Just Imagine

By Brent Loafman

A neighborhood where you can put together a little snack bag for each of your kids, open the front door for them, tell them to be sure to come home for lunch, stay out of the street and have fun! All with the certain knowledge that they are being looked after all morning long by the neighborhood Moms and Dads. You know that because you’re watching too.

I grew up in a neighborhood like that in St. Louis, Missouri in the Fifties and Sixties. Saturday mornings I would rise early, watch cartoons while I wolfed down a bowl of cereal or worse, was forced to sit still long enough that I could eat a “Hearty” breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and orange juice before packing up what I thought I would need for the day in my backpack. Then yanking open the door, careful to slam it shut so Mom would know I was leaving and then knock on neighbors doors to round up my friends and we'd be off on an adventure for the day. Most of the time I didn't go back home until lunch time and sometimes my folks would be yelling out the door to come to dinner before I returned home. In all that time, my folks didn't worry about me because they knew that I was being watched by almost every Mom or Dad on the street.

Of five or six parents that were close to my house, someone always knew where we were and mostly what we were doing. The firm rule was to be home when the street lights came on. Further up and down the street, we were all recognized and came under the scrutiny of those folks too. It was a wonderful place to be and thinking back on those times, it was almost magical. Just imagine.

Things can't be like that today with all of the safety concerns, everyone working, longer commutes and technology that hooks our kids so early in life. Right?

Different times? Sure. Different social concerns? Not that different. Different place? Suburb to a major city, like many. Different people? No. So why can't there be places like that for parents and kids to live? What's the key to making that place real? The answer is transforming your neighborhood into a village, a community that watches out for its members and shares the load. In other words, know your neighbors, your area, your village.

Sit down and write out the names of how many neighbors you know on your street, what they do for a living and how well you know them. Not so many? Maybe it's time to ask your closest neighbors over for a weekend barbecue, especially those that you don't know. Plan a social event for the neighborhood and get some volunteers to help with it, even the kids. You'll find that you grow more familiar with the neighbors just in the collaboration of planning and doing.

At Gardenspot, we will help with the efforts to transform your neighborhood into a village. Virginia and I want to help neighborhood leaders to plan a neighborhood event. A place to invite those on your street for a meeting of you and your children with your neighbors, and collaborating with your kids on a craft project while you get to meet some other parents. We will help plan your block party and work with folks to have a real event. A block party, a neighborhood craft show, a children’s art show or even a talent show!

It takes effort to reach out, build a community, find your place and share the load, the joy and life. To become a village. Gardenspot wants to help.