A few kids in my apartment complex recently whisked passed me as I found my way back chatting a few youngsters with who I had just played badminton. I must admit after an equal measure of 4 sets that we all played, I certainly looked like I was holding on to the last ounce of energy to swipe the card and find my way back home. The other kids screamed loud in excitement “Aunty you want to join us for skating?” What?!! Well, well! While I gathered the last breath to answer them, they were gone to get their rollers. I still remember it was my 7th standard holidays when a roller skating area was paved in the campus where I lived. It was under a mango tree and quite a vast space that had a strong fencing . I had my rollers and after tightening my rollers I stood holding the fencing bar not knowing what I needed to do next. Of course it was a series of falls and sprains that taught me to enjoy one of life’s most beautiful feeling…to glide through the air! The rollers then were made of steel and the science was the heavier the more grounded you remain.
This brings me to one of the few things I keep insisting at home. The other day my husband and me were at a restaurant enjoying good food and company with some well meaning friends when my daughter called to tell us that she had a ‘big’ fall and her elbow was hurting ‘big time’. The worried father spelt out all the medications through the phone and then of course it was my turn. I just said, “It happens all the time when you play.” Obviously she didn’t like what I said. If you belong to my generation and are reading this I am sure you do recollect having the biggest falls and also brushing off the wound to continue playing the throw ball or seven stones. The excitement of the game and the frequency with which you fall certainly helped. But hey people, today kids just don’t play throw ball, seven stones, running robber, dark room, road side cricket(stumps were broken twigs), running London(one had to keep running towards the main person and stop when required and remain a statue. If u moved an eye lash you were the ousted one now) and making sand castles. Many more like this I can recollect. These games taught one fairness, rules, winning, losing, to be hurt and to re-coop.
Confinement was always against the law for us. Summer holidays had all the sun on our heads. We were a mixed gang of boys and girls of varying age categories. And to be honest we girls did all that the boys could do if not more. To attack the guava tree of the Tamil Teacher’s house, we knew her sleeping pattern. We knew her afternoon nap time. By tea time, she had no guavas left in the tree. Not to miss the pomegranate tree at home that my mom had taken care to guard the fruits from squirrels. She would tie a plastic cover over every fruit. In vain. They were no more. Diwali had us plan bombing! Wow, this by large is my favourite one. The night before Diwali, when people in the neighbourhood go off to sleep we would keep the ‘saram’ on their projecting Aircon. Keep it and run for your life! We will ensure everyone is out off scene before it goes off…thats about the only safety measure we ever took. My bro, usually, the youngest normally took time to understand what is happening and show reaction. He had to be told by us. Well, he was also the cautious types to take time to jump and run! The funniest part is, when the neighbours wish each other Diwali and then share the story of the mysterious 'saram'. Of course we didnt hear it!;) Climbed the biggest tree to get mangoes; over the water tank and landing on the sun shades for some badam from the neighbour’s tree; jump compound wall to join the group in the afternoons(as it was a strick no no at home to go out at that time of the day) and so many such escapades that were great fun for all of us.
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| The banyan tree from which we hung and swung. Of course we bruised our palms. |
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| The way we played in the hot sun! |
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| The Karpanasami under the 'naar' mango tree from which we stole mangos and prashadam kept by people...but never prayed! |
Today, when I take my daughter to my place to have her rough it out with the neighbouring boys and girls, she does have fun but she is still very very careful not to be hurt. She takes time to muster courage to jump the fencing and most shocking is, she is so finicky about running around in barefoot(Amma its hot and the stones hurt!). I am sure you get the drift people. While I am planning a whole post on some unique games we invented and played, I want to just conclude by saying that I am worried as a parent that she doesn’t find too many avenues to jump, leap, climb, crawl, sneak, fall and hurt herself. To me thats what makes a huge difference between growing up and growing up hard.
Must admit that as the rollers had to be done within a fencing, I soon stopped enjoying rollers. We all need the fresh air to fill our lungs, feel the tickle of the air on the skin, the red tincture on the open wound, the purple swollen finger hurt from catching a ball, a fever from the excessive sun burns, the sore feet from running barefoot, to make us strong , spirited and mindful people.
Thats the best medicinal supplement we can give our children!
