Relaxing

The kiddo just posted on his FB that he is home from Scouts and has nothing to do but relax until school starts, not that he relaxing during the summer and it got me thinking. While he has had a few weeks of sleeping until late and then being lazy around the house other than the chores his mean mother makes him do (oh yes, we do chores my friends) summers really aren't as relaxing as I remember.

I remember riding our bikes all day until dark, switching house where at we ate lunch and snacks. Moms not worried as they all has some secret network and knew that all the kids were together anyway and who was where wasn't even a thought. We were all out and about having fun.

Maybe it is just our town, or even our school (which is like a small town in itself), but the kids don't ride bikes all day or head up to the community pool and hang out. They go to games, camps and each other's houses sure, but not nearly like we used too.

Could times really be that different? I openly admit that I am the parent that signs him up for the summer programs, camps and trips - is it us parents that helped take the bike out of the everyday 'toy box'? And really - isn't this schedule what relaxing is to kids now? Heck, the first day he is home I know I will hear "I am bored"... oh and he just left for a baseball game.