Running down hills

So many things to write about: life informs and books inspire. The boys are growing so quickly. They are branching out and exploring their world. Most recently Theo has taken to running down hills. "Theo run hill" says my boy. His arms fly up and down. His hair bounces behind him. He has astonishing speed. But, he only has fallen a few times and overall this has not stopped him from finding pure joy in running down the hills around our house. I worry about his knees. Running on cement may seem light to him, but I know the long-term impacts. Yet, I don't want to stop him. He is so joyful. I wonder if I can find a good grassy place for him to run?

Richard Louv talks about the lack of access to natural spaces in his book The Last Child in the Woods. He identifies lack of open places and a lack of time combined with a boom of organized activities and sports all reasons for the growing childhood obesity epidemic. These days keeping children inside or putting children in cars and hauling them off to an activity is often the easiest and more convenient, but it doesn't give them the time for open exploration and exercise.

In contrast to a life of commuting a toddler around town having a toddler running down a city street basically means that the parent must do the same. Even though my boys stop at each driveway, their instinct is to say, "no cars" as they continue running on their way. This means that I need to be ever alert. It is all engaging and challenging. Also by not just getting in a car we spend way too much time near all those other people who drive their automobiles and trucks up and down our street. The air can sometimes give me a headache. I worry about the impact on my boys health. The fact that a park is only one mile and a half a way seems like a huge hurdle.

My hope is that somehow more people will choose to live life in our communities and walk our neighborhoods and ride our mass transit. I am not sure when that tipping point will be, however, I can only encourage anyone who cares about our communities and our general health to help create more green spaces and less traffic and to voice the need for convenient mass transit options.