Sticks and Stones

Something that I have been thinking about a lot while here is how reliant kids in the US are for electronics.  I see it everyday even here, with myself, and my roommates.  We need technology.  But I play with the kids here and I am not kidding, they can entertain themselves with a stick for hours.  I know this because I have seen it!  The children here have so much creativity and have so much fun with each other!  They interact with one another, they run around in an open field until they can’t run anymore, and they are happy!  They live in less than optimal conditions to say the least but they are happy with what little they have.  They love India, they love to sing, scream (just for the heck of it), dance, laugh, and they love with all of their heart.  Everyday they see me and yell, "Auntie!  Sing ___________(fill in the blank some song)!!!  Dance Auntie! "  They love it haha and the songs they love are like Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, and so many random songs that I don't know but they think I have memorized.  A recent favorite is "Who let the dogs out!" and that has been really fun.  Oh and they all love it when I sing the disco song "Staying Alive".  That kills me throat after a while but they get a kick out of it.   I have been shown such an unconditional love from these kids.

All this just gets me thinking about my own children one day.  I have been against having TV’s, game stations, and all these things that keep a child away from social interactions.  But now, I know that it is possible, and in my opinion better to not have them have these things, I think it is such a good idea.  What happened to kids reading, playing outside, kicking a ball around, playing with a stick!  Creativity is being boxed and confined in these games, when they should be growing and challenged.  If my kids sit inside all day playing games (not happening, but if it does), we are moving to India, and they will learn how to play, be grateful, social, and they will learn how to truly love everyone around them! 

P.S. I just took a bucket shower with a poisonous frog next to me the whole time.

Here are some of the kids.  These are just a few, I have so many.  They love getting their picture taken and seeing it!