Iggy the Bold Bunny..and Babies

Iggy, our new bunny was full of joy when we first brought her home and let her out of her tiny mesh cage. Ecstatic that she was liberated, she ran laps around the entire house jumping and twisting in the air every few minutes. This is typical rabbit behaviour for extremely happy bunnies but none my family had seen anything quite like this particularly joyful demonstration. Iggy was delightful, full of character, keeping all of us, even my calm. dignified husband entertained for hours with her exuberant antics.

Iggy defied everything animal experts have ever written about rabbits.... (more)

Tags: pets, kids, free, large family, no fear, rabbit, animals & pets, bold, loved

Day 12: Calling BS on Over Protective Parents

Childhood should be a time to play in freedom and joy;

When I was a child, we hopped on bikes without helmets, only wore sunscreen at the beach and ate peanut butter sandwiches.

When my oldest children started school in the mid to late eighty's, they played marbles, bounced tennis balls off the school wall and could bring real baseballs and basketballs to school. In short, they played like children have played for generations. By the time they were in grade eight, the principals had banned marbles and real balls from the schoolyard. Why? They were too dangerous!

My oldest daughter... (more)

Tags: t, free play, no fear, children need free time

Ball and Chain in Place? Good. Now You Can Play.

When my oldest children started school in the mid to late eighty's, they played marbles, bounced tennis balls off the school wall and could bring real baseballs and basketballs to school. In short, they played like children have played for generations. By the time they were in grade eight, the principals had banned marbles and real balls from the schoolyard. Why? They were too dangerous!

My oldest daughter drew a picture entitled "Recess at St. Mike's" that shows a girl, standing frozen in place, with a ball and chain around her ankle. Quite revealing, isn't it?

When I was a... (more)

Tags: free play, no fear, children's imagination