I grew up on a dirt road in rural Warren County, Pa. There were fields and pastures and woods all around, places to run and hide, explore and pretend. I'm sure that at some point, my parents were outside with me at every minute, but that's not what I remember when I think of playing outside as I grew up.
In a place where there were no fenced-in yards and the dog roamed free, instead of being tied up, I have memories of roaming free myself. I think of pretending to play hockey on frozen-over puddles of water in the winter. I think of using a stick to "row" in these puddles in the summer. My imaginary friend Trixa helped. I went for walks in the fields, picking wildflowers. In my teens, my friend P and I went for walks in the woods, spending half the day among the trees. Sometimes we'd go for long walks through streams, trying to catch crayfish and minnows. We were occasionally successful with the crayfish, but usually not with the minnows. That's what happens when you have empty butter dishes and zip-top baggies instead of fishing nets.
My parents let me roam. They let me spend my summers free. Was it faith in me? Faith in their community? Faith in the world? It's hard to believe all of this happened before we saw Sept. 11, 2001, and became increasingly aware of any possible terrorist activity. It was before JonBenet Ramsey was killed, before Laci Peterson and Lori Hacking were killed by their husbands. It was also before the whole local drama involving Bucky Phillips, who was finally caught Friday just a few miles from my parents' house.
I hate that all of these things, and so much more, have happened. They make us wary and not so trusting. They take away our penchant to give our children freedom. As Autumn grows up, even if we move somewhere more secluded, where the houses are on acres instead of lots, I don't know if I will have the faith to allow her the same freedom I had growing up. I want her to explore and discover on her own and to feel as though she can do what she wants, when she wants, while breathing the fresh air. But I also want to keep her safe and I'm not sure that safety and freedom go hand in hand anymore.