Well as some of you have heard, we like to live as free birds when we are children. And with "we" I mean the population in Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
I recently read this article about a Dane who had lived in New Jersey for some years, with his wife and children.
His children had been invited to a birthday party, so as a good parent he is, he drove the children to the party. Followed them to the door, knocked the door and had a brief talk with the parents. Then he went off home to his wife, finally they had some time for them self.
We he got back, he was invited inside the house because the children were playing, they he was quite chocked. He saw that the other parents were like staring at him, if he was some kind of a freak. He didn't understand, until next day when he went to work, and talk to his co-worker. He explained the situation, and then the co-worker just dropped his jaw, and told him that he just did the worst thing an American parent could do. Leaving his children alone with other parents and shockingly for the children to play alone.
The same goes for when his children is playing outside in the garden or on the street, they play for them self, he or his wife is not stalking them. Once in a while they put their heads out the windows, to listen if they are still there.
So do this make them bad parents?
No if you ask me, you leave the imagination to the children, they can do stuff that their parents would say "No! That is too dangerous young boy", or interrupting in their play, because they have a "..stupid fantasy".
Well they are just children.
I remember as a child, I could be outside with my friends playing from 9 in the morning, interrupted by lunch and then playing again until around 8 in the evening, then it was time for dinner, that had been postponed due to the fun I and my friends where having.
When I read about children growing up with a childhood, where the parents are over them at all time, I get a feeling that they are living in some kind of a prison.
I was even allowed to go on "adventure", walking and hiking for the nearest mountain, walking and jumping on stones etc.
I just had to tell my parents where I was going and with whom, i was around the age of 8-10, and no one was worried.
We could even take a small boat and go out and fish, we just had to remember wearing a life jacket.
This was in the late 90's so no cellphones or anything. But my parents felt safe, as did I.
So relax a bit, let the children be children, it's the most healthiest way for them and for you! Get the pressure of your shoulders and also your children's shoulders, if you are over them at all time, they will feel like being to an exam all day! You get nervous and then you can definitely not perform.
Let them break and arm or an leg, I have had numerous of injuries, broken my arm, fractured skull, hole in my head etc etc
But this has all made me the guy I am today. Thinking about how my children will be raised, love the nature, love your friends and family, take care of animals etc.