Nature (Photo credit: @Doug88888)
Free-Range Kids is a great site that explores the paranoia and fear paradigm of parenting in today’s world.
Coincidentally I’ve joined One Million Dreamers on Pinterest.com to dream the dream of a world of free-range living. Almost all my pins are related to parenting. I find parenting much easier in nature and kid-friendly spaces. I dream of urban spaces that are walker and bike-friendly. I dream of parks and green spaces within a block of any location. A place where kids can feel safe to play without the dangers and disapproval of adults.
In my early parenthood I spent a lot of time parenting in nature. At one point we had a huge fenced in backyard that we shared with another house and I let my daughter play outside on her own if she wanted to, checking in on her every now and then. I had people disapprove of this, but I thought it was great for her and me, to have solitary play time. At this time we had just settled into residency, after traveling to parks with our daughter for half a year. Between 1.5 and 2 she went hiking, tenting and street performing with us. It was truly a dream. She also potty trained in nature during this time…oh the stories I could tell…
Another thing I did at the age of 2.5 or maybe even earlier, was letting my daughter make food with me. As a nanny I saw this tactic as a great way to get things done(cause kids don’t like it when you focus on cleaning or making dinner or talking on the phone), help the kid grow, understand and appreciate the efforts it takes to make domestic things happen, and it brings more interest in the finished product and nourishes creativity and confidence, which usually means a happy eater.
Anyway, I really think we should nourish the dreams we want for our children and their future. We should not merely subscribe to any set of parenting style and ignore what we feel is right and what we desire for our children. I think dreams are determined by memories. I remember the best parts of my childhood where in the freedom to run around, play, experience nature and learn new ways in which the world around me was connected.
So if you want to share your dreams as a parent, or as a human, feel free to follow me on Pinterest and re-pin away! I’d love to have more discussions about mutual dreams and making dreams come true. After all, La Leche League is the story of moms coming together to make a dream manifest for themselves, for their children and for the greater human community. I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. 
Related articles
- Free-Range Kids and Attachment Parenting (freerangekids.wordpress.com)
- If You Are Male, You Are Under Suspicion (freerangekids.wordpress.com)
- Letting go one step at a time. (mom-101.com)
- Free Range Kids: Would You Leave Your 7 Year Old Alone At The Park? (poemsandnovels.blogspot.com)
- FreeRangeKids (naomipelletier.typepad.com)
- Reclaiming the streets for kids (guardian.co.uk)
What an amazing line: “I think dreams are determined by memories.”
Thank you…I try to remember that, myself.
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