I've always found it very sad to see that number of playgrounds and parks with swings and jungle gyms sitting empty. People are too scared to let their kids out alone. It's tragic... lines of cars spewing exhaust sitting outside the school before and after because no one will let their kid walk five blocks alone. Pleasant G and I talked about it .. hell, they should be hiding out and sneaking cigarettes and playing make-out, not being picked up and shuttled from thing to thing all evening. Many kids have no clue how to use public transit.. hell, that was our ONLY way to get around. No one's parents could be off work in the afternoons to take us downtown or on Saturday mornings to dance class.

On the lack of "own thoughts time".. it's certainly not smartphones. Jbird doesn't use his like most people and even he doesn't understand my need for quiet time without a TV, idle chatter, or someone to interact with at all times.