A firestarter, a whistle, a compass, a flashlight, and a pocketknife.
Fundamental tools of boyhood. You callin' me old school? Gimme a break. I was born in 1970.
So, would someone mind telling me which generation of stupid parents replaced all this with gameboys and daycare centers? Maybe it's the same generation that can't afford to teach their boys to be boys because they have neither the time nor the energy because they're breaking themselves up at work. Maybe it's my generation. Maybe it's me?
OK, I confess. I'm guilty, often. But I think I'd rather fight this - hard - than give up because "society (or...taxes...or...Republicans/Democrats...or...my parents...or...college debt...or...or...or...) has put me into this spot".
Should I rather sacrifice self so my son can teach his son:
- How to build a fire - and stay warm.
- How to follow a path - or create his own.
- How to pack his pack - and what to pack.
- How to be a good steward - and why.
- How to pitch a tent - and make a home.
- How to tie a fly, catch a fish, and serve it on a bed of rice.
- How to find his way.
- How to love.
How is it that caretakers, videogames, and MP3 players have become ideological totems of the most recent generation(s) of our youth?
What am I providing my kid that directly impacts his values? How about you?
Live lightly.
Hey Ryan, Great post. I have a set of 7 year old twins(boy/girl). I agree, the Gameboy stuff can get out of hand, but I'm pretty sure I would have wanted one when I was a kid. I think we need to find a balance between technology and the outdoors, because I doubt that technology is going away anytime soon. After all, I couldn't send this message without it. We do get outdoors, but not enough. I'm going to get to work on this list this spring. Any other good advice for outdoor loving parents?
Posted by: SHANE Jones | April 08, 2007 at 08:07 AM
That is brilliant! It's something I've been struggling with with my own son. It's so hard these days to compete against that techno behemoth.
But I find that if I can get him and his sister out beyond the reach of the tech gadgets, they do respond to the call of those simpler ones.
Keep up the good fight.
Posted by: Gil Aegerter | April 09, 2007 at 11:35 PM
The same applies to girls. My sister could do all those things when I was still in diapers (she is a few years older than me).
Posted by: Ross Bleakney | April 18, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Dead on, Ryan.
My favorite version of your sentiment was learned on a day when I was to return home from BSA summer camp in mid-week. "Back to the real world" said I .... "No, THIS is the real world, THAT is something else" replied the dad of one of our scouts.
The (not so) hidden cost of "productivity" ... when I was your son's age (Elvis was all the rage), my Little League coach gave parts of 3-4 evening a week to coach us and it didn't come at the expense of the only time he would have had for his family, there was ample time left for them.
That was not the "simple life" it was a reasonable life.
Posted by: Jim Colten | June 03, 2007 at 09:55 AM
Well said Ryan, well said indeed.
-David
http://hiking.myfeedportal.com/
Posted by: David Dilling | June 09, 2007 at 02:19 AM