Its all about the connection

My youngest daughter turns 6 tomorrow, which seems way older than 5 even though she's the same as she was yesterday. I decided that I am going to try to give my kids more of a free rein in certain ways. When I was a kid I lived in the country and I could take off and spend the day in the bush without my parents worrying. We live in town and thats just not feasible for them, and not really safe, but I decided I will not try to keep them out of mud puddles and dirt since it was such a great part of my childhood. I had a great aunt that was 97 years old the last time I saw her, I was about 12 I think, and she told me that if I kept my hands in the dirt that I would stay young. It must have been true, she was a pretty spry old lady. I have tried to keep my hands in the dirt so to speak. There is a great satisfaction in watching my family eat something that I grew from a seed. I think that there is a great loss of connection with the world because most people have nothing to do with the food that they eat. How can you not appreciate the earth when you plant a tiny seed in the ground and cover it with soil and water it once in awhile and it turns into food.... if your looking for a miracle, here it is. I am going to make sure my kids keep their hands in the dirt, even though they are city kids and learn to appreciate our connection with the earth. I can hardly wait for the snow to melt off my garden.