Children Playing in Nature

On page 16, Miriah tells Mr. Carter: "But that's the way it should be with children their ages. If we can provide more opportunities for our children to play in nature, they can develop in much healthier ways."

Reminds me of when I was growing up. The Smith family lived next door. Our house was nice, well maintained inside and out. Theirs wasn't. My grandmother hated it because it was such an eyesore. But my brother and I used to play with the Smith children--in the fields and gardens around the neighborhood. On hot summer days we'd play until the sun started to set. That's when the group playing would end and we had to be on our own  porches. I remember sitting on mine watching how pretty our grass was in the moonlight. I also remember the Smith children sitting on theirs looking at
 a barren landscape and discarded trash. Not too many of the Smith children had an okay life as they matured into teens and became adults. A couple of the boys died prematurely, and a couple of the grils dropped out of high school. I finished school and moved away to California, but recently returned to my family home where I now have a beautiful flower garden. The Smiths had moved away much earlier, when their house--like their children--was condemed.