A wee Grass Stain Guru discovering the mysteries of the universe with her trusty stick.
As a child, I talked to sticks. Well, actually — sticks talked to me. Often; and quite loudly.
I remember vividly – interpreting their words and vast knowledge and feeling comforted by the mysteries and great secrets they shared with me.
I spent the bulk of my childhood outdoors: wandering, exploring, climbing, building, and best of all — dreaming. I made up worlds within worlds, and governed them all with a kind spirit and a brave heart.
I was a Free Range Kid in every sense of the term. Free to roam. Free to dream. Free to make choices, take risks, fall down, and get back up again.
My childhood was free from bubble-wrap, and although it was not free from pain nor sorrow, I learned to weather those too. I was free to feel whatever was warranted, and am grateful for this fact.
Today I am free in ways I never would be if I had not been that girl, off on her own talking to sticks and learning the mysteries of the universe, and also herself.
How about you?
See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru
PS: It took me about 30 years, but I finally grew into that chin.
Truly, you’ve grown up to be the Shirley Valentine of the natural world – hello, stick…er…wall!!!
I too had a talking stick, I’ve had many. The one I have now is about 5 feet tall with a tiny Y section at the top that fits my thumb perfectly.
All Free Range Kids need a good stick…it’s the law…or something.
Great post, Bethe, and lovely to see you as a wild and free nipper too.
X
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I know the feeling well…I used to spend hours sitting in trees…I hope there are still kids out there who do the same:)
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I talked to plants. My mother told me one holiday season that poinsettias that were talked to would live longer. I talked to the one we had every day and the thing thrived. My parents finally planted it outside and I would go out every day to have a chat. Part of me thinks my Mom told me that in self defense, since I was quite a chatty little kid.
I was also a free range kid as well. We played all over the neighborhood and in the park behind our houses. We walked everywhere. I always was an imaginative kid, but being outdoors and having a wide variety of environments in which to play really helped stoke my imagination.
Great post Bethe.
So that’s your secret Bethe, the wisdom you received from sticks! I’ll just be grateful that you share these pearls you learned with us here. Now I feel quite deprived, no stick ever told me anything.
.-= Alison Kerr´s last blog ..Gardening Step by Step =-.
I remember owls, little owls to be precise. Hours spent wandering over fields, up hills, sometimes biking to distant “lands”. What typifies it all for me is the thrill I got from coming up underneath a little owl sleeping on a willow branch. Me out in the the wilds w/ my nature. Yum!
Thanks for taking us back, Bethe.
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As a kid, my backyard was my oasis. I’ve always had a connection to animals, and I’ve been “talking” to them since before I can remember. I engaged them in polite conversation, asked them what it was like to be them and wondered how they would respond in “real” talk if that were possible. Today I still have that special connection to animals, nature and the outdoors and I am very thankful for the lifetime I spent getting dirty as a kid.
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I also talked to sticks! And ants and bees and rocks and margarita daisies and tiny flowers that grew on bushes in Southern CA that had a distinctly wonderful smell. I lived in an apartment until age 9 and, while I loved moving into a house with a big backyard and a perfect climbing tree, the apartment neighborhood also offered wonderful opportunities for exploration.
I lived in walking distance of two lovely parks and my walking mom took advantage of them. But I also found plenty to observe in the (sometimes green) spaces between and around buildings, and at 6 or 7 I would announce that I was taking an adventure walk and would do just that. People of all generations seemed to be around and, except for crossing streets, which I was allowed to do one by one, it was not particularly exceptional to do this.
I also had media and school and activities, but there did seem to be a space for exploration and imagination that many kids don’t have today. I know I have a certain sense of the natural world, of neighborhood and community, and of being by myself, as a result of these childhood experiences.
Thanks for the comments and sharing your stories, folks. I love hearing about everyone’s experiences, and to see how great all we free range kids turned out!
I too talked to animals. Still do!
Bethe, Thank you, as usual, for inspiring us to share our stories. In fact, you inspired me to expand on the topic a bit in my own blog!
.-= Suz Lipman´s last blog ..Inspired by Grass Stain Guru: The Joys of Being a Free Range Kid =-.
What an adorable picture! I don’t know that I talked to anything as a kid. I probably did, but my memory is vague…Lately I’ve been talking to myself–just like my mom does (which I often made fun of her for!).
.-= Mel´s last blog ..Guest post: Debi from Go Explore Nature =-.
I would spend hours perched in my favorite Silver Birch tree in the back garden, sharing my secrets with the white barked giant.
Great post and delightful photo!
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RT @backyardmama: How was your childhood? Were you a free ranger like the guru? @balmeras http://bit.ly/bgaRRH
A fun read for us big kids RT @campingblogger RT @balmeras NEW post – Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/dkvGko #playoutdoors #parent
For the night shift: http://bit.ly/bgaRRH Free Range Guru #parent #kids #playoutdoors
For the night shift: http://bit.ly/bgaRRH Free Range Guru parent playoutdoors
I once took a stick to show and tell in kindergarten. I wanted to show everyone the woodpecker holes!
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Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/cxpvz3
) A girl & her stick
RT @balmeras: Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/cxpvz3
) A girl & her stick
Hello Bethe. Had any good conversations with your stick today? >RT @balmeras: Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/cxpvz3
) A girl & her stick
If you missed it you have to see cutie little Bethe! RT @balmeras Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/dkvGko
RT @MyGreenSide: If you missed it you have to see cutie little Bethe! RT @balmeras Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/dkvGko
Free Range Guru http://bit.ly/cxpvz3 < 4 yo me had a lot to say…to sticks.