Sunday 31 March 2013
One of the nicest things about our new place is its proximity to Puttachi's school. Though I drive her to school (as of now), I bring her back walking. The lovely thing about coming back walking with her is that I hear all her school news, hot off the press. We are lucky to have a quiet, tree-lined road part of the way, and as we walk, Puttachi swings her bag, and skips along, ponytails bouncing, and she chatters away. Contrast this with driving back - my eyes are on the road, she is in the back seat, and I am only half-listening to what she says.. and since she also doesn't get the eye-contact and reactions she needs, she becomes quiet too (relatively.)
It is just a kilometre's walk, but it surprises me that everybody who hears that I bring her back walking says, "Isn't she tired after school?" and "Can she walk that distance?" She is as tired as an active kid is after school, but this leisurely, short walk doesn't make her more tired. Of course, there are days when she doesn't feel too good, or she has fallen down at school and complains of aches, but I always carry enough money for an autorickshaw in case she cannot walk at all. But more often than not, once she starts talking (and walking), she makes it home pretty easily. The second question - seriously? 1 km? It is nothing. The very people who are surprised that she walks that distance would have walked many times that distance when they were Puttachi's age. I think the adults of today underestimate our children. We presume weakness in them.
Walking is such a dying art - very few people walk to a friend's house, to a shop, or to the barber. Distances, traffic and smoke, creepily lonely roads and uneven footpaths are all culprits. As a result, even when the conditions are conducive to walking, people don't even remember that they can include walking among their options.
Walking is such joy - the freedom to go where you want to, the luxury not to have to park your vehicle anywhere, the feeling of being part of the landscape, the space you get to think when you are alone, or the opportunity to have good conversations when you are with company..... I come from a family of great walkers, and I am married to an extreme walker, if there is any such phrase, and I think Puttachi has already been inculcated in this "art" - I hope that the future gives her the space and the opportunity to continue to experience the pleasure of walking.
It is just a kilometre's walk, but it surprises me that everybody who hears that I bring her back walking says, "Isn't she tired after school?" and "Can she walk that distance?" She is as tired as an active kid is after school, but this leisurely, short walk doesn't make her more tired. Of course, there are days when she doesn't feel too good, or she has fallen down at school and complains of aches, but I always carry enough money for an autorickshaw in case she cannot walk at all. But more often than not, once she starts talking (and walking), she makes it home pretty easily. The second question - seriously? 1 km? It is nothing. The very people who are surprised that she walks that distance would have walked many times that distance when they were Puttachi's age. I think the adults of today underestimate our children. We presume weakness in them.
Walking is such a dying art - very few people walk to a friend's house, to a shop, or to the barber. Distances, traffic and smoke, creepily lonely roads and uneven footpaths are all culprits. As a result, even when the conditions are conducive to walking, people don't even remember that they can include walking among their options.
Walking is such joy - the freedom to go where you want to, the luxury not to have to park your vehicle anywhere, the feeling of being part of the landscape, the space you get to think when you are alone, or the opportunity to have good conversations when you are with company..... I come from a family of great walkers, and I am married to an extreme walker, if there is any such phrase, and I think Puttachi has already been inculcated in this "art" - I hope that the future gives her the space and the opportunity to continue to experience the pleasure of walking.
Sunday 31 March 2013 by Abin · 0
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