighbors' houses every single day to play. It was always "Ariana, can you play today?" or she would come over and say "Can you come out to play today Stephie?" or something else along those lines. Every day. And I knew I was in big trouble when my mom wouldn't let me go play! But do we ever ask that question now? No. When friends get together these days, it's always to "hang out". "Let's hang out at my house" or "Can we hang out here for a little while?". And more often than not, "hanging out" consists of sitting somewhere and talking or watching a movie. When do playing children transition into teenagers and young adults that hang out? And is this transition for better or worse? Why don't we still run around all day long and never get tired of sharing new toys with a good friend? Ok that sounds weird....but that's the point!

As of right now I don't know where this is going. But I guess there never really was a specific goal. I just never thought about the difference between all those childhood days of "playing" with my friends and neighbors and all the recent days when I've done very little with my friends on any given day besides hang out. Why is that? I just don't know....

That was my thought. Or several of my thoughts.... Yeah. Oh yay I get to sing in church tomorrow! And the next week! Bahaha. Should be great. And that is all :)